Joe Rice
State Representative, Colorado House District 38
Joe's Military Service
Enlisting at age 17, Joe has over 25 years of military service, including 2 years enlisted service and 3 years on active duty as an Airborne Ranger Infantry Officer. Joe has twice been awarded the Bronze Star for service in Iraq.
A Colonel in the Army Reserve, Joe has served four combat tours in Iraq. His first tour was from March 2003 to May 2004 where he was the senior military officer charged to set up and advise the first
democratically selected Baghdad City Council. His second was October 2005 to February 2006 where he was assigned to advise on interactions between coalition military units and Iraqi civilians. His third was October 2007 to January 2008 where he evaluated the performace of the Iraqi military and police forces. And his fourth tour was from May - December 2009 working on the transition from US combat forces to the Iraqi Security Forces.
Prior military service includes duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina where he served as a special staff officer to the Commanding General for UN/NATO peacekeeping operations following that country’s civil war; and as the Project Officer for a Colorado National Guard pilot program to use military medical assets to provide care to poor and medically indigent civilians in our local communities.
Rice is Airborne and Ranger qualified. Awards include the Combat Action Badge for action under fire by the enemy, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, and two Bronze Stars.
Despite serving two tours in Iraq while elected to the state legislature, Joe has been able to fulfill his duties as a state representative because the legislature is only in session 120 days each year. Keeping his military service and his elected service separate, he has not served on active duty when the legislature is in session. While in Iraq, he has used his personal free time to research future legislation and to respond to constituent issues and questions.
Joe is a member of the United States Army Reserve. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense.
