Joseph A. Bartasius, Colonel, USA (RET.)
Mr. Bartasius is currently an Executive Director for STS International a Veteran Owned Small Business. He previously served as a Senior Managing Director for L-3 Communications, Inc. and formerly,President and Chief Executive Officer of Soaring Eagle Solutions, LLC a Self-certified Small Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.
Over the course of his 30-year career in the Army and Army Reserve, Mr.Bartasius served in a variety of command and staff positions in airborne, light, special operations, Joint Commands and training units serving in Southwest Asia (Iraq and Afghanistan), the Republic of Germany and the United States. Having risen to the rank of Colonel, his Senior Officer assignments began as Senior Military Advisor/Military Transition Team of the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team (CMATT), Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) in October 2004. He assumed duties as the Chief, Civil Affairs Plans, 358th Civil Affairs Brigade in January 2006. From July 2006 to December 2007, Mr. Bartasius was assigned as the Brigade Commander, 1st Brigade, 98th Division (Institutional Training). In January 2008, he assumed command of a detachment, J2/JT, Army Reserve Element, United States Central Command (CENTCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida and served as a Senior Chief, Observer, Controller and Trainer of the 75th Division (Battle Command Training Division) to February 2010. In March of 2010, he served as the Director, Region II (NJ, NY, PR, VI), Emergency Preparedness Office (NORTHCOM) in support of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Honorably, his last assignmentbefore retiring this past September wasat the United States Military Academy, West Point as a Military Academy Liaison Officer representing the State of New Jersey, in collaboration with the NJ representatives and their staffs of the US House of Representatives.
A graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy and College, Class of 81 and 83C, where he obtained an Associates degree in Business, and held the cadet rank of 1st Captain, Regimental Commander. Following graduation from the academy, Mr.Bartasius was commissioned through the ROTC program as an Infantry officer. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from Cabrini University, with Cum Laude honors for academic excellence and attended University of Pennsylvania for his graduate work in Organization Management. Mr.Bartasius currently serves as the Chairman of the Valley Forge Military Academy and College, Alumni Board of Directors. Additionally, he serves as a Trustee of the Valley Forge Military Academy Foundation.
Mr. Bartasius’ awards include the Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 silver and 1 bronze Cluster), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (with 2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star), Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hour Glass and M Device) (with 2nd Award), Combat Action Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge.
Additionally, he is a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Officers Association of America and Association of the United States Army.
Most recently, Mr. Bartasius was a 2016 Inductee in the United States Army, Reserve Officer’s Training Corp. (ROTC), Hall of Fame.