Dan Patterson - Prosecuting Attorney
In 2010, Dan was fortunate and honored to have the citizens of Greene County elect him as their prosecutor. Prior to taking office on January 1, 2011, Dan served the citizens of Greene County for over fourteen years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, as First Assistant leading the Major Crimes Unit and as Chief Assistant responsible for day to day operations of the office. Dan began his career as a prosecutor prosecuting sexual assaults and child abuse and has since tried numerous cases from traffic offenses to homicides. Dan also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.
Dan is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Missouri Army National Guard and currently serves as the Command Judge Advocate for the 35th Engineer Brigade at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Dan has deployed with his Missouri National Guard units twice: first, in support of the homeland defense mission Operation Noble Eagle and, most recently, as the Deputy Command Judge Advocate for Multi-National Task Force East, Kosovo Forces 10. Dan is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Judge Advocate General's Corps Advanced Course and the Command & General Staff College. Dan's military decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal.
Dan is a member of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and serves on the Bench and Bar Committee. Dan has served our community as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Victim Center and chairman of the Interagency Task Force on Gangs and Youth Violence. Dan is a POST certified instructor and enjoys teaching at Springfield Police Department Academy. Dan is active in the Springfield Sunrise Rotary Club and has chaired the club's volunteer Character Education program at Wilson's Creek School. Dan is an Eagle Scout and has served in Scouting as a Den Leader, Assistant Cub Master, and Cub Master for Pack 221 at McBride Elementary School. Dan attends Christ Episcopal Church with his family.
Dan is a 1986 graduate of Springfield's Kickapoo High School. He completed his undergraduate degree majoring in Business Administration at Oklahoma State University in 1990 and obtained his law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1993, graduating Cum Laude. While attending law school, Dan was a member of and served on the editorial board of the Missouri Law Review.
