Joe Osborne
Senior Consultant

Colonel (Retired) Joe Osborne is a Senior Director with PICA Corp and a Senior Research Fellow with the Joint Special Operations University (JSOU).  He is a career Special Forces Officer and retired from the Army in 2011.

In his most recent military assignments Colonel Osborne served as the J3, Director of Operations at Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT).  In this capacity COL(R) Osborne oversaw day-to-day operations and program management for one of the most complex and fast-paced operational environments in DoD.  Prior to his tour at SOCCENT he served at United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) as both a Principal Staff Officer and Division Chief.

His executive level portfolios for USSOCOM and SOCCENT have included Irregular Warfare, Global Synchronization, Plans Policy & Strategy and Theater level Operations.  He is an accomplished briefer and is capable of presenting and speaking at any level – in 2008 he provided testimony on behalf of USSOCOM to a combined congressional committee hearing (HASC O&I and TUTC) and most recently (2012) presented a paper at an international conference that included Jordanian Prince Faisal Al Hussein as a participant.

Prior to USSOCOM his assignment history includes a 2-1/2 year stint as the Deputy Commander of 3d Special Forces Group completing three full rotations as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A).  He has also served as Executive Officer to the Commanding General at Army Special Operations Command, and was both a Company Commander and Battalion S-3 (Operations Officer) in 3d Special Forces Group focusing on the Mid-east and Africa.  While serving on the staff of Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) in 1999, Colonel Osborne served as the Operations Officer for JTF Fundamental Response – a Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance Operation in the country of Venezuela.

Colonel Osborne commanded both a Company and a Special Forces “A” Detachment in the 1st Special Forces Group focusing on the Pacific Basin.  His Special Forces assignments have included operations and deployments throughout Asia, South and Central America, Africa the Middle East.

Colonel Osborne’s awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, The Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Ranger and Special Forces Tabs.  He is a Master Parachutist and has also earned military parachute badges from the nations of Thailand and the Republic of Korea.  He also has a Masters Degree in National Security Affairs from the Naval Post Graduate School.