Colonel Joel Armstrong (87-F) and wife, Katie, attend the 8th Annual Sigma Chi Wine Tasting on April 26, 2025. Brother Armstrong was awarded Epsilon Eta’s Alumni President’s Citation by Alumni President Brad Fischer (78-S) in recognition of outstanding service to the Fresno Sigma Chi Endowment and Epsilon Eta Chapter through service to our country in the Middle East. In addition, Joel was presented with the Sigma Chi Military Service Recognition Pin.

Brother Armstrong has been Commander of Camp Roberts since May 2021 in SLO. He is also Director of Grizzly Youth Challenge Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo. He and his spouse, Katie, live in Los Osos. Their daughter lives here in Fresno.

Since October 7, 2023 his Area of Operations saw significant threat activities. He was originally deployed to Jordan as Officer in Charge for the DIV and then in Kuwait working weekly his usual 100-hours.He serves the Army National Guard and the US Army. He returned from deployment in the Middle East in April 2024 where he served the 40th Infantry Division as Chief of Staff.

The 40ID had control and authority over 4,600 services members from across all three compositions of the army spread across the Middle East. Unfortunately, an attack occurred in Jordan which caused the death of three services members from the 411th Engineers (Army Reserve) located in Georgia. Despite those events, they continued their current mission to set and prepare for other on-coming attacks. At the same time, they prepared for re-deployment home and integration of their replacements.

Thank you, brother Joel, for protecting our freedom and defending democracy across the globe.