Patrick Joseph Michelson

Colonel (Ret) Patrick “Pat” Joseph Michelson, United States Army Element, Defense Attaché System, Defense Intelligence Agency, passed away on August 7th, 2024, in Columbus, Georgia. His life was devoted to serving the country that he loved so dearly. A dedicated leader, Pat was respected and beloved by all for his positive attitude, as well as his determination to take care of everyone around him.

Born on January 4th,1957 in Salt Lake City, Utah to John and Patricia Michelson, Pat excelled in school and became friends with everyone he met. Pat and his sisters, Janet and Carol, grew up together in Alamo, California and Mount Isa, Australia.

Pat attended undergraduate college at the University of California, Davis, and received a Bachelor of Science with a major in Entomology. Upon graduation, Pat was commissioned into the U.S. Army in July 1978, where he would loyally serve his country for the next 30 years. In 1983 he attended The United States Army Infantry School in Fort Moore, Georgia. In 1985, he received his MA in National Security Affairs at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, followed by studying Arabic at the Defense Language Institute. Afterwards, he completed studies at the Command and General Staff College. In 2001, Pat graduated from the U.S. Army War College with a Master of Strategic Studies.

Pat served multiple overseas attaché tours, culminating as Defense and Army Attaché, United States Defense Attaché Office, Damascus Syria, Directorate for Human Intelligence, Defense Intelligence Agency. Other tours included Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan. While at the Pentagon in the early ‘90s, he was assigned as Country Director of the Middle East, as well as the Intelligence Officer of the Middle East. In 1993, Pat served as the Deputy G2 with the 24th Infantry Division MECH and in 1994 as Battalion S3 for the 124th Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Stewart, Georgia. In 2004, Pat served as the G5/C9 at ARCENT HHC HQ Third US Army in Fort McPherson, Georgia. Pat retired in 2008.

Colonel Michelson’s awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Emblem with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal with one Service Star, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Service Stars, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon with the numeral five, Kuwait Liberation Medal – Kuwait, Global War on Terror Service, Kuwait Liberation Medal – Saudi Arabia, and the Korea Defense Service Medal.

From 2009 to 2013, Pat served as a Contractor with BAE Systems working for US Army Central International Military Affairs, Effects Directorate.

Pat is survived by his wife of 40 years, Joan Michelson, as well as his two children Matthew and Elisabeth; and his two sisters Carol Michelson of Tiburon, California and Janet Michelson of San Francisco, California. We would also like to recognize Pat’s best friends, Rob Berg of San Francisco, California and Fred Braswell of Pine Mountain, Georgia.

Special thanks to his loyal caregivers Gail Petitt and Metissa Boozer. We would also like to recognize Pamela Leonard and Tina Bookout of Spring Harbor, for their years of dedication and kindness towards Pat.

As Pat dearly loved his dogs Olive and Scout, donations can be made in honor of Colonel Michelson to NEADS, World Class Service Dogs, at https://neads.org/.

In remembrance of Pat’s light heart, his S3 soldiers proclaimed his motto to be “We don’t know a thing about it, but this never stopped us before.”

Colonel Michelson’s service will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024 at Arlington National Cemetery.