Patrick Rhatigan

Patrick graduated from BHS in 1987.  He served as Student Council President and played football, basketball and baseball.  He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1991 with a Bachelors of Science in English Literature, and holds a Master’s Degree in National Security Strategy from National War College.  He is a command pilot with over 5,000 hours in airlift and air refueling aircraft, including 435 combat hours.  He attained the rank of Colonel in 2011 and is currently the Commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas.  In this capacity he commands the world’s largest fleet of C-130 aircraft worth $1.2B and leads 8,000 military and civilian personnel.  Responsibilities for the 19th Airlift Wing include airdropping supplies and troops into hostile areas as well as supplying humanitarian relief to victims of disasters. He has held a number of positions in the Air Force including Chief of the Prime Nuclear Airlift Force, where he was responsible for the worldwide logistical movement of nuclear weapons.  He has also been the Speechwriter to the Secretary of the Air Force, and the executive officer to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon.  He has deployed multiple times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and his medals include the Defense Superior Service medal, the Bronze Star, three Air Medals and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.  He is married to the former Karen Skorenky from Ottawa, Canada, and they have 4 children: Clarice (10), Gavin (8), Lucan (6) and Tristan (4).