His younger brother, V. J. Kurian was the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Kerala and is currently the managing director of Cochin International Airport Limited.Joseph Thomas joined the Indian Army in early 1964 at the age of 22 and saw action in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.In early September 1965, he successfully captained his group of men deep into enemy territory during the height of the war.[4] He also served as the founding managing director at the Kerala Police Housing and Construction Corporation Ltd.[5] Joseph Thomas is best remembered by the city of Cochin for being the brain behind the conception, building and inauguration of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)[6] which was completed in 1996 ahead of schedule.[7] This he accomplished while serving as the Chairman of the Greater Cochin Development Authority and was also decorated by the President of India for this effort.