Joshua Scaturo was born on August 15, 1979, in St. Louis, Missouri. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 24, 1998, and completed basic training at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois, in June 1998. Scaturo then completed training as a steel worker at the Naval Construction Training Center in Gulfport, Mississippi, before serving with U.S. Naval Forces Marianas on Guam from September 1998 to September 2000. His next assignment was with NMCB-40 at Port Hueneme, California, from September 2000 to April 2003, followed by service with Construction Battalion Unit 413 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from May 2003 to June 2006, during which time he deployed to Afghanistan from March to September 2005. Petty Officer Scaturo joined NMCB-133 at Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport in June 2006, and then deployed to Afghanistan from March to July 2010. He transferred to PWD Sigonella, Italy, in September 2010.

His 1st (of 4) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Citation reads:

For professional achievement in the superior performance of his duties while serving as intelligence analyst and C2PC Operator for THIRTIETH Naval Construction Regiment from March 2005 to August 2005. Petty Officer Scaturo's extraordinary actions were key to the success of the intelligence section for the regiment during combat operations. He analyzed enemy tactics, techniques and procedures, and over 2000 significant events. He expertly prepared event summaries, convoy route assessments, and imagery of attacks. His superb products were essential to the safety of tactical movement teams and regimental projects. His outstanding performance, personal initiative, and devotion to duty reflected credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.