Back in Colorado for almost two years!
Joshua Damsma BIO
Joshua Damsma was born in Canon City, Colorado in October 1979 and was raised in various parts of the Denver, Colorado area including Evergreen, Conifer, Erie, Westminster and Thornton. He attended the High Schools Ranum, Foothills Academy and ultimately graduated from Horizon High School in Brighton, Colorado. Joshua worked in various industries including sales, retail management, valet parking and property management while attending his full time freshman and sophomore years at the University of Colorado Denver as a psychology major from 1999-2000. In 2001 Joshua and his former wife were blessed with their first child Gennaveve Damsma. Joshua and his former wife Taylor moved to Brighton, Colorado and Josh continued his career in retail management. It is in Brighton that Josh had his first interest in joining and serving in the military when he took the ASVAB test with a recruiter friend Sgt Eric C. Clayton of the Colorado Army National Guard. With the rising cost of living and strong patriotic influence Josh, following in his father’s footsteps, joined the United States Air Force in search of the ability to be a patriot, provide a steady income, and learn a lasting trade. After completing basic training and technical school for U.S. Air Force telecommunications Josh, his pregnant former wife Taylor and their daughter set off for a three year tour in Misawa Air Base, Japan. The Air Force was a place Josh could succeed, after earning the coveted Senior Airman below the zone (a six month early promotion), and also passing the test for Staff Sergeant the first time a great career seemed to be ahead for the 3rd generation military member. Josh had also designed several military coins, an official Air Force uniform patch, volunteered to work in a secure area (earning him a Top Secret SCI clearance), and also served on the Misawa Communicators Association (an advisory council to the Commander, the First Sergeant and the Chief). Airman Damsma also earned his associate degree in Electronic Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force, and completed several other advanced U.S. Air Force telecommunications courses.
In early 2007 Joshua and his former wife Taylor had decided on divorce and Taylor and the two children moved back to the Brighton, Colorado area. Josh was faced with a tough decision to continue to serve in the Air Force or separate and be near his children. The decision to separate was difficult be the importance of family and the ability to influence his children won out above question. Shorty after separating Josh began working in telecommunications sales and shortly thereafter served in a contract capacity in Information Technology working for the United States Department of Homeland Security and currently for the United States Department of Education in downtown Denver, Colorado.
Josh has also completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Colorado at Denver finishing in July 2010. Attending every semester, including summer, full time since summer 2008 he had completed over 70 credit hours in the last 24 months . Josh has also accepted to graduate school at the University for the MCJ (Masters of Criminal Justice) progam begining fall 2010 semester. Since returning to the University Josh has not only garnished an A or A- in nearly half of his classes he also was honored with the first appointment to president of the newly formed Veteran’s Student Organization for the University Of Colorado Denver.
After remaining in August 2008 to Carolyn Dinnell, and acquiring two step children the need to serve was as great now in his life as it ever has been. Joining the Army National Guard was a decision spanning over a year and was one of the most proud moments of his life, especially the ability to have served in his grandfather’s Army and previously in his father’s Air Force. To be able to serve his beloved country again and attempt to set a positive example for his family, friends and fellow Coloradoans means the world to him.