Paul Gerard Patton

Though born in Newark, New Jersey in 1942, Paul was raised in the "Hill District" in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a collegiate squash scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant. During his 27 years in the United States Air Force, he received an advanced degree in operations management from the University of Arkansas and attended Squadron Officer School, the National War College in Residence, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, and the National Security Management Correspondence Program. He is also a 1989 graduate of the Harvard University Executive Program for Senior Officials in National Security.

In April 2000, Paul began what would be described as a "profound legacy with CACI", when the company he worked for, following his retirement from the Air Force, was acquired. His leadership and guidance were instrumental with the Air Force Education With Industry (EWI) Program and the Secretary of Defense Executive Fellows Program. He fostered diversity and inclusion initiatives and was responsible for strategic Client Advocacy for DOD, Federal, and Non DOD clients.

Paul took an active role within the community during and after his time in the Service. He was an original incorporator and past chairman of the board of Pittsburgh's POISE Foundation, (www.poisefoundation.org), the first African-American owned and operated community charitable foundation in the state of Pennsylvania. He was also one of the founders and served on the Board of Directors of the Ira Dorsey Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Paul also represented CACI on the Board of Directors of the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce (DRCC), and in 2019, the organization honored him with the Distinguished Veteran of the Year award. He also served as a member of the Advisory Board to the George Mason University Vice President for University Life and was a key influencer with the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association (AFCEA) and the Air Force Association. Paul was presented with the AFCEA Northern Virginia's Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership and innovative approach to attracting sponsors to fund the chapter scholarship awards and his outstanding contributions to planning the chapter's signature IT Days events.

He was inducted into the Air Force Communication and Information Hall of Fame and was spotlighted in Diversity Journal, that described his leadership philosophy.

Paul was recognized in 2007 with the CACI Admiral Moorer Award for his significant contributions. There was a time when he provided direction to seven different offices across the country and served clients that ranged from the Air Force and the Navy to the Departments of State, Commerce, and Education, as well as the General Services Administration, and the State of Ohio.

He is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Patton (Burke, Va.); brother and sister-in-law, George and Wandra Oliver (Fort Washington, Md.); son and daughter-in-law, John and Marlene Patton (Woodbridge, Va.); daughter and son-in-law, Kyschia Patton and Oliver Ward (Fairfax, Va.); four grandchildren: Jaylen, Mia, Logan and Suzette; plus a host of other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Elaine Howell; mother, Pauline Patton; and father, John Patton.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the POISE Foundation (www.poisefoundation.org) and/or the Ira Dorsey Scholarship Endowment Fund.