Patrick A. Murphy

Patrick A. Murphy (born 1958) is a retired United States Army officer. A longtime member of the Iowa Army National Guard and New York Army National Guard, he served from 1977 until retiring in 2019. Murphy attained the rank of major general, and his awards and decorations included the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal, and Army Commendation Medal. Murphy's command assignments included: Company B 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment; 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment; and Adjutant General of New York.

Early life Patrick Ambrose Murphy was born in Waterloo, Iowa in 1958, a son of Thomas W. Murphy and Carolyn R. (Gruman) Murphy. He was raised and educated in Dike, Iowa and graduated from Dike High School in 1976. Murphy joined the Iowa Army National Guard in 1977 and served as an enlisted soldier until completing Officer Candidate School in 1979. Murphy was commissioned as a second lieutenant of Infantry.

Start of career After receiving his commission, Murphy was assigned as support platoon leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, a unit of the 47th Infantry Division that was based in Waterloo. After completing his degree, he pursued a civilian career as a research agronomist and later a sales manager with Pioneer Hi Bred International of Des Moines.

From November 1983 to November 1985, Murphy served as aero-scout team leader with Troop D, 1st Battalion, 194th Air Cavalry Squadron in Waterloo. He served as S3 at 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry from October 1991 to December 1993. In 2000, he also received a Master of Arts degree in public administration from Shippensburg University. He was promoted to major general in December 2010. Murphy was director of the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff from January 2017 to September 2018.

Awards Murphy's awards and decorations included:

Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters Meritorious Service Medal Army Commendation Medal with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters Army Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award with 2 bronze oak leaf clusters Army Superior Unit Award Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with 1 silver oak leaf cluster and 2 bronze oak leaf clusters National Defense Service Medal with 1 bronze service star Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass and "M" device Army Service Ribbon Overseas Service Ribbon Expert Infantryman Badge Army Aviator Badge

Dates of rank Murphy's dates of rank were:

Major General, 22 December 2010 Brigadier General, 29 February 2008 Colonel, 18 March 2002 Lieutenant Colonel, 3 April 1996 Major, 19 February 1992 Captain, 1 May 1986 First Lieutenant, 30 June 1982 Second Lieutenant, 1 July 1979 Enlisted service, 1977 to 1979