Lieutenant Commander Patrick Palma, a native of Evanston, Illinois, reported to Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, in September 1998. He began his career as an Aviation Machinist Mate.  With mentorship and leadership provided throughout his career, he was selected to Chief Petty Officer in 2007 and commissioned to the rank of Ensign under the Limited Duty Officer program in May 2011.

LCDR Palma has served in a myriad of sea duty assignments, including VFA-195 (Dambusters) as a mechanic and Quality Assurance Representative, Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels) as a Leading Petty Officer, Advanced Detachment Coordinator, and Maintenance Control Chief, VFA-15 (Valions) as a Line Division Leading Chief Petty Officer, and Maintenance Control Chief, VFA-143 (Pukin’ Dogs) as the Material Control Officer (MCO), Maintenance/Material Control Officer (MMCO), and Assistant Maintenance Officer (AMO), VFA-87 (Golden Warriors), as the MMCO, AMO, and Quality Assurance Officer (QAO), and VFA-147 (Argonauts) as the QAO, MMCO, and AMO.

His previous shore tours include VFA-106 (Gladiators) as a Plane Captain and mechanic and Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) Detachment Mayport as the Aircraft Division Officer, MMCO, and Assistant Officer in Charge (AOIC). Currently, he is assigned as the AOIC of FRCSE Detachment Jacksonville.

He completed six shipboard deployments to the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea in support of many operations. Embarked ships include the USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN (71), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

LCDR Palma earned a Master of Business Administration from Webster University, Professional Aviation Maintenance Officer qualification, and awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (seven awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (seven awards), and various other personal and unit awards.