Joe Funston, ’03, rarely heard his father speak about his military career.
“Older vets don’t spend a lot of time talking about their experiences,” Joe says.
His father—also named Joe, as was his grandfather before him—piloted a B-17 heavy bomber during World War II. Over the years, Joe heard the occasional story told in the broadest strokes. As he recounts his father’s life now, Joe shuffles through old service records that have helped fill in the gaps and beams with reverence at every memory of the man who left a lasting impact.
“We knew about his service, and it was always something we appreciated and loved,” Joe says. “It inspired me to want to serve. Both of my parents were big on service—that idea of finding ways to give back and contribute to the community. The military was a way we’ve both been able to do that.”
The call to serve runs deep in the Funston family. Joe’s grandfather earned his U.S. citizenship fighting in World War I. His father carried that legacy in the skies above Europe. And Joe, raised in Detroit, followed in their footsteps both in the military and at Michigan State University—though he admits that path wasn’t always clear.
“(After high school) the military was far from my mind,” he says. “I did a year of college and was goofing around a lot. I didn’t fail any classes, but it was clear I needed to get some more discipline in my life. So, I signed up for the Air Force.”
Joe’s father loomed large in that decision. “He told me that I’d always have a bed in the Air Force instead of sleeping on the ground with the Army,” Joe says. “Between advice from my dad and a high school guidance counselor, that was definitely the way to go.”
Four years of active duty gave Joe the structure, confidence and purpose he’d been seeking. When his enlistment ended, he joined the Air National Guard and turned his sights back to college—choosing MSU, his father’s alma mater (’48).
“Dad had gotten his engineering degree there,” Joe says. “I wanted to go to a good school, and I knew Michigan State was known for having a good engineering program. That was my first choice.”
Joe took to Spartan life with the same discipline that guided him in uniform. Married with a young family at home, he completed his electrical engineering degree in under three years, taking summer classes and transferring credits to stay on track.
“A lot of good professors, a lot of good leaders at MSU,” he says. “They definitely prepared me for the rigors and mental challenges of things that I faced down the road.”
His mix of military and engineering experience led Joe to work on U.S. defense contracts for companies such as AT&T, Unisys and Raytheon. He returned to school in 2006 for his MBA but switched to law, earning his JD from Southern Methodist University in 2010.
“I enjoyed the argumentative side of it,” Joe says. “Engineers tend to be logical. As an engineer, you don’t make a lot of presumptions. I think that really translates well into being an attorney because you have to look at both sides of an argument and understand different approaches to things.”
Again, Joe’s thoughts turn to his father. His dad passed during Joe’s second year at SMU, but not before giving his unique stamp of approval. “My dad gave me a hard time,” Joe chuckles. “He told me that you’re supposed to diversify your stocks, not your degrees.”
That combination of disciplines proved powerful, landing Joe in a niche, in-demand field as a patent attorney helping engineers protect their inventions. He spent the next decade practicing law in the Dallas area while serving part-time as a JAG officer. In 2021, he joined Caterpillar, Inc., where his military experience stands out as a point of pride.
In addition to his role as senior corporate counsel, Joe leads Caterpillar’s global military-affiliated employee resource group, supporting service members and veterans across the company through mentoring, hiring initiatives and volunteer work.
The Funston family legacy continues through Joe’s children. His son, Joe Funston IV, is a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps and graduated from MSU in 2022 with a degree in political science. Joe’s daughter, Aria, is a current Spartan.
Even living in Texas, the family stays connected as Spartans and gives back to the community through the Dallas-Ft. Worth alumni club.
“It’s great having that common bond,” he said. “Michigan State is a fabulous school. I’ve visited half a dozen other campuses, and ours is one of the best.”
