Joseph A. Olano is the current Chairman of the Board and President of the Archer-
Ragsdale Arizona Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ARAC).
From 2019 to 2023, he was Chairman of the Public Relations Committee, performing duties as Media Relations Officer and Project Management Coordinator. Joseph joined ARAC in 2014, after serving as Public Relations
Officer for the Buford Johnson Chapter (formerly Inland Empire Chapter) in Riverside, CA.
For 30 years, Joseph served the United States of America in the Department of Defense (DOD), under the Defense Media Activity Agency, and was assigned to the American Forces Network-Broadcast Center at March Air Base Riverside, CA. He was a Society of Broadcast Engineers Certified (SBE) Audio Visual Production Specialist, who functioned as a Television Master Control Operator.
The American Forces Network’s mission is to provide news, information, and entertainment to military personnel, DOD Civilians, and their families overseas, and to ships to over 177 countries worldwide where English language broadcast is unavailable or inadequate, 24 hours a day.
Joseph served in the Dessert Storm/Cold War Campaigns with the U. S. Army Signal Corps Regiment. He was assigned to the 10 the Mountain Division at Ft. Drum, N.Y. and served the remainder of his enlistment overseas in Europe in Darmstadt, Germany. He was assigned to the 11th Air Defense Signal Battalion supporting the 32nd Army Air Defense Command. In 1992, Joseph received an Honorable Character Discharge for active-duty service, and a 2nd Honorable Discharge Certificate for the U. S. Army Individual Ready Reserves in 1996.
Throughout his career, Joseph has mentored youths, shared his life experiences and travels, been a motivational speaker to young adults throughout Arizona, Southern California, New York, and the DOD School Systems in Germany. He continues to inspire young men and women in the areas of Media Production, Photography, Broadcast Writing, Radio Announcing, Public Speaking, FCC License Preparation, Journalism, Hospitality/Event Planning, and Sound Design. He has been a member of Toastmasters International and is a descriptive storyteller.
As a photojournalist and contributing writer, Joseph was published in the Stars and Stripes, the Frankfurt Chronicle, and the March Field Beacon.
Joseph studied at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Off Campus Location in Riverside, CA. Workforce Education, Training, and Development (2002). He also has an associate’s degree in Telecommunication-Television Production from Riverside City College in Riverside, CA (2000). An associate in arts degree in Education, with a concentration in Journalism, from Riverside City College, Riverside, CA (2002), studied Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing, from Riverside City College, Riverside, CA (2002).
Joseph has life memberships with the following organizations:
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
Society of Broadcast Engineers
10 th Mountain Division Association
Signal Corps Regimental Association
Military Broadcasters Association
Military Broadcasters Association – European Chapter
Joseph’s oldest son SFC Kyle Olano, U. S. Army Retired is a 6-time deployed
veteran of the Afghanistan, Iraqi Freedom, Bosnia, and Kosovo Campaigns. A
member of the Aviation Regimental Unit. He also earned a Master’s Degree in
Business Administration.
His youngest son Romone J. Olano is a member and veteran of the Wounded
Warrior Project, the Iraqi Freedom Campaign, and the Quartermaster Regiment
Unit in Ft. Lee, VA. He was also a member of the Stryker Brigade, Ft. Lewis, WA.