Pat Philbin, President & CEO, Old Dominion Strategies and Crisis1

Pat is an experienced leader adept at building alliances and gaining cooperation with critical stakeholders on challenging organizational issues.  He is results-driven with a demonstrated ability to acquire and manage scarce resources by leveraging partnerships and technology to resolve organizational challenges.  An entrepreneur, he founded and grew two startups in the Public Sector, with each firm achieving an Inc. 500 appearance.  Understands private and public sector business development, including capture, project and program management, and federal acquisition requirements.  He’s a 2022 Birthing of Giants Fellow and a subject matter expert in entrepreneurship, crisis management, communication, and change management. 

He has extensive executive-level experience in leading, managing, and participating in large-scale, high-profile events, including, but not limited to, the loss of the space shuttle Challenger in the mid-1980s, mass migrations of Haitians/Cubans in the early 1990s, the loss of TWA Flight 800 and Alaska Air, the loss of JFK, Jr.’s aircraft off of Martha’s Vineyard, and dozens of contentious and complex business and legislative issues associated with FEMA’s transformation following Hurricane Katrina. 

Before starting his own company and acquiring a second one, Pat served as Senior Vice President of PIER Systems, a technology-focused crisis communication company (2007-2008); Director Office of External Affairs for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (2006-2007); and as a Technical Director/Program Manager for Anteon Corporation (now General Dynamics Information Technology) (2005-2006).

Pat served more than 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, retiring as Chief of Public Affairs in 2004.  Other notable staff assignments include serving as the Deputy Chief of the Coast Guard’s Strategic Analysis Staff, Press Assistant to the Commandant, and Chief of Coast Guard Media Relations.  Operational assignments include more than seven years of shipboard experience, including command of two Coast Guard cutters. 

Pat has consulted with various sectors, including oil & gas, education, nonprofits, and pharmaceuticals.

Pat holds a Doctorate in Communication from the University of Maryland, a Master of Business Administration from George Mason University, a Master of Science in Public Relations from Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Science in Government from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.  He is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).