Dr. Eric Patterson

President and CEO

Dr. Eric Patterson is President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to educate all generations about the terrible history, ideology, and legacy of communism, and it accomplishes this through educational programming, policy-relevant research, and the VOC Museum in Washington, DC. Patterson has previously served as a think tank president and university dean. His government experience includes service as a White House Fellow, at the U.S. Department of State, and, for over 20 years, as an Air National Guard commander. He is an active scholar on the moral dimensions of national security and international affairs, as well as author of over 20 books, including Just American Wars: Ethical Dilemmas in U.S. Military History.

Download Headshot

The Evils of Collectivism Are Just Warming Up

New Year’s started with a bang: just hours after the ball dropped in New York City, its new mayor lauded the “warmth of collectivism,” deriding America’s tradition of “rugged individualism.” Many under the age of 40 might mistakenly believe that…

After 30 years, 5 things I learned from my students why they like socialism

Americans have been shocked to see the election of “socialists” to high public office in New York and elsewhere. How did this happen? A recent survey explains the context: 62% of America’s young adults have favorable views toward some form…