After his service obligation, Pat left the military and entered the MS degree program at Virginia Tech in 1974 to pursue his interest in computers. After degree completion he had a 35-year career in information technology, working for Shell Oil, Coca-Cola, Accenture and AT&T. During his career he saw firsthand the dramatic change that occurred in computing technology. He was a hands-on participant in bringing about that change, with roles in analysis, project management and IT management. Now retired, he enjoys the “non-tech” activities of walking, hiking, fitness workouts, reading, and travel. He and his wife are blessed to have their two children and three grandchildren living nearby.
- 10th Anniversary Experience – Rich Legacy for the Best of the Line
I first became a TDF author after the 2019 reunion. It was quite by coincidence that while standing in some sort of signup line at the reunion,… Read more: 10th Anniversary Experience – Rich Legacy for the Best of the Line - Vietnam – An Ironic Conclusion – 1975
I began my tour in Vietnam 50 years ago this year (2021). It was late in 1971, November specifically, when I arrived in country. I returned home in… Read more: Vietnam – An Ironic Conclusion – 1975 - Let’s Go Skiing – 1986
I love skiing and look forward to a ski trip every winter. But, that wasn’t always the case. For many years, I had an intense dislike of… Read more: Let’s Go Skiing – 1986 - What West Point Means to Me – Pat Porter
For me West Point represents an ideal, a special place, a special experience, something that is a source of great pride. We not only were part of it… Read more: What West Point Means to Me – Pat Porter - Predicting Year 2000 – 1989
Recently, I was looking for something, rummaging through some storage boxes in the basement. Before I found what I was looking for, I ran across an old work… Read more: Predicting Year 2000 – 1989