Colonel Joe, sometimes called "Pentagon Pete", served in the WWII, Korea & Viet Nam wars during his 33 year career. He was honored by the French government for his part in the liberation of France, 1944-1945 and while stationed at Wiesbaden, Germany was awarded the Army Commendation Medal by HQ US Air Forces Europe.

In 1927, at the age of 7, Joe took his first flight in an open cockpit, propeller driven bi-plane at the airfield adjacent to the Sikorsky Aircraft Co. in Stratford, CT near Bridgeport where he was born. He was brought up in Upper Darby, PA. He graduated from Ohio State University, Cum Laude, the Air Force Command & Staff College and was the Outstanding Graduate of the Defense Advanced Procurement Management Course at Fort Lee, VA.

He had experience at all levels of procurement and contracting and was the first Contracting Officer at the E.A. Gallagher Co. in Eddystone, PA and at Air Bases in Chaumont, France & Ramstein, Germany. He was also the Officer in Charge at the IBM Owego, NY plant where the Bomb-Nav Systems for the B-52 & B-70 bombers were manufactured. He was also a member of the Atlas Systems Program Office for the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile while stationed at Norton AF Base, San Bernardino, CA and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal. Then he was assigned as the Procurement Planning Officer, Office of The Inspector General at Andrews AF Base and awarded another AF Commendation Medal.

Colonel Joe served 6 years at HQ, US Air Force at The Pentagon as a Division Chief where he was instrumental in the development & production of the F-15 fighter and the B-1 bomber as the R&D member of The Special Air Staff Group for each aircraft. He was also the first Executive Secretary of The Air Force Systems Procurement Council and of The Air Force Independent Research & Development Council for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit medal.

During his last assignment, he was the Executive Director of Production, Actg at the Defense Contract Administration Agency at Cameron Station, VA where upon retirement he was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal.