Joel C. Spangenberg

Mr. Joel C. Spangenberg, an appointee of the Biden-Harris Administration and member of the Senior Executive Service, became Deputy Director of the Selective Service System in August 2022. As an agency executive, he will serve in the capacity as acting Director, overseeing National Headquarters staff, the Data Management Center, and three regional headquarters throughout the United States consisting of civil servants, reservists from six services, and over 10,000 volunteers. Previously, he served in senior career roles as the first Executive Director of Operations at the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, Deputy Associate Administrator for External Affairs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, and Associate Director of Governmental Affairs at Naval Reactors.

During the Obama-Biden administration, Mr. Spangenberg served as Chief of Staff of the Selective Service System (SSS) and Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He has also worked in the U.S. Senate as a Subcommittee Deputy Staff Director and Professional Staff member, where he led national security legislative and oversight efforts. His key volunteer positions in the community have included service as Chairman of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton’s Service Academy Selection Board, SSS Local Board Member of the District of Columbia (D.C.), and Vice Chairman of the D.C. Mayor’s Advisory Board on Veterans Affairs. Mr. Spangenberg is a member of the American Nuclear Society and a former Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Spangenberg is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Surface Warfare Officer (Nuclear). He was assigned to the destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He also served as Reactor Electrical Division Officer on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) with service in the Western Pacific, including in support of disaster relief operations in Indonesia in the immediate aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. His final Navy assignment was Regional Program Director for Training and Readiness (N7) to Commandant, Naval District Washington. Mr. Spangenberg’s civilian and military decorations include the NNSA Distinguished Service Medal, SSS Distinguished Service Medal, Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Humanitarian Service Medal.

Mr. Spangenberg graduated with Distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering and was a four-year member of the men’s heavyweight rowing team. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College, where he earned a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. Additionally, Mr. Spangenberg completed master’s degrees in engineering management at Old Dominion University and in administrative leadership at the University of Oklahoma and is also a graduate of the U.S. Air War College’s Senior Developmental Education program. He is a Certified Defense Financial Manager with Acquisition Specialty and a Project Management Professional.