Joseph DiGirolamo
Bio
Joseph DiGirolamo is a photojournalist and public affairs specialist with the U.S. Marine Corps. He is currently attending Syracuse University’s Military Photojournalism Course.
Since he joined the Marine Corps in January 2004, he has set himself apart from his peers by winning multiple Department of Defense awards to include 1st Place for Regional Newscast, 2nd Place for Outstanding New Broadcaster, 1st Place for Local Television Newscast, and 1st Place for Outstanding Digital Presence. Additionally, he was a distinguished graduate in the Marine Corps Staff Noncommissioned Officer academy and recently completed his Bachelors Degree of Science, Cum Laude, from Excelsior College in 2015.
Joseph was born in Schenectady, NY, and graduated from Gloversville High School in 2001. After graduating, he attended State University of New York Delhi to earn an Associates Degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design. There, he met the love of his life and wife, Amy. Instead of pursing his Bachelors degree, he decided to serve his country and joined the armed forces.
After Marine Corps boot camp, he learned how to become photojournalist at the Defense Information School in Fort Meade, Maryland. His first assignment was Camp Pendleton, California where he wrote for the base’s newspaper and worked as a newscaster and editor for the base’s television station. Soon after, he augmented to 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment for a deployment to Ramadi, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After Iraq, he returned to New York to be a marketing specialist for Marine Corps Recruiting Station Albany. He was recognized as the Marketing Public Affairs Marine of the Year in 2009.
He spent the next three years back in Fort Meade, Maryland training the next generation of service members in broadcast journalism as an instructor at the Defense Information School. While teaching, he pursued an interest in Martial Arts on his off time and earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in the Marine Corps Martial Arts program. He now teaches the program to other Marines.
His last assignment was in Okinawa Japan where he spent months at sea with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit deploying to several countries to include the Philippines, Malaysia, and South Korea. While in Okinawa, he was sent with a team of Marines to provide public affairs coverage of relief efforts following Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines in Fall 2013.
Gunnery Sergeant DiGirolamo’s personal awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4th Award), and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Website
Stories by Joseph:
