Colonel Patrick J Rhatigan Is Appointed As The 19th Airlift Wing Commander At Little Rock Air Force

Colonel Patrick J Rhatigan has been serving as the 19th Airlift Wing Commander at Little Rock Air Force Base, since July 2013. He is responsible for each aspect of organizational performance as well as success. It includes operations for 34 C-130 aircraft worth $1.2B, leadership development, infrastructure worth $3.5B, and budget planning as well as execution. He leads a multi billion dollar organization employing 10,000 persons with a $190M annual budget. Col. Rhatigan possesses a variety of skills, including Information Assurance, Operational Planning, Security Clearance, Aviation, Government Contracting, and more.

After completing a Bachelor's degree in English from United States Air Force Academy in 1992, he went on to pursue a Master's degree in Military Operational Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College (ACSC). This college focuses on molding and shaping the leaders and commanders for the future. The students who study in the college attain comprehensive knowledge in the field of arms with greater emphasis on the usage of space and air power in joint campaign planning along with the operational art of war. ACSC is well known for preparing international officers, field grade officers of all services, and the US civilians to speculate positions of higher responsibility within the military as well as other government sectors. In 2009, Colonel Patrick J Rhatigan enrolled in National War College to pursue his Master's degree in National Security Strategy.

When Col. Rhatigan took charge as the 19th Airlift Wing Commander of Little Rock Air Force Base, hundreds of community leaders and airmen had come to attend the change-of-command occasion. During the ceremony, he assured the people that his primary focus would be stability and to release the innovative minds of the airmen. The 19th Airlift Wing works in compliance with the 22nd Air Force Detachment 1, 189th Airlift Wing, 314th Airlift wing, and the USAF Mobility Weapons School in every aspect of C-130 operations, as well as training. In addition to this, the 19th Airlift Wing is the Home of C-130 Combat Airlift.

Colonel Patrick J Rhatigan as the 19th Airlift Wing Commander leads C-130 aircraft, the world's largest fleet. He is responsible for providing global deployable C-130 aircraft, expeditionary combat support, equipment and personnel for Air Mobility Command as well as Air Expeditionary Force tasking, and aircrews. In the year 1992, Col. Rhatigan has earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base in Ariz.