Sullivan selected as ERDC associate director

Published July 22, 2014
Sullivan

Sullivan

VICKSBURG, Miss. -  U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Director Dr. Jeffery Holland has appointed Patricia M. Sullivan to replace Alice Duke as associate director.  Duke retired at the end of April, capping off a career that spanned 31 years of service.

“I thank Alice for her more than 31 years of service to ERDC and the Waterways Experiment Station (WES), which has included serving as deputy to the commander, chief of the Infostructure and Knowledge Management Division, Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) and chief of the Strategic Planning and Resource Acquisition Center, ITL,” said Holland.  “I am pleased to announce that Pat Sullivan, who served as the ERDC executive staff officer, has agreed to accept reassignment as the next associate director.  I thank Pat for her willingness to continue serving in the ERDC Executive Office and for bringing her considerable skills and ERDC experience to bear on her new duties.”

As associate director, Sullivan will lend her expertise to managing one of the most diverse research organizations in the world. 

“I'm blessed to be part of an organization that is filled with exceptionally talented people, all working together to impact the world in a positive way,” said Sullivan.  “Our corporate goal to ‘make the world safer and better’ isn’t just a slogan to me.  I see this manifested on a daily basis through our innovative R&D solutions and I’m delighted to continue to make contributions to these efforts in my new role.”

Sullivan began her career with ERDC in 1984 as a research civil engineer in the Geotechnical Laboratory of the former WES.  In 2005, she became an assistant technical director for ERDC’s Military Engineering business area, where she was responsible for integration of technical, programmatic and strategic initiatives in the areas of force projection and maneuver support.  In 2009, she served as a strategic assistant to the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory director, where she led strategic communications, organizational and leadership development and change management initiatives.  Prior to her current appointment, Sullivan was the ERDC executive staff officer, where she assisted in managing corporate strategic integration initiatives.

Sullivan earned bachelor’s and master’s in civil engineering from Tulane University and Mississippi State University, respectively.  She has also completed postgraduate study in geotechnical engineering at Louisiana State University.  She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Society of American Military Engineers, the Association of Change Management Professionals, and the Association for Strategic Planning. 

Sullivan has been named an Outstanding Technology Leader by U.S. Black Engineer magazine and a Trailblazer by the Council of Engineering Deans of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Lockheed Martin Corp. and U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine.

In the community, Sullivan serves as youth minister for the Living Word Baptist Church, is on the board of directors for the Vicksburg YMCA, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.


ITL