James R. Joos

Hometown: Superior, WI

PSU Connection: Employee

School: Penn State Hazleton

Department: University Police

Position: Police Officer

Memorable moment in your Penn State career:

Active Duty or Veteran: Veteran

Branch: Army

Rank: Colonel

Rate/MOS: Civil Affairs

Where/when did you serve: 30 years of active and reserve military service. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 1988. Served 6 years active duty on the Air Force as a Security Police Officer. During active duty deployed to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield/Storm. In 1998 transferred commission to PA Army National Guard served as Transportation Company Commander, After 9/11 transferred to Army Reserve and became a Civil Affairs Officer, deployed multiple times to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During 30 year career served as unit commander at the platoon, company, battalion and brigade level. Retired as a Colonel in 2018.

Awards: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters, Various campaign/wartime service awards

What was your favorite military assignment/duty station and why? Baghdad Iraq- most challenging. Ghedi Air Base, Italy, met my wife during that tour, the country is as beautiful as my wife.

James R. Joos, Army, COL (ret), spent 30 years of service in the Air Force and Army across active duty, national guard, and reserves. James was deployed to Baghdad Iraq during the first free election in the country during January 2005. He states “[t]he desire to see Iraqi people wanting to exercise their right to vote was inspiring, Several of my Soldiers were wounded and killed to ensure they could vote. I will never take our freedom to vote for granted after witnessing what Iraqis went through to vote.” James’ dedication to service led him to 26 years on the police force. He now works for Penn State Hazleton as a police officer after retiring from the City of Pottsville Police Department.