For over 45 years, Patrick Titus has been employed by the federal government. He has served his country and fellow citizens in an honorable manner. His career resume includes 34 years with the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve working as an aircraft avionics technician, supervisor and manager. Patrick spent several years in the Range Control Group at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada maintaining the En Route Automated Radar Tracking System, Airport Surveillance Radar, and radio communication systems. His active duty time in the service had him maintaining Weapon Control Systems on the F-4 Phantom C/D in Thailand during the wrap up of the Vietnam War, and continuing that work as an Air Reserve Technician at Bergstrom AFB after his honorable discharge. His remaining years with the AF Reserve found him also maintaining F-16 and KC-135 aircraft avionics at Luke and Tinker AFBs.
The latter part of his career, since 1989 has been with the FAA Academy at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center where he managed courses for both terminal and en route automation systems in AMA-400. The repertoire of systems that he manages includes Automated Radar Terminal Systems (e.g. ARTS IIA and IIIA), Standard Terminal Automation Systems (STARS FS/ES), MEARTS and Advanced Technology and Oceanic Procedures ATOP/Ocean21, Wide Area Augmentation System WAAS (WRS) and the En Route Automation System EAS/ERAM.
As a member of the Technical Operations Training Division (AMA-422), Pat currently works in the En Route Automation Section as an electronics engineer, course coordinator and instructor for Oceanic Automation and WAAS. This includes courses targeted to National Airspace System/Operations Managers NAS/NOMs, and hardware and software maintenance technicians for both the Micro-processor En Route Automation and Radar Tracking System (MEARTS) and the Advanced Technologies and Oceanic Procedures (ATOP)/Ocean21 system. His association with the MEARTS program spans almost 30 years, while also having logged in time in the ATOP program since 2008.
Reflecting on his career, Pat says he felt most proud when being able to repair complex avionics systems in fighter jets and then making them mission ready again in both war and peace time. While no career is without challenges, his greatest test was in juggling family life while managing two careers at the same time (FAA/AFRes). While it may have been difficult, history shows that he did it all quite successfully.
Pat had varying interests as a child. First wanting to emulate his favorite uncle who was a catholic priest. Then like most other kids during the US space race, he had a change of heart and did a 180-degree turn in his interests, instead aspiring to become a NASA Astronaut. While both careers partake of profound universal interests, he was soon drawn to airplanes and anything to do with flight, as his father was an aeronautical engineer. While serving in the military, Pat took up skydiving and enjoyed jumping for about a decade.
His very first job was at the age of 13, throwing newspapers from his bicycle. He threw the Dallas Times Herald, and he was fortunate enough to have two football legends, Tom Landry (head coach of the Dallas Cowboys) and Hayden Fry (head coach of the Southern Methodist University) on his paper route. As Pat grew and matured, he began to realize traits that he admired most in others: self-discipline, being a self-starter and having the ability to take the initiative. His mother gave him the best advice he’s received, “be true to yourself and trust your moral compass.” It is that wisdom that has continued to follow him throughout his entire life.
When not working around the house performing home renovations, Pat enjoys woodworking and is an audiophile and music geek. His favorite vacation spots are in the Pacific Northwest, or anywhere along the south and east coasts of Spain (Costa del Sol).
Congratulations to Patrick Titus for over 45 years of dedicated federal service. We applaud your efforts and celebrate your significant milestone. It is through your talent and efforts that the national airspace system continues to run safely and successfully.
