Ms. Patricia (Patti) Van Drunen began her military career in 1992, enlisting in the U.S. Army Reserve as a 68E Dental Specialist and completing Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in 1993. She earned her MOS through the Army Civilian Acquired Skills Program (ACASP), followed by the 68EX2 Preventive Dentistry Specialist Additional Skills Identifier (ASI) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Van Drunen’s first assignment was to the 328th General Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Van Drunen began her civilian federal service career in 2000 working at the Salt Lake City VA Hospital as a Lead Dental Assistant. In 2003, she was offered an opportunity to serve in an AGR position with the 143d Medical Company (Dental Services) in Salt Lake City as the Training and Operations NCO from 2003 to 2008, allowing her to participate in multiple Overseas Deployment Training (ODT) DENTRETE missions in Central America, Alaska, and American Samoa.
Van Drunen opted to leave active duty and return to civilian federal service in 2008, taking a position as the Staff Operations and Training Specialist (SOTS) at the 328th Combat Support Hospital until 2012. She then assumed the 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support) G3 SOTS position, focusing on Soldier training opportunities. She remained in the position until 2015, when she was promoted to the Staff Operations Officer/ Deputy G3, managing civilian actions and G3 oversight. In 2023, Van Drunen was selected to serve as the 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support) Command Executive Officer, with duties primarily focused on the command’s civilian personnel.
While serving as a civilian, Van Drunen maintained a career in the Army Reserve, serving in every leadership position from squad leader to command sergeant major. Her most recent assignments include Company First Sergeant,143d MC(DS), Salt Lake City; Operations NCO, 807th MC(DS) Salt Lake City; Operations Sergeant Major, 7305th Medical Support Battalion Sacramento, Calif.; Operations Sergeant Major, 2d Medical Training Brigade, Salt Lake City; and Command Sergeant Major, 172d Multi-Functional Medical Battalion, Ogden, Utah. Van Drunen culminated her 30-year military service as the Command Sergeant Major, 820th Hospital Center, Camp Parks, Calif.
Van Drunen’s professional military education includes the United States Army Sergeants Major Course, Senior Enlisted Joint Professional Military Education I and II, Battalion Pre-Command Course, Master Resiliency Training, Supervisor Development Course, ASIST Training, TATS First Sergeants Course, Advance Noncommissioned Officer Course (ANCOC), Active Guard Reserve Entry Training Course (AGRET), Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course (BNCOC), Company Trainers Course, Duty Appointed Retention NCO, Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), and Preventive Dentistry Specialist Course 68EX2.
Van Drunen holds an Associate of Science from Weber State University.
Van Drunen’s awards and decorations include the Legion Of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (1 Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Star Device), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass Device, Non Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (5th Award), Army Service Medal, and Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (6th Award).
Van Drunen owes both her civilian and military careers to her parents, who set the example of hard work, loyalty, dedication, and integrity. Her father served over 28 years on Active Duty in the Air Force and then joined her mother as a federal civil service employee at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
Van Drunen resides in Layton, Utah, with her husband, Robert, daughter, Samantha, and their dog, Sophie.