Texas Lottery® Veteran Recognition: Joe Cimato

Joe Cimato grew up in northern Virginia, where exposure to government service came with the territory. His father was a government scientist, and many of his friends' parents worked at the Pentagon, with intelligence agencies or on Secret Service detail.

"The mission of serving the people – that was role modeled to me," Cimato said.

When one of Cimato's childhood friends decided to attend a service academy after high school, Cimato was inspired to follow a similar path, one that led him to the Army ROTC program at The University of Texas at Austin. Although in a new environment, Cimato still felt at home and poured his heart and soul into becoming a military officer.

Cimato graduated among the top three of his ROTC class and was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1996. His first stop was infantry school. Cimato trained as an Army Ranger, and the culture of purpose and service proved to be another good fit.

"Everyone was determined to use their capabilities of leadership and shared values to be in the profession of arms," said Cimato, who went on to serve for 10 years, achieve the rank of captain and lead in multiple roles, including Infantry Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, Battle Captain, Operations Officer, Rifle Company Commander and Headquarters Company Commander.

A former competitive high school athlete, Cimato relished the discipline and structure of a physical profession, which drew out his natural aptitude for leading from the front and maxing out fitness tests. However, the Army system also provided intentional mentorship that helped Cimato thrive, build emotional intelligence and develop his own leadership style. He took charge of his first platoon in 1999, guiding 35 soldiers in operations support throughout Kosovo.

"The Army gives you a vision and purpose, and then you go forth and do it," Cimato said. "All training is problem-solving."

Cimato's skills for innovation came through in platoon practice exercises. They would train force-on-force and attack a single objective six different ways. Over time, the tactical toolkit expands, which is useful, if not necessary, in more chaotic environments. For example, as Rifle Company Commander in the famed 101st Airborne Division, Cimato led a group of 150 soldiers in Iraq while securing a county-sized area full of 60 towns and villages. They literally fought their way through desert sandstorms and the world's harshest elements to achieve their objectives.

"It was kinetic," Cimato said. "The entire time in Iraq was a challenge because one day you're fighting insurgents and the next you're presiding over a local election."

When Cimato brought his rifle company back from Iraq, Vietnam veterans from that very same company were the first people to welcome them off the plane. The Vietnam veterans wanted to provide the 'welcome home' they did not receive in the 1960s and 1970s.

"I really cherish those guys and appreciate how they turned their pain and suffering into joy and connection," Cimato said. "I appreciate the way they role model how to give back, and how giving back is healing."

As Cimato transitioned into post-service civilian life, he said he felt lost in corporate America, but he absorbed that initial culture shock by defaulting to the ingrained service-first ethos. Cimato found ways to continue to lead in his immediate community. He takes an active, hands-on coaching role with his sons' soccer, swim and mountain bike teams, and Cimato still relies on his adaptable leadership style to foster people-first mentalities and move groups toward common objectives. Cimato is currently the Director of Federal Customer Success for Dell Technologies and manages a team of engineers.

"The Army gave me real-life problem-solving skills," Cimato said, "and the ability to do it all with a peaceful mind."

Thanks to the Texas Lottery, great things are happening all across Texas. The Texas Lottery consistently contributes nearly $2 billion of lottery revenue each year to good causes like public education and veterans' assistance programs. Beginning with the first veterans' dedicated scratch ticket game in 2009, the Texas Lottery has now contributed over $277 million to the Fund for Veterans' Assistance.

Since 1992, the Texas Lottery has generated more than $41 billion in revenue for the state of Texas. Through strict adherence to its vision, mission and core values, the Texas Lottery is dedicated to ensuring that this support continues. The Texas Lottery's functions and activities are administered by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating a broad range of professions, occupations and industries in Texas.

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