Joe Cordero:
CLASS OF 1975
James Garfield High SchoolClass of 1975
Los angeles, CA
Belvedere Junior High SchoolClass of 1972
Los angeles, CA
Joe's Story
Graduated 1975
Went to College 1976
Joined the Navy…saw the world 1977 – 1988 went to Hawaii, Philippines, Australia, Africa, Jamaica, Columbia, Panama, Guam, Singapore and countless other islands in the Pacific.
Got Married 1987
Had 3 kids 1989 - 1995
Joined Microsoft 1996 went to China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, India, France, Denmark
CEO of Software Engineering Company 2014 - work from home
Senior year I studied computer sciences at Garfield, 7 a.m. before classes and Tool Design at North American Rockwell afterschool at 7 p.m. and Architectural rendering at Central Community College in LA on Saturdays. After Garfield: Attended USC ran out of funds, received a full ride to UC Riverside on condition I attend “special minority student classes”. Declined and joined the Navy. I was offered a Commission and Navy scholarship to complete my education on condition I give up my Mexican citizenship. I declined. Became an enlisted Naval Drill Instructor then a Hospitalman in San Diego.
Helen and I became engaged, then she was gone.
I volunteered as a US Marine combat Corpsman and received assignment:...Expand for more
Marine Raiders out of Hawaii (search and destroy officially didn’t exist) traveled hard across the world with the Marines and the Navy, never looking back always ready for the next horizon, we were always in the middle of conflicts. Received the Navy Expeditionary Medal for invasions of foreign lands and my Masters in Mechanical Engineering.
I was the senior enlisted in charge of the emergency room in 29 Palms California Naval Hospital on the Marine Corps Combat Training Center when I met my wife Missy. Fell in love, stopped running, got married. Left the Navy. Had our first child Joseph two years later. Moved to Washington State. Went to work for Microsoft. Never forgot East Los Angeles. Had two other children – Nathaniel then Kami.
I consult for tech companies worldwide from Oman to India, Latin America and Europe in search for a competitive edge in the technology sphere with products or services such as Artificial Intelligence or Blockchain, but all just a way to buy time to spend with those close to me.
Garfield will always hold poignant memories, that molded a part of who I’ve become.
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