SUNY Cortland Athletics

After graduation from Cortland in 1954, Joe DiPace joined the U.S. Navy where, until his retirement in 1982, he forged a distinguished military career. Among those chosen for the Senior Naval Officer's curriculum at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I., DiPace began serving on submarines in 1957. He became a spokesman for the U.S. Atlantic Submarine Fleet and a personal speechwriter for the Admiral commanding the Atlantic Submarine Fleet.

From 1967 to 1969, DiPace served as commanding officer on the submarine USS Trutta. DiPace also served in a diplomatic capacity, as U.S. Naval Attache, to the Government of Spain in Madrid. For his efforts, DiPace was presented the Spanish Naval Cross of Merit - First Class by the Spanish government in the name of King Juan Carlos I. For DiPace, who served on international NATO staffs for six years, the award was one of many in his career that included: the U.S. Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the China Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

"The basics of professional attitude, integrity, courage, perseverance, ethics and personal honor learned in class and on the playing fields while at Cortland have remained with me and have provided a guiding beacon all of my adult life," said DiPace. A Brooklyn, N.Y., native, DiPace attended Lafayette High. At Cortland, he earned varsity letters in both lacrosse and soccer. Legendary soccer coach T. Fred "Prof" Holloway listed DiPace among the "outstanding career forwards" to have played for him during his 35-year coaching career at Cortland. Di Pace earned a bachelor's degree from Cortland in 1954 and a master's degree in international affairs from George Washington University in 1972. After retirement from the U.S. Navy, DiPace and his wife settled in rural Virginia, where he sells real estate while raising horses and Angus cattle.