Vincent W. Patton III
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Vincent W. Patton III | |
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 MCPOCG Vincent W. Patton III | |
| Born | November 21, 1954 |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Coast Guard |
| Years of service | 1972–2002 |
| Rank | Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard |
| Awards | Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (2) Coast Guard Commendation Medal (3) Coast Guard Achievement Medal (3) with "O" Device |
Vincent W. Patton III (born 1954) is a retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard in the United States.
Education
A 1972 graduate of Cass Technical High School, Patton was a member of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) division during his high school years. Patton received his Doctor of Education degree in 1984 from the American University, Washington, DC. He has a master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago; a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Shaw College at Detroit, Michigan; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Pacific Union College, Angwin, California.
Career
Patton became the first African American selected as the service's senior-most enlisted ranking position as the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard in 1998. His career included staff and operational assignments both afloat and ashore throughout the United States, and a joint military service assignment in Cuba and Haiti.
Patton served as the eighth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from May 1998 to October 2002. As the service's top senior enlisted leader and ombudsman, he was the principal advisor to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, his directorates, and the Secretaries of Transportation and Defense.
After retirement
After his military retirement, Patton completed a Master of Theology degree in Applied Religious Studies from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. In addition, he was an adjunct professor teaching 'Philosophy of Ethics' at the University of California, Berkeley. From 2004 to 2011, he was Director of Government Partnerships & Alliances for Military Advantage, also known as "Military.com," a website devoted to the military community covering benefits, information and transition. From June 2002 to June 2013 he served on the Board of Visitors for the Defense Intelligence Agency's National Intelligence University. From July 2011 to February 2016 he served as executive director for the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). From March to October 2016, he served as president/CEO for Warriors4Wireless, a nonprofit career development program for transitioning military servicemembers and veterans.
Patton is senior vice president for leadership development with NewDay USA.
Awards and decorations
| This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2020) |
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Enlisted Cutterman Insignia (permanent) |
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Basic Parachutist Badge |
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Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Badge |
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Commandant Staff Badge |
- 7 gold Service stripes. Patton is one of a few Coast Guardsmen to have earned the coveted "Parachutist Wings" specialty badge during his assignment with Joint Task Force 160.
Personal life
| This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2020) |
Patton is a managing partner with Pinnacle Five, LLC, a group of former senior enlisted members from the DoD services who served with him during his tenure as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.
Patton gave the commencement address at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, New Hampshire on May 13, 2018, and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service degree.
On May 17, 2019, Patton was inducted into Michigan Military and Veterans Hall of Honor.