Tech. Sgt. Tory Patterson is the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge,
Public Affairs, 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. She manages PA operations for the AF’s largest healthcare, medical education, and readiness platform, supporting 5.6K staff
members and 255K patients annually. As NCOIC, she advises senior
leaders on team readiness and ensures mission alignment within resource constraints.
Patterson enlisted in the Air Force in November 2011. She completed Basic Military Training and the Defense Information School’s Basic Combat Correspondent course by May 2012. With two deployment taskings and four tours at Wing Public Affairs offices, she has served as NCOIC in multiple PA specialties including Command Information, Media Operations, and Community Engagement.
The Sergeant has been selected for multiple honors, including being named U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa’s “2017 Military Videographer of the Year.” In 2024, she was selected as an Education with Industry fellow for the AF’s 78th Cohort.
EDUCATION
2010 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, Calif.
2015 Associate of Applied Science, Public Affairs, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2015 Master of Human Relations, University of Oklahoma, Advanced Programs Europe, Germany
(In progress) Bachelor of Science, Conservation Biology & Ecology, Arizona State University Global Campus
ASSIGNMENTS
1. November 2011 – January 2012, Basic Military Trainee, U.S. Air Force Basic Training, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
2. February 2012 – May 2012, Initial Training Student, Defense Information School, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
3. June 2012 – August 2015, Broadcast Journalist Apprentice, 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.
4. August 2015 – August 2019, Community Engagement NCOIC, 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein Air Base, Germany (April 2016 – October 2016, Public Affairs NCOIC, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
5. August 2019 – February 2021, Command Information NCOIC, 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, Texas
6. February 2021 – Present, Public Affairs NCOIC, 59th Medical Wing, Lackland AFB, Texas (November 2022 – April 2023, Strategic Engagements and Public Affairs NCOIC, Security Assistance Group Ukraine Headquarters, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, Germany)
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Operational Support Flyer (Aerial Videographer)
Flight hours: 9.9
Aircraft flown: T-38
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
