Dr. Patrick I. Offor is an Associate Faculty at the City University of Seattle. He is also an active duty Chief Warrant Officer Five in the US Army. He serves as the Chief at the Production Support Branch, Army Sustainment Command, US Army Materiel Command, Huntsville, Alabama, USA. Dr. Offor’s previous assignments include working as logistics staff and liaison officer with the Headquarters, US Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (HQDA G–4); Chief, Supply and Mobility Division, White House Communication Agency (WHCA); Capabilities Developer at the US Combined Arms Support Command (USCASCOM) for the Global Combat Support System-Army (GCSS-Army); Accountable Officer and Supply and Services Officer at the 506th Infantry Regiment (4th Brigade Combat Team) and 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA; and as a System Administrator (Unix Solaris) at the 16th Corps Support Group, Hanau, Germany. Dr. Offor is also a Certified SAP Application Associate. 

At City, Dr. Offor teaches Network Security (CS-481), Cybercrime (ISEC-530), Intellectual Privacy and Espionage (ISEC 560), Technology Implementation and Change (ITMGMT-575), and Information Technology Policy and Governance (DIT 610). I did not add IT 428 because I have not actually taught but feel free to add it if necessary.  

Radana: Patrick, congratulation on your recent publication, and thank you for agreeing to be interviewed for the STC Thursday Byte. Let’s start off by telling us about your career path that brought you to where you are today. 

Patrick: Radana, thank you! My journey in the States started 24 years ago when I joined the US Army as an Automated Supply Specialist. My interest in computing led me to choose the Combat Service Support Automation Management Office (CSSAMO), now known as the Sustainment Automation Support Management Office (SASMO), as my unit during my first reenlistment. The SASMO supported all levels of the Standard Army Management Information Systems (STAMIS). Well, the STAMIS has since transformed into the SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), the Global Combat Support System-Army, and I was lucky enough to be part of the development team.   

Equally important, during this time horizon, is my pursuit for self-actualization in the education arena. I was determined to use any and all opportunities afforded to me in advancing my academic goals. I was even going to school while deployed several times to Iraq and Afghanistan. It took me 16 years to earn my associate degree (AA) to obtaining my doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.) in Information Systems, with a concentration in Information Security and Information privacy. Needless to say that my military career advanced as a consequence, and I joined the City University of Seattle over two years ago. 

Radana: What an amazing journey! Continuing your education while deployed shows passion and persistence – thank you for sharing.  What’s one thing you wish you had known when you began your career? 

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