Joel Vettel was elected to a four-year term on the Cass County Commission in 2024. His portfolios include the Human Service Zone, Emergency Management, and Veteran Services.  Current committee assignments include the GFMEDC, MetroCOG, Human Service Zone Board, and Cass County Cemetery Board.

Commissioner Vettel grew up on a farm near Hillsboro, ND and attended Hillsboro High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from NDSU and a master's degree in management from the University of Mary. He is a 2009 graduate of Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety “School of Police Staff and Command”. He is a 2013 Graduate of the FBI National Academy. 

Commissioner Vettel served 19 years in law enforcement with the Fargo Police Department. He held a variety of positions including District Patrol Commander, Investigations Unit Commander, and Department Spokesperson.  Commissioner Vettel served three years as the Executive Director of the Fargo Park District and currently is the Senior Business Improvement Strategist for Sanford Health.

Commissioner Vettel lives in Fargo with his wife and two daughters. He is active with area youth athletic programs at both the high school and the college level. He has served on the board of directors for numerous agencies including Cass County Commission, the United Way of Cass Clay, Downtown Community Partnership, Haley’s Hope Dyslexia Center, Boy Scouts of America, and the FBI National Academy Association. He has also served as an elected member of the Fargo Park Board of Commissions, a Site Liaison for ESPN GameDay and the Director of Operation for USA Wrestling Tournament, the largest wrestling tournament in the world.