Meritorious Service Medal
- Awarded on: June 18, 2007
- Invested on: October 12, 2007
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel Patterson was deployed to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2006, as the strategic plans advisor to the Darfur Integrated Task Force. During a period of volatile activity and uncertainty, he was instrumental in creating a multinational transition planning team charged with the creation of contingency plans for the African Union Forces. His expertise, his supervisory skills and his vision were key to enabling the creation of the United Nations’ phased support packages, which have since formed the cornerstone for all transition planning within the Integrated Task Force. Lieutenant-Colonel Patterson’s outstanding leadership and dedication brought great honour to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.