Steven J. Patin leads UA’s human resources

Throughout his distinguished service as a U.S. Army officer, businessperson, and a professor at institutions around the globe, Steven J. Patin’s career has been guided by one leadership principle: people first.

A philosophy whereby people are the most important asset for any organization is what guides Patin in his work as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for the University of Alaska.

“Experiences I've had teaching in higher education, working in corporate America, and serving in our military have consistently reinforced to me that people are the centerpiece of any institution,” said Patin. “The role of human resources is to help enable an organization's most valuable asset, it's people.”

Patin was named Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for the University of Alaska following a comprehensive national search.

“After a very competitive process, the committee made an outstanding choice in Steve Patin, a person of honor, skill, and experience,” UA President Jim Johnsen said.

Based in Anchorage, Patin will supervise the university’s human resources teams and all HR functions. He replaced Keli Hite McGee.

“I am humbled by this appointment as Chief Human Resources Officer at the University of Alaska,” Patin said. “I have great admiration for the people of our university. I look forward to gaining an understanding of their needs and serving them as they perform their roles of teaching, research, support, and sustainment.”  

Previously, Patin served as vice president at Alaska Communications. In this position, he supervised all aspects of the company’s customer service functions. He also led the field operations, information technology, and the corporate program management teams.

Patin and his family came to Alaska in 2003, when he was a US Army Officer stationed at Fort Richardson. After several years and deployments, he was posted at the University of Alaska as the Professor and Head of the Department of Military Science, where he served until he retired in 2011 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  He also is no stranger to the university having also served as a member of the UAA School of Nursing Community Advisory Board and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Council.

“The connections I’ve made with our university system and its institutions over the years have been very personally fulfilling,” said Patin. “As Alaskans, we should regard our university as a precious asset and a source of great pride. It has changed so many Alaskan’s lives and has helped us to become a great state.”  

During Patin’s military career, he served around the world as part of multiple contingency deployments. While at Fort Bragg, NC in the mid-1990s, Patin served as CHRO for an 850-person Battalion Task Force responsible for all personnel matters including compensation and benefits, labor relations, performance appraisals, personnel development, process improvement, health service support, and safety.

Patin has also served as Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Army Alaska, as a Senior Advisor to the President of the Royal Military School, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Assistant Professor/Program Director in Leadership Studies, US Military Academy, West Point.

Patin earned a Bachelors’ degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master’s degree in human resources from Troy University, and a Master’s degree in education from Auburn University. He and his wife Lori have three children.