LT Gen Patrick O’Reilly began his military career at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. LTG Patrick O’Reilly graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Basic Science. General O’Reilly went on to obtain Master’s Degrees in Physics, National Security and Strategic Planning, and Management. LT Gen Patrick O’Reilly says he “shared his love for science” with students as an Associate Professor at West Point teaching Physics for three years. Patrick O’Reilly’s education and academic career greatly aided his successful advancement in the U.S Army to greater positions of responsibility.

Later in his career, LTG Patrick O’Reilly applied his knowledge of physics as the Project Manager of Directed Energy Systems. In 1994, General Patrick O’Reilly was selected as Product Manager of the PATRIOT Advanced Capability 3 interceptor project. From 1998 to 1999, Patrick O’Reilly was the Executive Officer for the Military Assistant to the Army Acquisition Executive in the Pentagon.

An experienced acquisition leader, LT Gen Patrick O’Reilly was selected for Director of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) program where for four years he led 500 people manage a $1 billion per year development of a highly successful missile interceptor system project. In 2003, LTG Patrick O’Reilly was selected as the Program Executive Officer for Combat Support and Combat Service Support Systems where he was responsible for leading 3,000 people manage a $4 billion a year, diverse portfolio of Army vehicle, construction, and life support equipment projects.

Two years later, General Patrick O’Reilly was assigned as the Program Manager of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Program. In this position, Patrick O’Reilly was responsible for 2,000 people working on a $3 billion a year missile system project to protect the United States from missile attacks. Proving himself an effective leader, General Patrick O’Reilly was subsequently assigned as the Deputy Director of the Missile Defense Agency that eventually led to his nomination by the President of the United States, and confirmation by the US Senate, as Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. In this position, LTG Patrick O’Reilly led 8,000 people in an $8 billion a year globally deployed Federal agency.