Commissioner Jerry Patterson has served the people of Texas as State Senator for six years and Texas Land Commissioner for eight. Before serving in elected office, Patterson established a distinguished military record with 25 years of active and reserve military service.

Five generations of Patterson's family have served their country in time of war. His great grandfathers fought on the side of the South in the War Between the States. His grandfather served in both World War I and World War II. Patterson’s father also served in World War II as well as in the Korean War.

Jerry joined the Marine Corps Reserve in October 1965 while a student at Texas A&M University. He enrolled in the Platoon Leader Class (PLC) Officer Commissioning Program, and was commissioned at Texas A&M in January 1970. Entering Active Duty in July 1970, Patterson reported to The Basic School at Quantico, Virginia for six months of Infantry Training, later serving as an Artillery Officer at Fort Sill until 1971. Patterson was assigned overseas in January 1972 serving with the 3rd Marine division in Okinawa, Japan.

In 1972, Patterson volunteered for Vietnam duty and was assigned to the staff of the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade as intelligence watch officer. Patterson served in Vietnam during the last six months of the Vietnam war, leaving on 26 January 1973.

In 1973, Patterson reported to Pensacola, Florida for flight training as a naval flight officer. He received his naval flight officer wings in November 1974. After receiving his wings, he was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona for transition into the F4 Phantom aircraft. In the summer of 1980, Patterson left active duty and joined the Marine Corps Reserve at Dallas Naval Air Station. Here he joined Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 -- otherwise known as the "Cowboys."

In 1991, Patterson was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve. After his election to the Texas Senate in 1992, he retired from the Reserve in 1993.As State Senator, he served as Chairman of the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee.

In 2002, Patterson was elected Texas Land Commissioner and has since been re-elected in 2006 and 2010.