Patricia Goforth

It’s so exciting to be a technology leader and have a hand in growing our talented and diverse technical workforce across the firm. It’s important work that inspires me every day.

The breadth of our technical capabilities is tremendous and their importance to creating integrated solutions for our clients is powerful. From defense solutions to energy and environment, Booz Allen works to advance the nation's safety and security, but also the quality-of-life issues like clean water, security of facilities and infrastructure, and access to the nation’s resources.

We set a high standard for talent we bring into the firm and I have the privilege of working side by side with these incredible people. They keep me motivated and challenged.

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Senior Executive Advisor Patricia Goforth integrates and aligns the firm’s technical capabilities with the strategic goals of our Defense Intelligence Agency and Joint Military Intelligence clients. She focuses on design, development, and deployment of engineering, digital, cyber, and analytics solutions to meet clients’ mission-critical goals. Patricia also develops talent strategies to attract, develop, and retain the firm’s technical talent.

Patricia has more than 35 years of professional experience in engineering, technology, and consulting for Command, Control, Communications, Computer, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR); IT infrastructure; cyber operations; satellite communications; and advanced concepts such as artificial intelligence; machine learning; data science; secure software development; secure networking; resilient position, navigation and timing; and digital engineering.

Patricia and her team earned Booz Allen’s highest professional honor for outstanding customer service for their contributions to the delivery of critical IT mission services to address the enduring challenge of improvised threats and also transforming the commercial satellite communications business processes for a defense client. She was recognized by Business Insider as the a top 5 most powerful female engineer in 2018.

She also instituted quality control processes, including IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), ISO 9001, and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), significantly raising the quality of Booz Allen’s technical solutions.

Before joining Booz Allen, Patricia was a systems engineer at CONTEL. She received a B.S. and M.E. in systems engineering from the University of Virginia.

What inspires and motivates Patricia? Click here.

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What advice would you give yourself as a young professional? I wish I had known that innate ability is the ultimate qualifier for many of our work responsibilities and had taken more risks in accepting new challenges. At Booz Allen risk taking is supported, especially in our environment that is so collaborative. Here, you get help and feedback, so that the upside of risk taking can be realized.

Two words to describe you in high school? Nice and smart.

What was your first paying job? I was a receptionist for a radiologist.

What’s something you feel nostalgic about? My high school years. I went to a small Episcopal high school in Jackson, Mississippi where I had many close friends. We celebrated each others’ accomplishments, whether through academics, hobbies, or sports. We had the ability to dream and explore unlimited opportunities while finding joy in just being together.

What can we all do to be happier in life? Enjoy the moment. Don’t unduly fret about “woulda, coulda, shoulda.” Learn from your mistakes and move on. There’s something to be celebrated every day.

Why are you passionate about your work at Booz Allen? The opportunity to integrate the firm’s tremendous technical capabilities to meet our clients’ toughest challenges. I’m also passionate about helping our employees thrive in their careers.

Where do you see Booz Allen in the next 100 years? We’ll continue to be at the forefront of innovation and integration of emerging technologies, harnessing the power of both for our clients’ missions.

What are the untapped opportunities for your clients? Thinking strategically about the best way to sustain and modernize legacy investments for the future. We’re not only building new capabilities, but improving existing capabilities through sustainment strategies.

What’s the best business advice you’ve been given in your career? Make the best of your current role. Your role will change over the course of your career—being professional and doing the best you can will lead to future opportunities. Be open to those new opportunities when they’re presented to you. Embrace feedback and seek direction when you need it.