Captain Joseph Bathgate is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. Recruit Bathgate enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2006 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon graduation, PFC Bathgate completed the School of Infantry and earned the Military Occupational Specialty of 0331 - Machine Gunner. He was assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marines in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he served as a SAW Gunner, Squad Leader, and Machine Gun Section Leader. He deployed on three campaigns in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2009, Corporal Bathgate graduated from the Martial Arts Instructor Course and became a Brown Belt Martial Arts Instructor.
In 2010, Corporal Bathgate transitioned to the Individual Ready Reserve and attended the Community College of Baltimore County before transferring to Towson University in 2012. He was elected President of the Veterans Club and graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a Minor in Biology.
In 2013, Sergeant Bathgate returned to the Selected Marine Corps Reserve and joined Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He served as Weapons Platoon Sergeant and Platoon Commander for Second Platoon. In 2016, he was promoted to Staff Sergeant and graduated from the Infantry Unit Leaders Course at the Advanced School of Infantry – West.
In 2017, Staff Sergeant Bathgate was selected for Officer Candidate School, completed Officer Candidate Course 225, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on August 12, 2017. He completed the Basic Officer Course with Alpha Company 1-18 and became a Logistics Officer. In 2018, he attended the Logistics Officer Course and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines, where he served as the Battalion S-4A and Motor Transport Officer.
In October 2021, 1stLt Bathgate transferred to Transportation Services Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 25, as the Company Executive Officer. In May 2023, Captain Bathgate graduated from the Expeditionary Warfare School and assumed command of Headquarters and Service Company, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion.
Captain Bathgate holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Data Analytics from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland.