Joseph James Tribble (August 30, 1920 – July 15, 2003) was an American politician who served in the Georgia State Senate.

[1] Tribble completed his education at the Georgia Institute of Technology, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1942.

Over the years, he held various management positions and retired from Union Camp in 1981 as the Energy Coordinator for the Unbleached Division.

[1] He achieved the distinction of being the first Republican State Senator elected from Chatham County in the 20th century.

[4] In May 1981, Tribble reached a pinnacle in his career when President Ronald Reagan appointed him as an Assistant Secretary of Energy.