Air Commodore Joseph Okoiye (RTD) commenced his military career at the Nigeria Defence Academy in October 1970 and was commissioned into the Nigeria Air Force as a Regular Combatant Officer on 4th April, 1973.

He had his Primary flying training at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Flying training School in Kaduna and the Basic and Advanced Flying training with the United State Air Force. He also attended various advanced and Air Combat training with the French and German Air Forces. He has flown several fighter aircraft in the inventory of NAF and other foreign Air Forces. He has over 4000 flying hours to his credit on fast jets out of which 240 hours was recorded in combat sorties over Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The Air Commodore attended Senior Command and Staff Course with the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington India in 1985. He also attended National War College (Course 2) in 1993/94, where he was the best graduating student.

He commanded Nigeria Air Force Operational Base in Yola in 1986 to 1990. He also commanded the Air Force Base in Kanji 1990 to 1992. He was the commander of the ECOMOG Air Task Force in 1990 to 1992. He commanded the Nigeria Air Force base in Kano in 1994 to 1997. He was deployed as the Chief of Operations Nigeria Air Force Headquarters 1999 – 2000, from where he was appointed as the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Tactical Air Command Headquarters in Makurdi.

He was decorated with the following medals while in service: Forces Service Star (FSS), Distinguished Service Star (DSS), ECOMOG Service Medal, and also a Fellow of the War College (FWC(+)). He holds a National Honour of the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).

He has now retired into private business with interest in Aviation, Marine and Hospitality Air Commodore Joe Okoiye (RTD.) is married with kids