Pat Ross

After the United States Military Academy West Point, Pat Ross completed airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was assigned to a field artillery unit. He was stationed at Fort Stewart, Georgia, which was the U.S. Army’s rapid deployment force at the time. Then Operation Desert Shield/Storm happened, which was the code name for the U.S. military’s response to Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait. Ross’s unit was immediately deployed. 

Shortly after entering Iraq, Ross’s unit encountered enemy mortar fire. “The impact of the high explosive rounds, coupled with the fact that it was dark, led to both fear and confusion,” Ross said. “Our soldiers remained calm under pressure, largely due to the level of preparation through daily and nightly training missions. We successfully completed our mission of taking out an Iraqi air defense battery that allowed our Apache attack helicopters to safely move forward.” 

Ross received the Bronze Star Medal after the mission. “This honor was solely due to the professionalism of the soldiers in my unit,” he said. “I was scared like everyone, but as I told my soldiers, it’s natural and ok to be scared. Through our training they simply reacted and did what they needed to do.” 

Ross now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he gives back to the military through a program called the West Point Society. He teaches classes in leadership skills training to ex-military personnel, which helps prepare them for civilian life. “Military men and women transitioning to the business world can be great assets to any organization,” Ross said. “Through their military experience and training, there are many skills that are directly applicable to businesses, including leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, communication and creative thinking. All of these skills translate well, and I feel privileged to be able to assist them in their journey.”

When thinking about his years of service and being a Veteran, Ross said, “I take pride in being able to serve my country. It’s an honor to protect and continue to enable the virtues that make our country such a special place.”