Regulatory Commission of Alaska

Commissioner Patch earned a B.A. in Economics and a Juris Doctor from Willamette University in Salem Oregon. Commissioner Patch is admitted to practice law in both Iowa and Alaska. He arrived in Alaska in 1974 assigned as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for an Air Base Group.

Upon separation from the Air Force, Commissioner Patch entered the private practice of law with an initial focus on litigation. His litigation experience included personal injury matters, construction industry disputes, and derivative corporate actions. Commissioner Patch subsequently developed an ADR practice and was admitted to national panel memberships with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the National Mediation Board, and the National Association of Securities Dealers. He achieved Chair designations on multiple party and complex matters as a result of his service and training accomplishments. He was the Alaska advisor to the American Arbitration Association and was a panel member on the Labor, Business, and Construction panels of the organization. He served on permanent dispute resolution and interest arbitration panels maintained by Pacific Northwest states as well as serving Alaska Municipalities and on ad hoc dispute resolution panels. He has presented papers to dispute resolution organizations and conducted trainings for Alaska union organizations and employers.

Commissioner Patch has advised or served on boards of directors of non-profit corporations serving Alaskans.

Commissioner Patch served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Regulatory Commission of Alaska at the time of his appointment by Governor Parnell.