Joseph Gelman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. At the age of eighteen he volunteered for three years of service in an Israeli paratroop reconnaissance unit. After returning to the United States he worked as a consultant to the past President and Chairman of AIPAC on US-Israeli relations and defense-related matters. He has worked as a private consultant for political campaigns, speechwriting, government relations, international marketing, and as a columnist. He currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.