Colonel Joseph “Joe” Handke
Joint Base Lewis-McChord Garrison Commander Colonel Joseph “Joe” Handke ensures mission-essential support and services are provided to units, service members, families, civilian employees, contractors and retirees. This includes supporting more than 290,000 people within 414,000 acres, ultimately promoting the resilience of our service members and their families.
Colonel Handke is responsible for installation management, facility maintenance and construction, environmental protection, housing, emergency management, communication systems, security and law enforcement, fire protection, dining, lodging, recreational services, human resources management, and supply and vehicle fleet management.
Originally from Sterling, Colorado, Colonel Handke began his military career in 1999 as an enlisted infantryman in the 1st Battalion 506th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Greaves, Republic of Korea. Following graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 2004, he commissioned as a field artillery officer.
Colonel Handke has served in leadership positions from platoon to battalion level. His first assignment was in the 25th Infantry Division in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, from 2005-2007, where he was assigned as a fire support officer in the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment and later as a platoon leader in the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, deploying to Iraq in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.
Upon completion of the Field Artillery Career Course, he was reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division from 2008-2011 and assumed duties as a fire support officer, and later a company commander, in the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, deploying again in support of OIF. He assumed a second command as a battery commander in the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, deploying to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.
Returning to West Point from 2012-2016, Colonel Handke served as a tactical officer and as the executive officer to the commandant of cadets. From 2016-2018, he served as the battalion operations officer and battalion executive officer in the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division in Fort Cavazos, Texas, conducting an operational deployment to the Republic of Korea in support of the 2nd Infantry Division. Colonel Handke later became the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery executive officer before reassignment in 2018 to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, to serve as the executive officer to the commanding general, U.S. Army South.
From 2020-2022, Colonel Handke assumed command of the 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, Georgia, deploying to Poland and Germany in support of OPERATION ATLANTIC RESOLVE. Most recently, he served in the Pentagon on the Joint Staff as the division chief, Global Force Management in the Deputy Directorate for Regional Operations J-35.
Colonel Handke’s military education includes the Field Artillery Basic and Career Courses, the Command & General Staff College, the Joint and Combined Warfighting School, Airborne, Air Assault, Joint Firepower, and Ranger Courses.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, The Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the NATO Meritorious Service Medal. He holds the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab and the Joint Staff Identification Badge.
Colonel Handke earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, a Master of Arts from Columbia University, New York City, New York, and served as a post-graduate U.S. Army War College Fellow at the University of Texas, Austin.
He is married to the former Rachel Leehan of Puyallup, Washington. They have two children: Carter and Nora.