John Gavlick joined the Culver Academies in 2000 as Night Officer in Charge in the Student Life department. In 2001, he became Counselor for Battery B. Before coming to Culver, John worked as a Youth Treatment Specialist for the State of Indiana Department of Corrections in a juvenile boot camp setting. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Bloomsburg University. He then earned his masters degree from Indiana University in Social Services, with an emphasis in school counseling. John is the assistant coach for the CMA varsity lacrosse team.

John and his wife, Jill, have one daughter.