After graduation from Old Dominion University, Joe began his first teaching position at Fork Union Military Academy in 1971.

He taught World Geography and World History. As Assistant Planetarium Director, he used his Astronomy and Planetarium education to offer planetarium programs at the FUMA Planetarium and sponsored the Astronomy Club.  He was a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society.

In addition, he was Tactical Officer for E Company, located in Memorial Hall Barracks.

The Planetarium was fortunate to have a Spitz instrument. It is well known that if an institution could not afford a Zeiss Planetarium, the next best was the Spitz.  It has high grade optics, much better than other brands; and the dome is constructed without any seams showing during a presentation.