Sergeant First Class (SFC) Joseph D. Hart, Jr., is a native of Houston, Texas. After enlisting in the Army in 2000, he spent his first six years as a Line Medic with 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment out of Fort Lewis, Washington. During that time, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004–2005) and was awarded the Combat Medic Badge. Following, he was assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Bamberg, Germany (2006–2009); from there, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (2007–2008).

He was subsequently assigned to the Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; during his three-year tenure there, he was selected as the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year (2010) by the Northern Region Medical Command. He was also selected to receive training and serve as a Senior Advanced Individual Training Platoon Sergeant for Delta Company, 264th Medical Battalion, 32nd Medical Brigade from 2012–2014.

He is a graduate of American Military University and holds an MA in National Security Studies. He is currently working on his doctorate. SFC Hart joined the West Point Band in December 2017.