HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- One NCO proves it's possible to be serious and funny all at the same time.
Meet professional comedian, Tech. Sgt. Ednerson Joseph, 1st Special Operations Comptroller Squadron NCO in charge of commander support staff.
Joseph, an Orlando, Florida, native, said he got into comedy about 10 years ago when he was stationed in Guam.
"It was an open mic night, and I thought I was funnier than the other comedians," he said. "So, I went on stage, and the rest is history."
The juxtaposition of being an NCO and telling jokes on a stage is a clear indication that Joseph can wear multiple hats, so to speak.
"Doing comedy means I have to be able to open my life to the world," he said. "I talk about real-life experiences; you name it ... I talk about it."
Monday through Friday, Joseph manages 21 duties and works directly with his commander. If someone in the 1st SOCPTS needs to test for promotion, he's the person they go to. And if someone needs anything else, it probably falls under one of his other duties.
At night and on the weekends, Joseph performs at multiple restaurants and night clubs in the local area.
Twanna Connors, 1st Special Operations Comptroller Squadron commander executive assistant, said she has worked with Joseph for nearly a year.
Connors said Joseph is a hard worker, but when it's time to have fun, he really knows how to make others laugh.
"He has a passion for making people smile, and he is really good at it," she said. "He can be uplifting, even when I'm down."
However, not everyone was a fan of Joseph in the beginning of his comedy career. Joseph said he was booed off stage during his fifth performance.
"That was a wakeup call," he said. "I realized I needed to take it seriously and work harder because I loved doing [stand-up comedy]."
The hard work has paid off.
Joseph said he currently is hosting "So You Think You're Funny," a comedy competition. The winner will travel with him to Los Angeles and perform at The Comedy Store, a world-famous establishment in Hollywood, California.
And in July 2013, Joseph performed for a crowd of 1,400 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, with Michael Winslow, an American actor best known as the "Man of 10,000 Sound Effects." Joseph said it was his most memorable performance because his family was there, and he included them in his routine.
"When I start a performance, I always warn the audience that I will be making fun of them," he said. "I like to tease people. After all, it's just comedy."
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