Major Clifford L. Patterson, Jr. graduated from St. John’s College High School in 1986. In 1991 he graduated from Howard University as a Distinguished Military Graduate. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Corps. His military schools include Infantry Officer’s Basic and Advanced Course, Airborne and Air Assault Schools, Ranger School, Pathfinder Course, Scout Platoon Leader’s Course, the Bradley Commander’s Course, Combined Arms and Service Staff School, Planning/Programming/Budgeting & Execution System Course, Resource Management Budget Course, and Professional Resource Management Course. His military assignments include: Bradley Platoon Leader, Scout Platoon Leader, and Company Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry, Fort Hood, Texas; Battalion S-4, Commander, Charlie Company and Commander, Headquarters Company 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky; and Budget Officer, Resource Management Division- Washington, Pentagon. His awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Staff Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Southwest Asia Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Parachutist and Air Assault Badges and the Ranger Tab. Major Patterson, a native of Washington, DC, was married to CPT (P) Tamatha Patterson. They have two sons, Clifford L. Patterson III, 6, and Benjamin Cody Patterson, 2.
