08/26/2025
Meet Joe Prete – Logistics/Operations Coordinator (a.k.a. Arch’s Resident Drill Sergeant)
Born in Norristown, PA, Joe’s life has basically been one long boot camp: football, wrestling, Boy Scouts, and then straight into the Army at 18. He spent nearly a decade leading infantry squads through Iraq and Afghanistan, then leveled up to Washington, D.C., where he took part in thousands of funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and Pentagon ceremonies—including President Obama’s second inauguration. Translation: if precision, discipline, and keeping your cool under pressure were Olympic sports, Joe would have more medals than Michael Phelps.
After the Army, Joe fought a tougher battle—his struggle with alcoholism—and came out on top. Sober since 2018, he’s now on the front lines of the recovery world, helping others fight for their own fresh start.
At Arch to Freedom, Joe is the guy who makes sure the mission gets done: operations, logistics, maintenance, supplies… if it needs doing, he’s already ten steps ahead. If you’ve ever wondered how Arch doesn’t descend into total chaos—it’s because Joe runs this place like a forward operating base (minus the camo, plus a lot more coffee).