On 30 April 1994, Colonel Patricia S. (Bacon) Klop graduated from Berry College in Rome, Georgia With with a Bachelor of Science degree in Broad Field Social Science and minors in education and psychology, and subsequently commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps via the Platoon Leaders Class Program.

After basic training, then Second Lieutenant Klop graduated from Adjutant Course and served overseas as an Adjutant and Protocol Officer in Okinawa, Japan and Songkhla, Thailand in support of COBRA GOLD 1996.

Second Lieutenant Klop was 1995 Woman Athlete of the Year for All Marine Corps Bases; Okinawa, Japan.

From July 1996 through August 1999, First Lieutenant Klop was assigned to women boot camp, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina to supervise drill instructors as they trained recruits.  During this time she was given command as a Series Commander of O Company, 4th Recruit Training Battalion.  She taught classes on Uniform Code of Military Justice, Equal Opportunity, Request Mast, Sexual Harassment, Marine Corps Leadership, Law of War, Code of Conduct, Women Marine History, Ethics, Suicide Prevention, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR).

On 11 January 2000, Captain Klop transferred to the Selected Marine Corps Reserves and joined Marine Air Control Group 48, Great Lakes, Illinois as the Reserve Adjutant.

In the Fall of 2004, she published an article on Marine Corps boot camp titled "Social Responsibility: Transforming Our Next Generation" in the Illinois Journal for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Volume 54.  

In May 2005, Major Klop joined 6th Civil Affairs Group, a humanitarian unit to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi local population while influencing governance, economics, and civil society.

She deployed to Ramadi and Fallujah, Iraq from 26 August 2005 through 4 April 2006 in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM 04-06.2.

From 15 August 2006 through 6 July 2007, Major Klop was mobilized and deployed to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany as the Hospital Liaison Officer-in-Charge to oversee wounded Marines and Sailors medically evacuated from Iraq and Afghanistan.

From 22 April through October 2009, Major Klop was mobilized as the Personnel Retrieval and Processing (mortuary affairs) Detachment Officer-in-Charge and deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM 09.1.

From June 2010-2012, she was the Reserve Executive Officer for Marine Air Control Group 48 in Great Lakes, IL.  During this time she also served the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) Operational Stress Control and Readiness (OSCAR) Training Coordinator leading the 4th MAW OSCAR team to implement OSCAR training throughout units located across the nation resulting in 617 Marines certified as OSCAR mentors.  On 23 May 2012, she was recognized as the Marine Forces Reserve OSCAR Master Trainer of the Year.

From July 2012 to February 2013, Lieutenant Colonel Klop was the Assistant Chief of Staff G-1 for 4th Marine Logistics Group, New Orleans, Louisiana.

From March 2013 to May 2016, Lieutenant Colonel Klop was a Detachment Commander for 3D Civil Affairs Group, Great Lakes, Illinois.

From February 2018 to January 2021, Colonel Klop was the Reserve Assistant Chief of Staff G-1 for Marine Forces Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii. Currently, she is the Reserve Assistant Chief of Staff G-1 for I Marine Expeditionary Force, CA.

Col Klop is a certified and experienced facilitator in Operational Stress Control and Readiness (OSCAR) with the goal of improving mission readiness, taking care of Marines, providing ethical training, suicide prevention training, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR). She also is a certified facilitator of Civil Treatment, a proactive leadership course to guide workplace employment behaviors to prevent harassment and discrimination based on sex, religion, race, color, national origin, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, and veteran status. 

Colonel Klop graduated from Webster University, Beaufort, South Carolina in August 1999 with a Master of Arts in Human Resources Development and Management. Additionally, she graduated from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois in December 2004 with a Master in Science in Physical Education, Curriculum and Pedagogy, and health teaching endorsement.  She holds multiple Personal Trainer certifications to include being a Basic Vocational Specialist in Personal Training from Eglin Community College in August of 2004 with subsequent certification with the National Strength and Conditioning Association in October of 2004.  In July of 2015 she became a Certified Personal Trainer with the National Council on Strength and Fitness. 

Her personal military decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Drill Instructor Ribbon, and NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Afghanistan Medal.

Colonel Klop served as a Training Manager for Sears Logistics Services, Inc. where she provided tailored leadership skills training support of organizational Supply Chain business needs.  She facilitated courses, developed courses, trained associates, trained the trainer, and sustained a standardized level of excellence in the Institute's prescribed curriculum, which included Civil Treatment, Diversity, Change Management, Team Building, Sexual Harassment, Business Communications, Building Leaders, Time Management, Financial Competencies, Conflict Management, and Ethics. 

Colonel Klop was a former junior high adapted physical education and health teacher to students with disabilities at Prairie Grove Consolidated School District 46 in Crystal Lake, Illinois for 16 years.  In 2016, her school was the recipient of the  2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for unswerving loyalty, patriotism, and above and beyond support to its role in her Marine Reserve career.

During her time as an educator she modified lessons in order to create success for students with disabilities.  She also created and taught junior high summer school curriculum aligned with the Illinois State Standards for health, wellness, fitness, and sports for two summer school sessions in summer of 2012. 

Another notable accomplishments and participation in the community includes coaching high school soccer for two seasons in the fall of 2004 and 2007.  She assisted in spearheading Fellowship of Christian Athletes from the Fall of 2004 to May of 2014.  She is associated with the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; the Women Marine Association, Blanche S. Osborne Chapter in Chicago, IL; and is an Associate Member of the Marine Raider Association in Tampa, FL.

She is married to David A. Klop; they have two sons and reside in Wauconda, Illinois.  While she is proud of her personal accomplishments in serving her nation and community, she is extremely grateful for having the opportunity to get married and have children finding her role as a wife and mom the most satisfying and yet challenging job she has ever been given.

For more insight into understanding how to develop military human performance, please check out Patty's story on healing from PTSD using the link below