Assistant Commandant

Colonel Joel M. Machak

Colonel Joel Machak is a native of Indiana, Pennsylvania, and enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard in 1999. He commissioned in 2003 through ROTC as a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps.

His previous assignments include: Assistant Chief of Staff, G4, 7th Infantry Division; Battalion Commander, 308th Brigade Support Battalion; Command Speechwriter, U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM); Mobility Division Chief, U.S. Army Africa; Battalion Executive Officer, 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team; Division Transportation Officer, 7th Infantry Division; Group Service and Support Company Commander, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne); Logistics Operations Officer, Joint Task Force–Civil Support; Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander, 82nd Brigade Support Battalion; Golf Forward Support Company Commander, 1-319th Field Artillery Regiment; and Executive Officer and Platoon Leader, 233rd Transportation Company.

Colonel Machak’s military education includes the Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Command and General Staff College, Combined Logistics Captains Career Course, and Transportation Officer Basic Course. He is a graduate of Airborne School, Air Assault School, and Pathfinder School. He holds a Master of Science in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy from National Defense University, a Master of Public Administration from Troy University, a Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management from the University of Kansas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

In July 2025, Colonel Machak assumed duties as the Assistant Commandant of the U.S. Army Transportation School at Fort Lee, Virginia.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (2 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (1 SLC, 1 OLC), and Joint Service Commendation Medal. He has earned the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and Pathfinder Badge.