Our Campaigns - Candidate - Patrick J. Murphy

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Murphy, Patrick J.

CANDIDATE DETAILS

Affiliation


<-	2016-01-01

Name

Patrick J. Murphy

None

Website

[Link]

Born

October 19, 1973 (51 years)

Contributor

hillman_pa

Last Modifed

IndyGeorgia
Nov 18, 2017 02:54pm

Tags

Caucasian - Irish - Married - Army - Catholic - Christian - Straight -

Info

Patrick Murphy is a leader of character. He is an Iraq War veteran, former West Point professor, criminal prosecutor, and most importantly, a good family man. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia – the youngest of three to a Philadelphia police officer and career legal secretary – he learned at an early age that hard work, sacrifice, and focus will lead you to achieve your dreams.

Humble Beginnings

Working his way through high school and college — whether delivering newspapers, waiting tables, or as a factory worker — Patrick clearly learned the value of hard day’s work and community service. Starting out at Bucks County Community College in 1991, he went on to King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, becoming a cadet in the Army ROTC program, captain of the hockey team, and student body president. He graduated with a double major and was commissioned as an officer with the rank of Second Lieutenant.

He then excelled at Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he became a member of the Trial Advocacy Honor Society and president of the St. Thomas More Society. He learned to balance being tough and compassionate while working in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and later as a leader in the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic, a legal services clinic serving the poor of Harrisburg. He also served as the legislative aide to Representative Thomas Tangretti, a Democrat from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His experiences with the justice system, the poor, and the legislature cemented Patrick’s belief that every working family should be empowered to achieve the American Dream.

Educator

Patrick counts teaching America’s future military leaders at West Point as one of his greatest accomplishments. Touching their lives, he took seriously his charge as an assistant professor of constitutional law and ‘values education officer’ in developing leaders of character. His reach went beyond the United States Military Academy. He has lectured at the U.S. Air Force Academy and at the International Institute for Humanitarian Rights in San Remo, Italy.

He has also taught American government as an adjunct professor at Mount Saint Mary College, currently lectures at the Widener University School of Law, and volunteers his time as a mentor to college and law school students. Much like his sister Cathy, who is a middle school teacher, Patrick believes that a good education is a great investment in America’s future and should be a top priority in local, state, and federal government.

Prosecutor & Attorney

Patrick is proud to have worked for justice. Like his father, he devoted himself to making the streets safe. Patrick prosecuted some of the toughest criminals in New York, North Carolina, and even Baghdad. He believes that support for the police, firefighters, and first responders is vital to the safety of our neighborhoods.

Currently, Patrick practices law at Cozen O’Connor.

Family

Being a combat veteran, attorney, writer, and educator all pale in comparison to Patrick’s love for his family. He is a devoted godfather, uncle, brother, friend, and son. Whether it’s his family in Bucks County, Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Wilkes-Barre, Palmyra, or even Colorado, Patrick makes a point to attend almost every family event. He believes that when all is said and done, it’s the relationship with your family that will stand the test of time. This is one of the reasons he believes good jobs, high-quality healthcare, and a safe environment are vital for the success of the American family.

A Dynamic Communicator

Starting at Bucks County Community College, when he received an "A" in effective speaking, and writing for the King’s College student newspaper, Patrick has become a prolific writer. While a professor at West Point, he wrote a column entitled ‘Murphy’s Law’ for the West Point Pointer View, and even wrote articles in Arabic while in Iraq. Patrick has also been interviewed on CNN with Christiane Amanpour and John King, and has been a guest on CN8 Live with Lynn Doyle and on the radio with Michael Smerconish.

Whether speaking to a veterans’ group, a school, the press, or even his church, Patrick is devoted to standing up and talking about the programs he believes in. He plans on bringing back open and honest dialogue as a congressman. He cited President Roosevelt’s weekly fireside chats during WWII, President Kennedy’s inauguration speech, President Reagan’s speech about a shining city upon a hill, and sharing the stage with President Clinton in 1996 as examples of how great communicators can inspire to take action.

Political Heroes

Patrick feels a kinship with fighters who battle tirelessly for our country’s working families - men and women who stand up and hold people and our government accountable for the common good. When asked to name three political role models and why, he quickly pointed to Robert F. Kennedy, Bob Casey, Sr., and Jack Murtha.

He chose Bobby Kennedy for his sense of urgency, loyalty to family and country, and idealism during cloudy times; Bob Casey, for his dogged approach and unwavering stances on the issues he believed in, and his ability to pick himself off the canvas when times got tough; and Jack Murtha, for being the first combat Vietnam Veteran elected to Congress, not once forgetting about the people from Pennsylvania he has served in his thirty-plus years in Congress, and his ability to reach across the aisle to get things done for the betterment of the country.

Community Service

Serving those in need and strengthening communities through action is what sets America apart. Community service was ingrained in Patrick’s family at an early age through the example of his mother, whether it was working at the local parish, serving food at soup kitchens, giving toys out to those who might go without during Christmas, or cleaning up the neighborhood. Patrick believes service should be an integral part of our American culture. He is active in various organizations including his local parish, St. Martin of Tours, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, King’s College, the Bucks County Veterans Committee, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the AmeriCorps program City Year.

Iraq War Veteran

In 1993 Patrick put on his U.S. Army uniform for the first time. But his sense of duty didn’t start then. He is named after Patrick Ward, an Army Specialist from the Fairmount section of Philadelphia who was killed in Vietnam. As a boy, he’d hear stories about how Patty Ward would "appropriate" candy, medical supplies, and food for the Vietnamese children.

Jack Murphy, Patrick’s father, served in the Navy during the Vietnam era and served honorably for twenty-two years as a Philadelphia police officer and sergeant. Two of Patrick’s uncles were Army airborne paratroopers, Joe Rapone - who served with the 11th Airborne and distinguished himself in the Philadelphia police force as an inspector - and Bill Rapone – who proudly served with the 82d Airborne "All-American" Division and in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division. Currently, Patrick’s brother J.J. serves as a captain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and is working at their Rescue Coordination Center at Langley Air Force Base. After serving on active duty for over five years, he was mobilized after 9/11 and served for another year of active service.

With this background, it is no surprise that Patrick went on to become a West Point professor, airborne and air assault qualified, a JAG Corps attorney, and that he served two deployments after 9/11 — the first to Bosnia in 2002 and the second to Baghdad, Iraq in 2003-2004 as a paratrooper with the 82d Airborne Division.

In Iraq, Captain Murphy advised on offensive operations, initiated reconstruction efforts within the justice system, trained the new Iraqi Civil Defense Corps on the rules of engagement and was instrumental in the prosecution of Sheik Moyad, a radical lieutenant of Muqtada Sadr. For his service, Patrick earned the Bronze Star and his unit earned the Presidential Unit Citation.

- Attorney at the law firm Cozen O'Connor
- Former professor of constitutional law at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point
- Iraq War veteran
- Established a working judiciary in the Al Rashid district of Baghdad
- Earned the Bronze Star

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