Meet Justin
Integrity isn’t a slogan for Justin Strickland, it’s who he is. In Iraq, he earned a Bronze Star, led soldiers in combat and stood up to corrupt Iraqi officials who tried to steal government money. At the Pentagon, he worked on rebuilding war-torn economies, went to Afghanistan 16 times, and earned the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Outstanding Achievement Award.
That same integrity guides him in public office. As a town councilman in Chatham Borough, Justin publicly stood up against his own party on an unpopular housing plan because he believes listening to the people he represents and doing what’s right matters more than doing what’s safe within his political party.
Justin’s campaign is powered by the people, not by political insiders. His all-volunteer campaign team is a driven by regular people who care about the Constitution and the future of our country. A campaign of the people, by the people and for the people!
Justin grew up poor in Texas and knows what it means to work for what you earn. He’s running for Congress to make sure everyone who works hard can still achieve the American Dream.
Leaders with Integrity fight for an America that rewards work, not wealth.
Growing up in a family without much money, Justin was taught that "nothing great was ever achieved by doing what everyone else was doing." So at an early age he started working hard to achieve the American Dream.
The Early Years
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After high school, Justin attended Texas A&M where he studied political science. Just ask him about it and you're sure to get tons of stories and insight into the Aggie traditions.
Justin was a student leader at Texas A&M and served as an elected student representative in Student Government. His reputation of always being present everywhere started back then, as he served on all the committees he could, author the most student legislation and was voted ‘Senator of the Year’ by his peers.
Texas A&M University
Military Service
Justin joined the military inspired by the men that fought in World War II. Those who served truly saved the world.
Justin is a former Captain in the U.S. Army and an Iraq War Combat Veteran. He served two deployments to Iraq, one year as a Platoon Leader in Baghdad and one year as an Iraqi Army Advisor Mosul. He earned a Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medals for his service. The military taught him valuable life lessons that helped shape who is.
When deployed to Iraq, Justin saw how fortunate we are to live in the United States of America. He learned that people are connected in a common humanity. We all care for our families and want the best possible future for the ones we love. That is one of reasons why Justin is so passionate about making the American Dream a possibility for everyone.
Use of photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense
Federal Service
After the military, Justin worked briefly in the private sector but wanted to continue serving his country. He moved to Washington DC, and became a federal employee working out of the Pentagon. While working for the Department of Defense (DoD), Justin was a member of a special group responsible for economic development in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this role, he traveled to Afghanistan on 16 separate occasions.
Public Service
Leaving the federal government Justin returned to Texas believing it was where he wanted to settle down. However, he found himself continually drawn to New York and New Jersey. After many years of traveling around the globe, Justin realized New Jersey was one of the best places in the world to live.
His passion for public service never ceased. Justin joined the Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission. A historian and collector, Justin prides himself on having one of the most extensive collections of Chatham history anywhere (Ask him about it!).
Justin was so passionate about Chatham, he decided to run for Chatham Borough Council in 2023. In his seat Justin prioritizes listening to concerns of the people of Chatham. His door is always open, and he always makes himself available to the public by having biweekly meetings in downtown Chatham. His commitment to showing up for the people of Chatham is unwavering.