Joe Luis Pedroza Jr was born in Amherst, Texas. Graduated from Plainview High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps June 1996. He attended Recruit Training aboard MCRD San Diego, California and graduated in September 1996 from Kilo Company Platoon 3127. In October 1996, he graduated from Marine Combat Training aboard Camp Pendleton, California. Continuing on to his Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri as a Motor Transportation Operator. Upon graduation from Motor Transportation School, he was than assigned his first duty station with Combat Service Support Detachment 36, Iwakuni Japan.
In January 2003, he deployed with Regimental Combat Team 5 (RCT 5) attached to 1st Battalion 5th Marines in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. There he served as the lead .50-caliber machine gunner. Upon returning from deployment in 2004, he received orders to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California for Recruiter School. Upon graduation, he was assigned as a recruiter to Recruiting Station Buffalo, New York; Recruiting sub-station Batavia, New York. Successfully completing his first year of recruiting, he became the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) and received Recruiting Sub Station of the year. In October 2005, he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant where he continued to excel throughout the remainder of his tour.
In October 2007, Staff Sergeant Pedroza reported to 7th Engineer Support Battalion Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the Motor Transportation Operations Chief. He deployed in 2008 as the Convoy Commander in Al Anbar Province Ramadi Iraq. Upon receiving injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was processed for medical separation after 16.5 years in the United States Marine Corps. In 2012, he and his family relocated to Tyler, Texas working for his brother-in-law at A-1 Rent All. In June of 2013 he then started a career with FedEx Ground. In April 2021, he began working with Smith County as the Assistant Veteran Service Officer.