Joseph R. Stokes retires after 43 years of service
Joseph Stokes retired from federal service in a ceremony in Orlando, Florida, on Aug. 26, 2021.
His career began in 1977 when he left Brooksville, Florida, and stood on the yellow footprints in Parris Island, South Carolina, as he enlisted into the Marine Corps. Forty-three years later, he culminates his career as a senior logistics management specialist at the Program Manager for Training Systems.
“When Joseph came onboard, we considered it a huge win due to his extensive experience in logistics as well as his being a Marine,” PM TRASYS’s Assistant Program Manager for Logistics Gloria Tuck said. “His stellar performance and professionalism, along with the fist-bump greetings, will be greatly missed.”
During his military career, Stokes’s work ethic resulted in multiple meritorious promotions — first to lance corporal and then corporal in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was later promoted to gunnery sergeant while on recruiting duty in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Recruiting was definitely my most challenging assignment as a Marine,” Stokes said. “Success was very short-lived, so you always had to put in work. You can be a superstar one month, but once that month is over, you have to make the mission’s quota for the next month.”
He would ultimately attain the rank of master gunnery sergeant and become a contracting officer’s representative before retiring from the Marine Corps after 27 years in 2004.
He began civil service as a logistics management specialist intern with Naval Air Systems Command in Jacksonville, Florida.
“My most rewarding assignment was when I was the Air Expendable Countermeasures Deputy Assistant Program Manager for Logistics at NAVAIR,” Stokes said. “I led our team’s efforts on the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. It gave me the chance to work with multiple cooperative partners including three foreign military sales customers. It was quite an experience.”
Forty years into his service, Joseph was finally presented the opportunity to cross a significant event off his bucket list.
“I was at the Pentagon to give a logistics brief on the F-35,” Stokes said. “While there, I met the sergeant major of the Marine Corps. It was something I wanted to do for a long time, but never got the chance. I went to [then-] Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Ronald Green’s office, took a picture with him and he gave me his coin.”
Program Manager for Training Systems Col. Luis Lara lauded Stokes for his many contributions.
“Joseph is genuinely one of the most encouraging people I have ever met,” Lara said. “While I hate the fact we had him on the TRASYS team for such a short time, the silver lining is we had the opportunity to witness a consummate professional at work who maintained a positive attitude that permeated anyone who encountered him.”
Stokes’s advice for success boils down to maintaining a good attitude and always contributing to a positive work environment.
“I truly value being happy and making people smile,” Stokes said. “The team dynamic is vitally important to everything we do and you should always treat your teammates as you would like your loved ones to be treated.
“This isn’t about just me; you don’t serve 43 years alone,” Stokes continued. “My wife of 39 years, Darling; son Justin; and, daughter, Devon were definitely the wind beneath my wings. There are too many others to call by name, but believe me, I am where I am today as the result of a team effort.”
Stokes is retiring to the Columbus, Georgia, area with Darling.
