Patrick Clowney, Ph.D.

Dr. Patrick Clowney is a combat veteran of the Global War on Terrorism. He has risen through the ranks in the U.S. Air Force, private sector, and the federal government. Dr. Clowney currently serves as a Senior IT Program Manager for Federal Student Aid. Before taking on his current assignment, he completed a Fellowship as part of the White House Leadership Development Program. During this fellowship, he gained valuable experience serving in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. In this role, he focused on artificial intelligence policy, criminal justice policy, and technical management policy.

Dr. Clowney previously served as the Deputy Chief Engineer of Federal Student Aid for the U.S. Department of Education. As the technical implementation leader, he oversaw the execution of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification Act and the FUTURE Act. This role involved directing all technological and engineering initiatives within Federal Student Aid, ensuring their seamless integration with other federal agencies.

Before joining the Department of Education, Dr. Clowney worked as an engineer with the National Nuclear Security Administration, concentrating on requirements and risk management for the nation’s nuclear enterprise. In the private sector, he held several leadership positions with Amazon fulfillment centers and Amazon Web Services, where he was responsible for leading large-scale global technical programs. He served the community as the Chairman of D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) Head Start Parents’ Policy Council and as a member of the DCPS Chancellor’s Parent Cabinet.

He currently serves on Congresswoman Eleanor Homes Norton’s Service Academy Selection Committee and as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the DC Prep Public Charter School program. Dr. Clowney earned his doctorate in philosophy in systems engineering from The George Washington University. Dr. Clowney's academic qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in engineering mechanics from the U.S. Air Force Academy. Furthermore, he has earned master’s degrees from various prestigious institutions. These include organizational behavior from The George Washington University, public administration from the University of Oklahoma, national security studies from the Naval Command and Staff College, and applied science (MAS) from the School of Advanced Air and Space Power. Additionally, he has pursued extensive academic achievements across multiple disciplines. As a White House Leadership Development Program Fellow, Dr. Clowney is assigned to the White House of Science and Technology Policy.