Our employees are what make VMSI truly valuable. As a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, we take immense pride in recognizing and celebrating our Veteran employees for their service to our country and for their continued contributions to VMSI. We are excited to feature Tung Joseph Nguyen in this month’s Veteran Spotlight.
Joe is a Senior Contact Specialist at VMSI, currently supporting the Department of Veterans Affairs PCAC office. Prior to this, he served as VMSI’s Team Lead supporting the USDA Forest Service.
Joe dedicated 22 years to the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. He comes from a proud lineage of military service, with his father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather all having served. Joe chose to join the US Air Force to see the world and follow in the footsteps of his father, retired Navy Senior Chief who served in Vietnam, and his grandfather, who serviced in WWII and Korea.
Throughout his military career, Joe held several impactful roles. As Chief of Operations in Vietnam with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), he was responsible for searching, identifying, and returning fallen service members to their families with dignity and respect. He also served as a Contracting Superintendent at Dover Air Force Base, where he trained and mentored junior contracting personnel and advised leadership on acquisition policies and procedures.
Joe’s exemplary service earned him numerous awards and medals, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, and Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters.
Joe’s time in service took him across the globe, with memorable assignments in Okinawa, Japan and Mildenhall, England. He also deployed in support of the Y2K Task Force in Sigonella, Italy, and later helped build Al-Udeid Air Base as part of the 366th Civil Engineering Squadron shortly after 9/11. Joe also shared that seeing the world and serving alongside some of the best people America has to offer was one of the most rewarding parts of his career.
Reflecting on a memorable experience, Joe shared a story that shows how quickly travel plans can take an unexpected turn. “In a hurry to get to my destination for training the night before, I asked the airline staff to switch me to an earlier flight. Not knowing there are two different cities called Wichita, I ended up in Wichita, Kansas instead of Wichita, Falls Texas. Pay attention to the small details. It can save you hours of headache and unintentional drive through a state you never intended to visit.”
Drawing from his experience, Joe offers three valuable tips for soon-to-be Veterans:
- Get in as much education as you can while you are still in service.
- Make sure your medical history is in your record.
- Don’t short-sell yourself with what you have learned and accomplished during your time in the military
We are proud to have Tung Joe Nguyen as part of the VMSI team and are grateful for his distinguished military service and continued dedication to our country.