About the AuthorDr. Joseph grew up in a small, semi-agricultural town south of San Diego, California where he developed a lifelong interest in animals, the environment, the ocean, and life on earth, He has been fortunate to work in in various positions ranging from animal keeper, consultant, veterinarian, and Executive Director in aquariums, dolphin facilities, museums, nature centers and zoos in the United States, Canada, and Asia for over five decades. Enlisting at 57 years of age, the oldest veterinarian accepted into the United States Army Reserve Veterinary Corps, Dr. Joseph retired as a highly decorated Major after leading missions focusing on public health and disease control in cattle, chickens, dogs, pigs, sheep, goats, and horses in Africa, Alaska above the Arctic Circle, and Central America and provided veterinary care for Military Working Dogs in Afghanistan, and the Middle East. During his military service, Dr. Joseph was awarded the Army Achievement Medal (four times), the Army Commendation Medal (four times), the Meritorious Service Medal (twice), the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (three times), the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the NATO Afghanistan Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon (twice), the Army Overseas Service Ribbon (twice), the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (twice), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Naval Arctic Service Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon. In addition, Dr. Joseph was selected as Veterinarian of the Year in 2021 by the Washington State Association of Veterinary Medicine and received a 2022 Parks Champion Award from the Metropolitan Parks of Tacoma for his outstanding contributions to Tacoma parks and zoos.Dr. Joseph currently serves as, Merlin Entertainment’s North American Lead Veterinarian, the Aquarium on the Boardwalk’s Consulting Veterinarian, the Dolphin Experience’s Consulting Veterinarian, the Seattle Aquarium’s Relief Veterinarian, as a member of the Board of Directors for LifeStock Int’, as co-manager of a farmer training initiative in Iraq, and Kurdistan for LifeStock Intl’, and serves as an animal welfare inspector for the American Humane Association. Dr. Joseph graduated from Southwestern Community College with an Associate in Arts degree in 1973; from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology in December 1977; from the University of California, Davis with a DVM in June 1984; and at 69 years of age, completed his Master’s in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at the University of Florida in December 2020. He is Certified in Aquatic Veterinary Medicine by the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association.Dr. Joseph has published over twenty articles in scientific journals, and two book chapters, and is a frequent lecturer at veterinary professional conferences and the Washington State University, School of Veterinary Medicine.Dr. Joseph lives in Gig Harbor, Washington with his lovely wife, Sally, two Bernese Mountain Dogs, a Leonberger, and a calico cat. Read more about this authorRead less about this author