How one veteran turned military discipline into academic strength

When Christopher Gozo began his journey to Arizona State University, he could hardly have imagined how far it would take him. At 15, he graduated early from high school in the Philippines, and soon moved with his family to the small town of St. John, Indiana.

In his final year of high school in the Philippines, Gozo participated in the country’s mandatory Citizen Army Training program, an experience that sparked his interest in structure and discipline.

“When I was in high school, I was one of those kids who always got picked on,” Gozo said. “I was this skinny kid. I saw that there was this ROTC-style class, and I just fell in love with it.”

He wasn’t a natural standout at first, but he found purpose in the training’s rigor. When he arrived in the United States, his parents encouraged him to enroll in college right away, steering him toward a degree related to biology or a medical profession, such as nursing. Although he had hoped to experience high school in the U.S., he followed their wishes and began his college studies early.

“I was taking classes here and there, and that’s when the military recruitment idea started flowing,” Gozo said. “I expressed my desire to join the military to my friends and family. One of my friends and younger sister, who was also in college with me at Purdue University in Indiana, happened to pass by a Marine Corps recruiter and told him about me, and that's when the recruiter got in contact with me.”

Soon, he was at Marine Corps boot camp — a sharp contrast to the college classroom. Many of his peers doubted he would make it through training, but Gozo proved them wrong.

“Even some in my own family, such as uncles, aunts and parents, doubted I’d succeed as a Marine. My sister, Kristine, was the only one who believed in me, but I know she was worried.” Despite his slight frame, he pushed through challenges, such as water survival training that requires jumping off a platform on a 10-foot tower, a 25-meter swim in full gear, remaining afloat for 10 minutes, submerging in water with full combat gear, and inflating a flotation device. Gozo also recalled completing 40-mile hikes with a 50-pound pack.

“It's called the Crucible,” said Gozo. “It is a roughly 54-hour event in which we hike with full gear and weapons, and limited rations for about 40 miles.” Gozo said he struggled in some training situations, but he found his niche, going on to earn the badge of expert marksmanship on the rifle range even though he had never fired a weapon before.

“Some guys were mentally falling apart. I was just like, ‘How is this happening?’ These guys are bigger than me, and I’m pushing through it,” Gozo said. “Being a successful Marine requires a wide range of adaptability, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally.”

Gozo began his Marine Corps service in 2005, specializing in aircraft maintenance administration at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, Arizona. His responsibilities included ensuring the accuracy of maintenance records, vital work that kept aircraft operational and safe. He also took on additional roles in security forces and served as a fire team captain, operating an M250 automatic rifle during deployments across the Pacific, including in Hawaii and Japan. Those experiences tested his resilience and adaptability, qualities that would later define his academic and professional life. Although he considered extending his service, a planned deployment was canceled in his final year. That change prompted him to refocus on education and civilian life.

After completing his service in 2009, Gozo enrolled at ASU to pursue a degree in nursing or medicine. His experience and dedication quickly stood out to his professors, who encouraged him to serve as a teaching assistant.

He graduated in 2014 and went on to work in managerial positions in health care, which included behavioral, assisted living, home health and memory care units. In 2018, an opportunity arose that aligned with his true calling: teaching. A former colleague recommended him for a lab coordinator position at ASU, and he’s been inspiring students ever since.

Today, Gozo serves as a senior laboratory coordinator in the School of Applied Sciences and Arts, part of the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus. He manages staff, trains lab instructors and teaches several undergraduate courses in biology, anatomy and physiology, all courses that prepare students for careers in medicine, nursing and health sciences.

His teaching philosophy draws heavily from his military background. He believes that mastering anatomy requires the same kind of discipline and endurance the Marines demanded of him.

“If you want to be a doctor, you have to understand that you’ll face exams that last eight hours. You’ll face situations where patients depend on your confidence,” Gozo said. “You have to build mental toughness for that. I’m trying to help them figure that out before it’s too late.”

In his classes, Gozo emphasizes resilience and adaptability, using practical learning tools such as cadavers, plastic models and plastinated body parts to apply critical thinking skills. They also use the innovative Anatomage Table — an interactive digital anatomy platform — to empower students to engage with the human body in ways traditional textbooks can’t. Gozo said he enjoys incorporating hands-on models and group discussions to strengthen both technical understanding and teamwork.

“Our labs are using the flipped classroom approach, where we let the students explore and express their learning through presentations, drawings, flowcharts, applications, group activities, dissections, and so forth,” said Gozo.

Outside the classroom, Gozo said he strives to live by the same values he teaches. He enjoys staying active, traveling, cooking and exploring new hobbies, recently picking up pickleball with friends.

“We call ourselves the Pickle Poons. We’re not experts or anything, but it’s fun,” Gozo said. “It’s something completely different.”

For Gozo, everything circles back to mentorship and camaraderie — the connections that carried him from the Philippines to the Marine Corps to ASU.

“The camaraderie with my buddies,” Gozo said. “That’s the good part.”

Now, as he helps guide the next generation of Sun Devils, Gozo continues to channel the same spirit of discipline, curiosity and connection that has defined his life’s journey.