L. Eric Patterson was appointed Director of the Federal Protective Service, a subcomponent of the National Protection and Programs Directorate in September 2010.   

Mr. Patterson previously served as the Deputy Director of the Defense Counterintelligence and HUMINT Center at the Defense Intelligence Agency, where he directed and conducted counterintelligence and HUMINT activities worldwide to meet Department of Defense requirements. 

Prior to joining Defense Intelligence Agency, Mr. Patterson served as a Principal with Booz Allen Hamilton where he supported two of the Defense Technical Information Center analysis centers, one focused on information assurance and the other on the survivability and vulnerability of Defense systems. 

Mr. Patterson is a retired United States Air Force Brigadier General with 30 years of service.  Mr. Patterson started his Air Force career as a missile launch officer at Little Rock, Arkansas and transitioned to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations after 4 years.  Mr. Patterson has served in a variety of assignments from overseeing all counterintelligence investigations and operations in Turkey and Honduras to serving as the Director, Security Programs and Policy, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force.  Mr. Patterson’s final assignment on activity duty was as the Commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, where he directed all criminal, fraud and counterintelligence investigations for the U.S. Air Force.  Mr. Patterson’s awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medals, Air Force Commendation Medals and other campaign and service medals.

Mr. Patterson possesses a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Howard University, a Master of Arts degree in Business and Public Administration from Webster University in St. Louis, MO, and is an alumnus of the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama.