Pat began her journey to West Point by graduating high school in Detroit, Michigan, enlisting in the U.S. Army, being selected in attend the United States Military Academy Preparatory School (USMAPS). Completing her journey as a cadet at West Point in 1980, Pat was among the first class of women to graduate from the academy. By Order of Merit, she is the first African-American woman to graduate from this historic institution. Commissioned as an Air Defense Officer, Pat embarked on a career in the U.S. Army giving her opportunity to command, work in the Army’s Human Resource Command, and serve on the Army Staff in the Pentagon. Pat retired from active duty service in 1995.
Pat’s post-military accomplishments centered around education. Pat founded the Seeds of Humanity Foundation, incorporated to assist the training and development of underserved and underrepresented students and their influencers, specifically with STEM education, ethics and leadership. She spends a good amount of her time working STEM initiatives across the nation. She established Life Plan Services, LLC. Its mission is to train and develop core life skills for those in transition and on their “ascent to excellence.”
In 2017 Pat was inducted as a member of the Defense Advisory Committee On Women In The Service (DACOWITS). In that capacity she advises the Secretary of Defense on numerous issues relating to women.