Commissioner Patch earned a B.A. in Economics and a J.D. from Willamette University. Upon passing state bar examinations he entered the United States Air Force. While in the United States Air Force he served as Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for the 42nd Bombardment Group and later served in the same capacity for the 21st Air Base Group. In addition to service as a Judge Advocate he was designated on many occasions for special assignments.ommand.

Upon leaving military service, Commissioner Patch practiced law with an emphasis on complex multi-party business litigation, construction disputes, and derivative corporate actions. He assisted with the drafting of revisions to the State of Alaska Rules of Court. He developed an alternative dispute resolution practice, mediating and arbitrating matters in the Western States and Pacific Rim and served as Alaska’s representative to the American Arbitration Association. He remains a member of national arbitration and mediation panels. Commissioner Patch has advised and served on boards of directors for many non-profit corporations serving Alaskans.

Commissioner Patch is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI) and a member of its Audit Committee. In addition to those posts he serves NARUC as Vice Chairman of its Education and Research Subcommittee. With his role on NRRI and on the subcommittee Commissioner Patch assists with education, training, development and dissemination of best practices advice for state rate regulatory commissions nationwide. Commissioner Patch is a candidate for award of the Michigan State University - Institute of Public Utilities, Certificate of Continuing Regulatory Education and serves on the New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities National Advisory Council.