Lieutenant Colonel Patrick C. Gordon

Lt. Col. Patrick C. Gordon currently serves as commander for the 412th Security Forces Squadron at Edwards AFB, California. He leads 470 Security Forces at Edwards and Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, protecting 19,500 personnel and test and evaluation operations for the KC-46, KC-135, KC-10, C-17, C-5, F-35, F-22, F-16, B-21, B-1, B-2, B-52, eT-7A, RQ-4 and emerging technologies on the 2d largest installation in the United States Air Force.

Lt. Col. Gordon graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004 as a Security Forces officer. His formative duties include Missile Field Flight Commander at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and his Air Base Defense Flight Commander duties in Kunsan, South Korea. Lt. Col. Gordon executed Operations and Training Officer duties at Ramstein AB, Germany, and Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. He has commanded two squadrons at Lajes Field Portugal and the Air Force Outstanding Medium Security Forces Squadron of 2018 in Misawa, Japan. Lt. Col. Gordon’s deployments have placed him in various roles including detention operations supporting 30,000 detainees, Police transition duties conducting engagement and police training for 19 Iraqi General Officers and 50,000 police in East Baghdad and Current Operations, Medical Advisor and Force Protection Chief of Current Operations for Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. Lt. Col. Gordon career broadening experience includes Technical Security Team Deputy Chief duties overseeing contract security of F-16’s at two separate Pakistani ABs. Lt. Col. Gordon also conducted duties as intermediate support for program management of Fire, Emergency Services, Anti-Terrorism and Security Forces units across the Pacific theater as part of the AF Installation and Mission Support Centers’ Detachment 2 and recently concluded a successful tour as Deputy Group Commander of the 377 Security Forces Group at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico.

Lt. Col. Gordon’s prior duties have given him the opportunity to work with 23 foreign locations in relationships that varied from Ally to commercial partner. He is a participant in the Association of Security Specialists International and an incessant student of military history. He has studied and retains a tested level of understanding of the Portuguese language and has studied conversational Arabic, German, Hongul (Korean), and Urdu (Pakistan).

EDUCATION:

2000  Maranatha Academy High School, Kansas City, KS
2004  Bachelor Of Science, The United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
2004  Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, AL
2005  Environmental Initiatives Course, Minot AFB, ND
2005  AF Trainers and Instructors MTT, Minot AFB, ND
2005  Security Forces Officer Academy,  Camp Bullis TX
2006  Anti-Terrorism, Force Protection Lvl 2, Minot AFB, ND
2008  Squadron Officer Course, (Course 28, Correspondence), Ramstein AB, Germany
2008  Unit Level ART/SORT Assessment Course, Ramstein AB, Germany
2008  Special Air Mission Emergency Response Course, Ramstein AB, Germany
2009  Squadron Officer Course, Squadron Officer College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2009  Advanced Security Officers Course, Lackland AFB, TX
2009  Ground Based Defense Command and Control Course, Lackland AFB, TX
2011  Special Response Team Training Course, Ft Leonard-Wood MO
2012  FEMA National Incident Management 3/4/7/800 Certification, Tucson, Az
2013  Contracting Officer Representative Distance Learning, Shabaz AB, Pakistan
2016  Masters, Military Science: Air Operations and Strategy, Air Universit, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2017  AT Level III Executive Course, Ramstein AB, Germany
2019 Certified Project Management, AFIMSC DL, Oahu, HI
2021 National Incident Management Certification, NIMS 300/400, New Mexico EM School, Albuquerque, NM
2022 Air University, Air War College, Distance Learning, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
2023 Green Belt Certification, Opus Works Online, Kirtland AFB, NM

ASSIGNMENTS:

1.  August 2004 - June 2006, Flight Commander, 91 Missile Security Forces Squadron, Minot AFB, ND
2.  May 2005 - August 2005, Security Forces Officer Academy student, Camp Bullis, TX
3.  August 2006 - September 2007, Flight Commander/Mobile Reserve Commander, Kunsan AB, ROK
4.  September 2007- October 2010, Operations Officer, Ramstein AB, Germany
5.  October 2010 -2014, Operations Officer, 355 Security Forces Sqaudron, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
6.  March 2014 – June 2015, Deputy Chief, Technical Security Team, Shabaz and Mushaf AB, Pakistan
7.  June 2015 – June 2016, Student, Air University Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
8.  June 2016 – May 2017, Commander, 65 Security Forces Squadron, Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal
9.  June 2017 – August 2018, Commander, 35 Security Forces Squadron, Misawa AB, Japan
10.  August 2018 – July 2021, Division Chief, AFIMSC Det 2 Protection Services, JBPHH, Hawaii
11.  July 2021- June 2023, Deputy Commander, 377th Security Forces Group, Kirtland AFB, NM
12. June 2023 – Present, Commander, 412 Security Forces Squadron, Edwards AFB, CA

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:      

1.  Bronze Star Medal
2.  Defense Meritorious Service Medal
3.  Meritorious Service Medal (4 devices)
3.  Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf clusters
4.  Army Commendation Medal
5.  Air Force Achievement Medal
6.  Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
7.  AF Outstanding Unit Award three oak leaf clusters
8.  National Defense Service Medal
9.  Iraq Campaign Medal with bronze star device
10.  Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
11.  Korean Defense Service Medal
12.  Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border
13.  AF Longevity Service one cluster
14.  Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (with Star)
15.  AF Training Ribbon
16.  Air Combat Command Company Grade Officer of the Year 2011
17.  NATO Non-Article 5 Meritorious Service Medal

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS:

Association of Graduates USAFA
Association of Security Specialists International Studies (ASSIS)
Wounded Warrior Project

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

2d Lieutenant, June 2004
1st Lieutenant, June 2006
Captain, June 2008
Major, September 2014,
Lt Colonel, March 2019