Joel Thomas Gollar is a native of Louisville, Kentucky. After completing his high school education he served in the Navy as a Morse Intercept Operator under the guidance of the Naval Security Group, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the NSA. He was stationed at the Naval Communication Station in Rota, Spain in the early 1970's. Upon completion of his naval enlistment he returned to Kentucky where he received his Bachelor of Health Science degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology and his Master of Science degree in Integrated Community Development and Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from the University of Louisville.