Sergeant Major Joseph A. Staudt

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs

Sergeant Major Joseph A. Staudt USMCR, is the eighth Senior Enlisted Advisor assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. He is responsible for advising the Assistant Secretary and staff on enlisted affairs of the 1.2 million military personnel of the Reserve which includes the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and the Army and Air National Guard. He also serves as the Chairman of the Department of Defense Reserve Forces Senior Enlisted Advisory Council.

Sergeant Major Staudt was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He began his military career in November 1977 by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps.  SgtMaj Staudt graduated from Recruit Training at MCRD San Diego, CA, followed by Infantry Training School at Camp Pendleton, CA where he graduated as an 0311 Infantryman.  SgtMaj Staudt served his first tour on active duty and after his release from active duty he joined the Marine Corps Reserve with Echo Company 2d Bn 25th Marines. Sergeant Major Staudt has served in numerous leadership positions from fire team leader to Sergeant Major.  As an infantryman he served as Fire Team Leader, Squad Leader, Rifle and Weapons Platoon Sergeant, and Company Gunnery Sergeant of an Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance Company.  As a Company First Sergeant, he served as an Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance First Sergeant.   Sergeant Major Staudt’s Sergeant Major Assignments include 3d Battalion Fourteenth Marines, Marine Air Group 49,  4th Civil Affairs Group, and Headquarters Marine Corps, M&RA as the Reserve Affairs Sergeant Major.  Sergeant Major Staudt was mobilized for Operation Desert Shield/Storm and called to active duty for Operation Sea Signal.  He deployed to Iraq with the 4th Civil Affairs Group during OIF II.  He participated in two counter drug missions on the Mexican Border with JTF-6, and served with JTF-160 for the Cuban Haitian Crisis at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Sergeant Major Staudt's professional military education includes the Corporals Course, The Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO) Career Course Resident and Non Resident, The SNCO Advanced Course Resident and Non Resident,  The First Sergeants Course,  The Master Sergeant First Sergeants Seminar, and the Master Gunnery Sergeant,  Sergeant Major Russell Leadership Course.  Sergeant Major Staudt also graduated from the Jungle Warfare Training Center at Fort Sherman, Panama, The Amphibious Training School at Little Creek, VA, The Mountain Warfare Training Center at Bridgeport, CA, and The Platoon Sergeants Course at Camp Lejeune, NC. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Citation, Navy Meritorious Unit Citation, Good Conduct Medal (2nd award), Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal (6th award), National Defense Service Medal (2nd award), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal,  Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with (Silver Hour Glass, “M” device with numeral 2) .

He is married to the former Dorothy A. Deardorff.  They have four sons Robert J., Kent J., Ivan M., Joseph A. II, a granddaughter Mariana, and grandson Louis.