Vincent W. Patton III
Encyclopedia
Vincent W. Patton, III, B.A., B.S., M.A., M.Th., Ed.D. (born 1954) is a retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
in the United States
.
, Patton retired from the U.S. Coast Guard
1 November 2002, after serving 30 years of active duty. He became the first African American selected as the service's senior-most enlisted ranking position as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard in 1998. His career included staff and operational assignments both afloat and ashore throughout the United States, and a joint military service assignment in Cuba
and Haiti
.
, he was the principal advisor to the Commandant of the Coast Guard
, his directorates, and the Secretaries of Transportation and Defense, with primary focus on quality of life issues, career development, work environment and personnel matters affecting over 40,000 active duty, reserve enlisted, and civilian personnel servicewide. He routinely addressed these specific issues before appropriate United States Senate
and House committees in the United States Congress
, as well as with the Commander-in-Chief, along with his senior enlisted counterparts of the other four military services.
His numerous military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal
, two Meritorious Service Medal
s, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
, eight Meritorious Team awards
and nine Coast Guard Good Conduct awards
. He also earned the Cutterman Insignia (sea duty recognition) and is one of a few Coast Guardsmen to have earned the coveted "Parachutist Wings
" specialty badge during his assignment with Joint Task Force 160.
and was also a member of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) JAMES M. HANNAN division during his high school years.
All of Patton's initial college education through doctorate degree was earned while on active duty. He received his Doctor of Education
degree in 1984 from the American University
, Washington, DC. His dissertation was based on the development and implementation of the Coast Guard Enlisted Evaluation System. He has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
; a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Shaw College
at Detroit, Michigan; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Pacific Union College
, Angwin, California.
His extensive military education includes U. S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute
(DEOMI).
in Berkeley, California. In addition, he was an adjunct professor teaching 'Philosophy of Ethics' at the University of California, Berkeley
. Since 2003, he has performed summer missionary work with the International Rescue Committee
in Haiti, and worked as an executive director for the non-profit Halley's Comet Foundation, teaching "at-risk" teenagers seamanship and sailing skills. He served as a volunteer tour advisor and chaplain for the USO
, participating in the "Operation Handshake" program to visit U.S. military personnel during the 2004 Thanksgiving holiday in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in the 2003 holiday season with U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia involved with Operations "Iraqi Freedom" and "Enduring Freedom." From 2004-2011, he was Director of Government Partnerships & Alliances for Military Advantage, also known as "Military.com," the largest website devoted to the military community covering benefits, information and transition.
Presently, Patton is Vice President for Corporate Outreach with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International. In addition, Patton is co-chair of the National Coast Guard Retiree Council. He holds board memberships with the Defense Intelligence Agency's National Defense Intelligence College, Coast Guard Foundation, and the First Command Educational Foundation. He is a lay minister with Mt. Vernon Unitarian
Church in Alexandria, Virginia, as well as a response team member with the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry Team. Patton also volunteers as a critical incident stress-debriefing counselor for the Association of Professional Chaplains.
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Coast Guard.The holder of this rank and post is the senior enlisted member of the U.S...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Career overview
A native of Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, Patton retired from the U.S. Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
1 November 2002, after serving 30 years of active duty. He became the first African American selected as the service's senior-most enlisted ranking position as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard in 1998. His career included staff and operational assignments both afloat and ashore throughout the United States, and a joint military service assignment in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
.
Job description and accomplishments
Patton served as the eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from May 1998 to October 2002. As the service's top senior enlisted leader and ombudsmanOmbudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
, he was the principal advisor to the Commandant of the Coast Guard
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
, his directorates, and the Secretaries of Transportation and Defense, with primary focus on quality of life issues, career development, work environment and personnel matters affecting over 40,000 active duty, reserve enlisted, and civilian personnel servicewide. He routinely addressed these specific issues before appropriate United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and House committees in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, as well as with the Commander-in-Chief, along with his senior enlisted counterparts of the other four military services.
His numerous military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, two Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
s, three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon
The Commandant’s Letter of Commendation Ribbon is the highest personal ribbon award of the United States Coast Guard. The decoration was established in March 1979 by Admiral John B. Hayes....
