Patrick J. Finneran, Jr. Lt. Col, USMC (Ret.) is the President of Accelerated Performance Solutions LLC, a management consulting company in Newnan Georgia. He also serves as a director of JURA LLC a private holding company. As a proud resident of Georgia since 2012, he is also active in the Coweta County Chamber of Commerce, an instructor in West Georgia University’s continuing education program, and a member of St. George Parish finance council. He is married to Dr. Pamela Johnson who has been a resident of Newnan since 1995 and who is the majority owner of Dogwood Veterinary Hospital and Laser Center.

Pat’s love for aviation began as a child in Pensacola Florida watching the Blue Angels perform. His dream of flying came true as a college student in the Naval ROTC where he qualified for the Navy’s Flight Indoctrination Program and was presented the North American Aviator Award as the top student in 1967.

Following his commission in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1967 and his completion of basic infantry officer training he was selected for the Naval Aviation Training Command and received his wings as a Naval Flight Officer in June 1969 as the class honor man. In June 1970 he was assigned to Marine All Weather Attack Squadron 225, First Marine Aircraft Wing , Republic of Vietnam for combat operations in Vietnam and Laos. Pat flew 80 missions for 125 combat hours in the A6 Intruder and UH1E helicopter. He ended his combat tour with the 3rd Marine Amphibious Brigade as the Aide de Camp to the commanding General.

Following Vietnam, Pat served as a flight instructor at NAS Pensacola Florida where he was selected as the instructor of the year in 1973. He then served in a variety of operational and staff positions. During his career he had five operational overseas deployments. He was an honor graduate of the Marine Corps Basic School and the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School. He was a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Command and Staff College and is a graduate of the National War College. Pat has over 2000 accident free hours in 15 different military aircraft including the TAV8B Harrier and the Royal Norwegian F16B. Pat retired from the Marine Corps in 1987 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service medal with Gold Star, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and Gold Star, Navy Achievement Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and Navy Arctic Service Ribbon.

In July 2009 Pat became President and CEO of Sabreliner Corporation which specialized in the maintenance, modification and overhaul of military and commercial aircraft. Prior to going to Sabreliner, Pat was a senior executive of the Boeing Company. He held various leadership positions including President of Boeing Support Systems, a $7 billion business unit that provided a full spectrum of services to the US Military and our allies. Prior to that Pat was responsible for all Naval Aviation Programs at Boeing and Vice President General manager of F/A 18 Programs.

In 1999 his team was awarded the Collier Trophy for the successful development and testing of the F/A 18 E/F Super Hornet which was completed on time and under budget. Pat was an elected officer of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation prior to the merger with Boeing. His responsibilities included leading every tactical aircraft program in McDonnell Aircraft Company.

Pat holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, a Masters Degree from East Carolina and a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering (Honoris Causa) from the University of Notre Dame. In 2004 he was awarded the Navy League’s Prestigious Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz Award for major contributions to the American Maritime Strength and National Security. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award of the Mendoza School of Business at the University of Notre Dame.

In 2006 he was honored by the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation with the Most Distinguished American Award and in 2013 was awarded the Reverend William Corby Award for significant contributions to the United States by the University of Notre Dame.

He is the Chairman Emeritus of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, Director of the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation and past Co-Chairman of the St. Louis County Fair and Air Show.  He has published articles in the Naval Institute Proceedings and Air University Review. He has also presented papers at the College of Performance Management and the Department of Energy Program Manager Conference.