Patrick Rhatigan 19th

Airlift Wing Commander At

Little Rock Air Force Base,
Arkansas
The Commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at
Little

Rock

AFB,

Colonel

Patrick

Rhatigan is highly regarded for his

selfless service. He is a self-directed officer
with sound technical skills, good judgment,
and a strong operational focus. As the
Commander of 19 AW, he takes care of all
aspects of organizational performance and
success, including leadership development,
operations for 34 C-130 aircraft worth
$1.2B, budget planning and execution, and
infrastructure worth $3.5B.
Academic Background

Col. Patrick Rhatigan has completed his

studies from some of the most prestigious
institutions in the country. In 1991, he
received his Bachelor's degree in English
from the United States Air Force Academy.
From 2003 to 2004, he attended Air
Command and Staff College to do his
Master's in Military Operational Art and
Science. Five years later in 2009, he went
on to attend National War College and
completed his Master's degree in National
Security Strategy.
Some

Of

His

Significant

Previous

Positions

Colonel Patrick J Rhatigan took charge

of Little Rock Air Force Bases 19th Airlift
Wing on July 2013. Before that, he was the
379th

Expeditionary

Operations

Group

commander at an undisclosed base in

Southwest

Asia.

During

his

one-year

deployment
diverse

there,

expeditionary

providing

airspace

refueling,

combat

aeromedical
support

he

commanded
operations

control,

evacuation,

airlift,

intelligence,

group

inflight

aerial

a
air

delivery,
operational
surveillance

and reconnaissance, & close air support

throughout US Central Commands area of
responsibility. Some other roles Patrick J
Rhatigan served during his career are that
of

the

Military

Assistant

to

Assistant

Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs

at Office of the Secretary of Defense; 93rd
Air

Refueling

Squadron

Commander,

Fairchild AFB, WA; and Speechwriter to the

Secretary of the Air Force at Office of the
Secretary of the Air Force. He also worked
for one year in the Mobility Programs
Integration Branch of Headquarters Air
Force, AF/A8 Plans and Programs.
Major Decorations and Awards

Colonel Patrick J Rhatigan has received

numerous

awards

and

honors

for

his

selfless service. Some of them include an

Armed Forces Service Medal, Afghanistan
Campaign Medal With One Service Star,
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with
Two Oak Leaf Clusters, Aerial Achievement
Medal, National Defense Service Medal
With One Service Star, Meritorious Service
Medal With 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat
Readiness

Medal

With

Clusters, and many more.

Two

Oak

Leaf