, eight Meritorious Team awards
Meritorious Team Commendation
The Meritorious Team Commendation is the second lowest unit award of the United States Coast Guard. Created in December 1993, the Meritorious Team Commendation is awarded to lower echelon Coast Guard commands who perform exceptional actions that would normally warrant a Commandant's Letter of...
and nine Coast Guard Good Conduct awards
Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States military. The Navy Good Conduct Medal was first issued in 1869, followed by a Marine version in 1896. The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal was issued in 1923 and the Army Good Conduct Medal in 1941. The Air Force was...
. He also earned the Cutterman Insignia (sea duty recognition) and is one of a few Coast Guardsmen to have earned the coveted "Parachutist Wings
Parachutist Badge (United States)
The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy...
" specialty badge during his assignment with Joint Task Force 160.
Education
A 1972 graduate of Cass Technical High School, Patton became an Eagle ScoutEagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
and was also a member of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) JAMES M. HANNAN division during his high school years.
All of Patton's initial college education through doctorate degree was earned while on active duty. He received his Doctor of Education
Doctor of Education
The Doctor of Education or Doctor in Education degree , in Latin, Doctor Educationis, is a research-oriented professional doctorate that prepares the student for academic, administrative, clinical, or research positions in educational, civil, and private organizations.-Differences between an Ed.D...
degree in 1984 from the American University
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
, Washington, DC. His dissertation was based on the development and implementation of the Coast Guard Enlisted Evaluation System. He has a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
; a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Shaw College
Shaw College
The Shaw College is the fourth college of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. It is named after its patron, Sir Run Run Shaw who donated five hundred million Hong Kong dollars for the establishment of the college...
at Detroit, Michigan; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Pacific Union College
Pacific Union College
Pacific Union College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Angwin, California, United States. It is the only four-year college in Napa County, California....
, Angwin, California.
His extensive military education includes U. S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute
Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute
The Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute is a U.S. Department of Defense joint services school located at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, offering both resident and off-site courses in areas including equal opportunity, intercultural communication, and religious, racial, gender, and...
(DEOMI).
After retirement
After his military retirement, Patton completed a Master of Theology degree in Applied Religious Studies from the Graduate Theological UnionGraduate Theological Union
The Graduate Theological Union ' is a consortium of nine independent theological schools, and eleven centers and affiliates. Eight of the theological schools are located in Berkeley, California. The GTU was founded in 1962. It maintains the Graduate Theological Union Library, one of the most...
in Berkeley, California. In addition, he was an adjunct professor teaching 'Philosophy of Ethics' at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. Since 2003, he has performed summer missionary work with the International Rescue Committee
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee is a leading nonsectarian, nongovernmental international relief and development organization based in the United States, with operations in over 40 countries...
in Haiti, and worked as an executive director for the non-profit Halley's Comet Foundation, teaching "at-risk" teenagers seamanship and sailing skills. He served as a volunteer tour advisor and chaplain for the USO
United Service Organizations
The United Service Organizations Inc. is a private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military, with programs in 160 centers worldwide. Since 1941, it has worked in partnership with the Department of Defense , and has provided support and...
, participating in the "Operation Handshake" program to visit U.S. military personnel during the 2004 Thanksgiving holiday in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in the 2003 holiday season with U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia involved with Operations "Iraqi Freedom" and "Enduring Freedom." From 2004-2011, he was Director of Government Partnerships & Alliances for Military Advantage, also known as "Military.com," the largest website devoted to the military community covering benefits, information and transition.
Presently, Patton is Vice President for Corporate Outreach with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International. In addition, Patton is co-chair of the National Coast Guard Retiree Council. He holds board memberships with the Defense Intelligence Agency's National Defense Intelligence College, Coast Guard Foundation, and the First Command Educational Foundation. He is a lay minister with Mt. Vernon Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
Church in Alexandria, Virginia, as well as a response team member with the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry Team. Patton also volunteers as a critical incident stress-debriefing counselor for the Association of Professional Chaplains.