Major Joseph J. Haydon was commissioned from The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina in 1987 as an Armor Officer. His initial assignment was in Baumholder, Germany where he served as platoon leader, executive officer, and liaison officer in the 2nd Battalion, 68th Armored Regiment. During this period Major Haydon served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1992, Major Haydon was selected to the elite ranks of the U.S. Army Special Forces where he served as an Operational Detachment Alpha Commander and Battalion Adjutant in the 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 1996, he left the Army and worked in the United Arab Emirates as a military advisor until 1999. In 2000, he re-entered the Army and served with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina until he was selected to be a Sub-Saharan Africa Army Foreign Area Officer. From 2002 to 2003, he served as a Foreign Area Officer in Cameroon. In December 2003, Major Haydon assumed the position of Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation, US Mission, Abuja, Nigeria.
Major Haydon earned his Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in History at The Citadel and earned his Master’s of Arts Degree in Military Studies and Land Warfare from American Military University.
He graduated from the US Army Armored Officer’s Basic Course, the Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course, the Special Forces Qualification Course, the Jumpmaster course and the US Army Command and General Staff College. During his posting was in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Major Haydon graduated from the Camerounian Command and Staff College. 
Major Haydon’s personal awards include Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; Army Commendation Medal Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He also earned the Special Forces tab and the Basic Parachutist Badge.
Joe was a great personal friend and a valued colleague. When his plane was reported missing, everyone wanted to jump in a car to assist in the search. It was difficult to accept that, for 48 hours, it was impossible to locate the wreckage. It was more difficult to accept that he would never be seen and that his smile would not return to our lives.