Director of SAPRO
Major General Gary S. Patton
Major General Gary Patton is the Director of the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO). SAPRO is the Department of Defense's single point of accountability and oversight for sexual assault policy matters and reports to the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. SAPRO develops policy and programs that address the Department's sexual assault prevention, accountability, victim assistance, and assessment efforts.
Prior to coming to SAPRO, Major General Patton was the Principal Director, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy. He was responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Department’s repeal of Don’t Ask, Don't Tell. He also assisted and advised on recruiting, retention, compensation, travel, and human resource management for the 1.4 million active duty military members of the U.S. Armed Services.
Major General Patton's career spans more than 33 years of service as an infantry officer, including command at multiple levels and 45 months of combat duty in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. His career highlights include: Commander, 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, Korea, later Fort Carson, CO, and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq; Chief of Staff, 25th Infantry Division (Light), Schofield Barracks, HI and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq; Commander, 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC; and Director for Manpower and Personnel, the Joint Staff, Washington, DC. He also served as the Deputy Commander for Programs, Combined Security Transition Command, and Deputy Commander for Army, NATO Training Mission, Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan, with responsibility for training, manning, and equipping the Afghan National Army.
A 1979 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Major General Patton also holds a Master of Science Degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Bronze Star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Combat Infantry Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab.
Major General Patton is married with three children, and resides in Burke, VA.
Deputy Director
Colonel Alan R. Metzler
Colonel Alan R. Metzler is the Deputy Director of the DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO). SAPRO is the Department of Defense's single point of accountability for all sexual assault policy matters and reports to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. SAPRO develops policy and programs to improve prevention efforts, enhance victim support, increase system accountability, and collaborates closely with the Military Services and numerous outside organizations to fully implement those policies and programs.
Colonel Metzler is a career Security Forces officer and has served in a variety of command, operational, and staff duties. His operational experience includes command of an Air Expeditionary Group in Iraq and Kuwait, command of a Security Forces Squadron in Air Combat Command, and various positions in five operational wings. His staff tours include service on the National Security Council in the Executive Office of the President; in the Office of the Secretary of Defense where he served as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs; on the Air Staff, where he served as the Speechwriter to the Secretary of the Air Force and as the Chief of the Communications Team for the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff; and as Chief of Security Forces for Air Combat Command.
Colonel Metzler was commissioned through the Air Force Officer Training School in 1987 after graduating with High Honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, and is a distinguished graduate of the National War College and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. Colonel Metzler has also completed the Air Force Enterprise Leadership Program at the Darden School of Business and the Senior Manager's Course in National Security at the Elliot School of International Affairs. He holds three Masters Degrees: National Security Strategy, Military Arts and Sciences, and Public Administration.
His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Service Medal with device, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Armed Forces Service Medal. His other achievements include Best in Air Force, Large Unit Award, RAF Upper Heyford, UK (1991); U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Writing Award, Marine Corps University (2000); DoD's Best Installation Antiterrorism Award, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC; (2000); and Best in Air Force, Medium Unit Award, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC (2001).
