Lieutenant Colonel Joe Fontanetta was born and raised on Long Island, NY. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, with a focus in International Business. He graduated from Officer Candidate School and commissioned in the Marine Corps in March 2007.
Lieutenant Colonel Fontanetta has had the privilege to command Marines and Sailors as 3d Platoon Commander, India Company, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines where he deployed to Haditha, Iraq; India Company Commander, Marine Combat Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West; Alpha Company Commander (mechanized), 1st Battalion, 5th Marines where he deployed on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in INDOPACOM; and will take command of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines– The Beirut Battalion.
His staff assignments include Weapons Company Executive Officer, 3d Battalion, 7th Marines where he deployed to Sangin, Afghanistan; Battalion Operations Officer, Marine Combat Training Battalion, School of Infantry-West; Battalion Landing Team Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines where he deployed on the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit in INDOPACOM and CENTCOM; J5 Plans Officer and Strategic Engagements Division Chief, Special Operations Command-Europe in Stuttgart, Germany; and most recently as the Operations Officer, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in EUCOM.
He is a graduate of the Basic Officer Course, Infantry Officer Course, Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA, and the United Kingdom’s Advanced Command and Staff Course where he earned a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Military Studies from King’s College London.