Lieutenant Colonel Charles “Kip” Patterson assumed duties as an instructor at the Department of Defense Information School in July 2020.
A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant branched Field Artillery (FA) in May 2002 after earning his bachelor’s degree
in English Education at the Pennsylvania State University.
Patterson’s first tours included the 1-10 Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Georgia, deploying twice in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Afterwards, he entered the civilian sector as a secondary english teacher focused on journalism and media studies, but continued service in the Army Reserve. There with the 1-347th Training Support Battalion, 1st Army he trained units to deploy into combat both as a FA officer and a Military Police officer.
In 2010, he reentered Active Duty specifically to serve as a Public Affairs (PA) officer. He has served in various PA staff positions at multiple echelons including the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in Afghanistan, the Research Development Engineering Command - Atlantic Office in Europe, the European Regional Medical Command, and the 30th Medical Command in Afghanistan. He held deputy communication director positions and acting
chief positions at NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps and most recently at US Army Cyber Command.
During his joint and combined PA assignments, he deployed to Afghanistan two times in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE.
Patterson also holds a master’s degree in International Relations from Webster University. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, the Military Police Advanced Course, the Department of Defense Public Affairs Qualification Course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the NATO Public Affairs Qualification Course.
His badges, awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (one bronze oak leaf cluster); Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal (two bronze oak leaf clusters); Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (three bronze oak leaf cluster); the Joint Service Achievement Medal; Army Achievement Medal (one bronze oak leaf clusters); and, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist Badge.