In the beginning of 2011, Eric Patten became Director of Defense and Intelligence Global Solutions at Esri. The Captain brings to the firm experience from the Navy, when he was an officer, Director of Operations and Public Safety for Navy Region Southwest. Today, he combines these two talents by offering the company’s products to defense and intelligence officers. GIS technology is essential to such organizations. Patten explained: “my role is to be an advocate for GIS and a domain expert within defense and intelligence. We are going to work hard to educate more decision makers—including those unfamiliar with GIS—about the geospatial solutions and services we offer and help solve their challenges.”