Joshua Gavulic enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on June 10, 1998, and after completing basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, he attended the Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Apprentice Course at Hulburt Field, Florida, and the Combat Survival Training Course at Fairchild AFB, Washington.
His first assignment was as a Brigade Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Operator with the 11th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) at Fort Hood, Texas, from April 1999 to December 2005; where he was then assigned to the 17th ASOS as a Ranger Company Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC), and later as a Ranger Reconnaissance Company JTAC.
In 2012, MSgt Gavulic assumed duties as the 17th ASOS Weapons and Tactics Flight Chief and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation. In 2013, he was promoted to the position of 17th ASOS Operations Superintendent.
MSgt Gavulic deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom 10 times between 2001 and 2014.
On February 21st, 2014, MSgt Gavulic was killed in a parachute accident while conducting a military free-fall proficiency training jump at a drop zone in Eloy, Arizona.
He was buried at the Fort Mitchell National Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Alabama on 3 March 2014.
MSgt Gavulic is survived by his wife Alyssa, and their six children.