Colonel Joseph “Joe” Handke
Colonel Joseph Handke is a native of Sterling, Colorado. He began his military career by enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1999 and later graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, in 2004, earning his commission as a Field Artillery officer.
Colonel Handke has served in leadership assignments from platoon leader through battalion command. His assignments include the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York; 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas; U.S. Army South at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia; and the Joint Staff at the Pentagon. His combat and operational deployments include Iraq, Afghanistan, the Republic of Korea, and Poland.
Colonel Handke earned a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master of Arts from Columbia University, New York City. He also served as a U.S. Army War College Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, three Bronze Star Medals, the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab. He is married and has two children.