Brandee Morgan Patrick began her career in communications in state government in January of 2005 on a 90-day job appointment working for then-Secretary of State Fox McKeithen. Patrick went on to serve as the department’s public information officer, and later public information director, on the executive staff of late Secretaries McKeithen and Al Ater, as well as for Secretaries Jay Dardenne, Tom Schedler and Kyle Ardoin.
Over the years, Patrick played integral roles in many events including the implementation of new voting systems, post-Hurricane Katrina elections in New Orleans and the debut of Louisiana’s first “I Voted” sticker with George Rodrigue’s iconic Blue Dog. Patrick also launched the Secretary of State’s social media platforms, which at the time was one of the first state agencies to have such a presence.
Additionally, Patrick worked closely with the Secretary of State’s information technology staff, among other staff members, to launch two versions of the department’s website, the GeauxVote Mobile app and geauxBIZ, a one-stop portal for business owners. Launched in 2011, GeauxVote Mobile, the first elections app of its kind in the nation, won the 2013 National Association of Secretaries of State IDEAS Award, and continues to serve Louisiana’s voters today.
After 15 years of service at the Secretary of State’s Office, in January of 2020, Patrick accepted the director of communications position at the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, led by then-Secretary Joey Strickland, COL (USA Retired). Less than two months into her new role, COVID hit Louisiana, forcing her into a successful baptism-by-fire education on LDVA’s operations. It was during that time that Patrick’s crisis communications skills were put to work to weather the storm that was the pandemic.
Today, you can find Patrick in and out of her office, her voice echoing through the headquarters’ halls, pitching ideas and creating opportunities on how the department and its 850-person staff, led by Secretary Charlton Meginley, Col (Ret), USAF, can best serve those who served. Although a civilian, Patrick has a servant’s heart, with both of her grandfathers serving in the Korean War. Her work, and her family history, makes her feel incredibly honored to serve our nation’s heroes.
Patrick prefers to be behind-the-scenes analyzing situations, reading the room and preparing to bring solutions to the table; however, her larger-than-life persona precedes her wherever she goes, both in reputation and stature. She’s a Lion for life, and is proud to have earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a concentration in mass communication and journalism in 2004 from Southeastern Louisiana University.
Of all her professional accomplishments, Patrick will quickly tell you that her life’s greatest accomplishment is her daughter, Grelee. They live in Watson, and attend Grace Church of Central where they are both active in ministry.