Joe Pitts

Joseph R. "Joe" Pitts is a Republican politician for the state of Pennsylvania, currently representing Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional district in the U.S. House since 1997.

The son of an Army chaplain turned missionary, Joe spent several years of his youth living in the Philippines. He attended Asbury College in Kentucky and received his Master's Degree from West Chester University in Pennsylvania.

Pitts served five and a half years in the Air Force, with three tours in Vietnam. Initially commissioned as a second lieutenant, he was promoted to captain by the time he left the service. He graduated second in his class from Navigator School, after which he was trained as an Electronic Warfare officer. Pitts served on B-52s out of Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, with payloads of nuclear bombs. When America committed itself to the Vietnam conflict, he rotated out of Guam, Okinawa, and Thailand. In all, he completed 116 combat missions and earned an Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters.

After leaving the Air Force, Joe returned to teaching math and science and coaching basketball at Great Valley High School, near Malvern College in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

In 1972, Joe began his service in the Pennsylvania state legislature. During his 24 years in Harrisburg, he served as chairman of the Labor and Industry Committee. He was then chosen by his colleagues to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee for eight years.