Colonel Joel A. DeLuca is a 1999 graduate of Old Dominion University. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in December 1995 and attained the rank of Corporal prior to attending Officers Candidate Course in January 2000. He immediately attended The Basic School and the US Army’s Field Artillery Officers Basic Course at Ft Sill, which upon graduating he was given the designation of Field Artillery Officer. He was assigned to Battery R, 5th Battalion (Bn), 10th Marine Regiment (Regt); and deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment Program and Iraq in February 2003 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In August 2003, First Lieutenant DeLuca was reassigned to Headquarters Battery, 10th Marine Regt to serve as the Battery Executive Officer (XO). In March 2004, he deployed to Haiti in support of Operation SECURE TOMORROW and served in the Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters, J33 Current Operations.
In June 2004, Captain (Capt) DeLuca was reassigned to Quantico, VA for duty with the Experiment Division, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL). In December 2005, he transferred to Training and Education Command, Ground Training Branch as the Artillery Task Analysis. In 2007, he attended Expeditionary Warfare School academic year 2007-2008.
In June 2008, Capt DeLuca reported back to Camp Lejeune, NC for duty with 2d Bn, 10th Marine Regt and assigned to Military Transition Team 0100 as the Operations Adviser. He deployed in September 2008 to September 2009 as an Advisor to the 1st Iraqi Army Division Quick Reaction Force. Upon his return, he was assigned as the Commanding Officer Battery L, 3d Bn, 10th Marine Regt from October 2009 to July 2010. In August 2010, he was promoted to Major (Maj) and assigned as the Bn Liaison Officer. In October 2010, he transferred to Headquarters Bn, 2d Marine Division and assumed duties as Deputy Current Operations, 2d Marine Division (Forward) and deployed in February 2011 to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
In July 2011, Maj DeLuca reported back to Quantico, VA to serve as the Fires Section Head and Project Officer for the Field-Testing Branch, Experiment Division, MCWL. In July 2014, he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and earned a master’s degree in Military Studies.
In July 2015, Maj DeLuca reported to Camp Pendleton, CA where he was assigned to 2d Bn, 11th Marine Regt, as the Bn XO. In June 2016, he deployed in support of Combine Joint Task Force-Operation INHERENT RESOLVE (CJTF-OIR) as the CJTF-OIR Liaison Officer to the Office of Defense Cooperation-Türkiye and Deputy, Operations Integration Cell in Ankara, Türkiye. Upon his return, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) and assumed duties as the 11th Marines Logistics Officer.
In June 2017, LtCol DeLuca assumed command of 2d Bn, 10th Marine Regt. After relinquishing command in June 2019, he attended the National War College and earned a master’s degree in National Security Studies. In June 2020, he was assigned to the Joint Staff and served in the J-35 Joint Operation Directorate-Global Force Management and supported the J-8 Joint Staff Innovations Group as a Fires Officer.
In July 2022, Colonel DeLuca was assigned to HQMC as the Branch Head, International Affairs, Strategy and Plans Division. In June 2023, Colonel DeLuca joined U.S. Marine Forces