Colonel Joseph I. Grimm is currently assigned as the Chief Victims’ Legal Counsel of the Marine Corps where he leads attorneys and staff stationed worldwide who provide zealous and ethical representation to crime victims.
Colonel Grimm earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Pennsylvania State University in 2001 and his Juris Doctorate from the West Virginia University College of Law in 2004. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in May 2001. After graduating from The Basic School and Naval Justice School, Colonel was designated as a Judge Advocate in 2005.
In 2005, Colonel Grimm reported to the 1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton, California, where he served until 2010. He deployed to Al Anbar, Iraq, from 2006 to 2007 providing legal assistance, court-martial defense, and Law of Armed Conflict training to units throughout Iraq. Colonel Grimm also assisted more than 30 Iraqi linguists working with U.S. Forces in obtaining special immigrant status allowing them and their family members to immigrate to the United States.
In 2010, Colonel Grimm attended the University of California, Los Angeles College of Law, earning a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law. Following graduation, he was assigned to Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, Virginia, where he served from 2011 to 2014 as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Senior Trial Counsel, and Regional Defense Counsel providing legal advice to the Commander and Staff, MCB Quantico and prosecuting and defending Marines and Sailors facing courts-martial.
Colonel Grimm next received orders to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), serving as the Staff Judge Advocate from 2014 to 2016. During this time, the 15th MEU conducted various operations across the U.S. 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet area of operations including Operation Inherent Resolve and several U.S. Presidential support missions. Colonel Grimm also served as the Executive Officer of Troops aboard the USS ESSEX providing leadership and oversight to the 1,200 Marines embarked aboard the vessel.
From 2017 to 2020, Colonel Grimm served as the Staff Judge Advocate, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan providing full spectrum legal advice and counsel to the Station Commanding Officer and Staff. During this time, Colonel Grimm was also responsible for coordinating with Japanese Government officials to resolve alleged violations of Japanese law committed by U.S. servicemembers while serving in Japan.
In 2020, Colonel Grimm reported to the Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) where he served as a Deputy Legal Counsel managing the Law of War and International Law portfolios until being selected as a Commandant’s Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington D.C. national security think tank in August 2022.
From 2023 to 2025, Colonel Grimm served as the Staff Judge Advocate, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Okinawa, Japan, where he advised the Commanding General on all Marine Corps installation operations and activities in Japan, South Korea, Guam, and Hawaii.
Colonel Grimm is authorized to wear the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), and various unit and campaign awards.