Joseph Lester
Senior executive leader and U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 4 with 30 years of experience leading people, driving innovation, and delivering capabilities across complex operational and organizational environments. Proven ability to align people, technology, and strategy to solve complex challenges, modernize capabilities, and improve organizational performance. Recognized for intelligence innovation and technology modernization, with a leadership philosophy rooted in emotional intelligence, developing talent, building high-performing teams, and challenging convention to achieve meaningful results. Brings a people-centered, results-driven approach to organizational transformation, strategic portfolio leadership, and business innovation.
Work History
Senior Staff Meteorology and Oceanography Officer
5 Months- Strengthened aviation operations and mission readiness through daily staff coordination.
- Delivered accurate records and timely reporting through disciplined administrative workflow management.
- Improved section alignment through coordinated scheduling, tasking, and communications.
- Enabled informed decisions and priority adjustments through review of operational updates.
Director, Regional Meteorology Center
11 Months- Directed installation support operations, aligning resources with Marine Corps readiness and mission requirements.
- Coordinated cross-functional disaster planning with local, state, and federal government emergency operations entities.
- Oversaw policy implementation for meteorology operations, logistics, and support services across multiple installations.
- Evaluated operational workflows and refined processes to improve efficiency, compliance, and service delivery.
Meteorology and Oceanography Platoon Commander
2 Years 11 Months- Supervised administrative requirements, maintained records and submitted operational reports.
- Oversaw teams planning, implementing and realigning environmental intelligence collections and operational strategies.
- Managed all aspects of administrative and personnel needs of environmental intelligence operations.
- Conducted experimental field research for the development of environmental sensing technology.
- Collaborated with Scripps Institution of Oceanography on various research projects.
Meteorology and Oceanography Platoon Commander
1 Year 1 Month- Handled administrative requirements, maintained records and submitted operational reports.
- Oversaw teams planning, implementing and realigning operational strategies for weather impacts analysis.
- Managed all aspects of administrative and personnel needs of meteorological operations.
- Integrated environmental intelligence activities into other military operations, plans and programs.
- Directed collection, organization and application of environmental intelligence to enhance troop safety and operational success.
Staff Meteorology and Oceanography Officer
2 Years 5 Months- Collaborated with leading climate scientists in the development of a global model that predicted the spread of COVID-19.
- Worked jointly with the Naval Research Lab to deploy oceanographic sensors via air delivery off the coast of Southern California.
Meteorology and Oceanography Officer
3 Years 4 Months- Developed new techniques for upper air sensing in order to provide real-time soundings for parachute operations.
- Provided weather forecast support to Humanitarian Disaster Relief efforts in the aftermath of an earthquake in Nepal.
Weather Forecaster
12 Years 7 Months- Conducted hourly weather observations, upper air soundings, and in-situ limited data observations in accordance with Federal Meteorological Handbooks, 1, 3, 11.
- Researched and predicted operational impacts to military movements including air, ground, and ocean logistics.
- Employed mathematical and physical formulas to help make long- and short-range weather predictions.
- Collected and analyzed data from worldwide weather stations, satellites, radars and remote sensors.
Education
Marine Corps Command And Staff College – Graduate - Strategic Leadership And Operational Planning
Advanced professional military education focused on strategic leadership, operational planning, joint operations, national security, organizational decision-making, and leading military organizations in complex operational environments. Emphasis on critical thinking, strategic analysis, interagency collaboration, and translating national and military objectives into operational plans.
Expeditionary Warfare School Blended Seminar Grad - Expeditionary Operations And Military Leadership
Officer professional military education focused on expeditionary operations, military leadership, operational planning, maneuver warfare, combined arms integration, and the employment of Marine forces across diverse operational environments. Emphasis on critical thinking, tactical decision-making, mission planning, and leading teams in expeditionary settings.
Bachelor of Arts - Natural Sciences And Mathematics
- 3.59 GPA
- Concentration in Meteorology and Oceanography
- Awarded through a partnership with U.S. Navy Meteorology and Oceanography Command and U.S. Marine Corps.
Skills
Accomplishments
- Recipient of the 2016 and 2022 Director of Intelligence Innovation Award for the U.S. Marine Corps.
- Recognized as one of the most innovative thinkers by the Secretary of the Navy. (Honorable Mention)
- Successfully developed numerous external professional relationships with the academic research community, participating in field research projects globally.
- Published Professional: Co-authored “Fighting Blind,” Marine Corps Gazette, October 2026 and contributed to numerous other professional leadership papers.