Joseph Catalino

Dr. Catalino is a business operations and management expert who relishes in challenging, often neglected and avoided projects. From economic development in a conflict zone, to cost-modeling of a government bureaucracy, Joe has led a number of high-levelinitiatives resulting in impressive results as one of the Pentagon’s top free-lanceexecutives, cementing his reputation as a fixer, builder, closer, and change- agent. For the last 6 years, he has led multiple organizations and teams within the U.S. Defense Department (DoD).

Joe was the last head of the Pentagon’s Task Force for Business and StabilityOperations. This controversial program focused on direct foreign investmentand industrial revitalization in Afghanistan. Congressional and inter-governmental criticisms placed the organization on the chopping block and Joe was appointed to close the agency. He worked tirelessly to appease Congress, multiple federal agencies, and international partners while closing out the$800M program. Joe wrapped up remaining infrastructure projects ahead ofschedule and under budget, returning $11M back to the Treasury; delivered a complete property book and digital archive, and transitioned all employees (2013-2015).

He developed the Pentagon’s first-ever Counterterrorism Partnership Program Office. This $1.3 billion initiative provided a sustainable, nation-building focus allowing the U.S. government to respond more nimbly to evolving terror threats. Joe used grit, charisma, and tenacity to win-over many senior leaders including the Secretary of Defense to formally fund, staff, and launch the new office (2015-2017).

Joe was also tasked with the development and deployment of a globally deployed, enterprise-wide, IT system for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency. This failing, $50 million Program of Record was near abandonment. Joe resurrected the effort, provided clear guidance, aligned objectives and goals, and coordinated all activities across the system development spectrum, positioning it for success (2017-2018).

In addition to his government achievements, Joe has led in private sector firms with extensive experience in business development, with capture results and capital generation in the millions; public/private healthcare delivery, and health services administration. Joe attributes his successes to key mentors who gave him opportunities and counseled him through many failures. As a result, he is a passionate mentor of his own, and has guided many professionals through different phases of their careers.

Joe holds a PhD and MPA in Public Policy/Health Services from Walden University, an MSA in Health Services Administration from Central Michigan University, a BS in Workforce Education Development from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, and is a graduate of the United States Air Force, Air War College. Joe is an adjunct professor where he teaches courses on critical incident management, threat and strategic planning, risk mitigation, and human security and was named a "Homeland Security Professional to Watch" by The Year in Homeland Security 2009.