Patricia Anne Morton

Patricia (nickname, "Patti") Anne Morton was born in Centralia, Washington, May 30, 1935.^[1] Her parents were Russell and Clara (Haase) Morton.^[1]

She graduated from Napavine High School in Napavine, Washington, in 1952.^[2] She earned a bachelor's degree from Western Washington University in 1957.^[1][2]

For three years, she worked as a secretary for Albert Rosellini, former governor of Washington.^[2]

In 1965, she was accepted into the United States Foreign Service.^[2][3] Her assignments included Nepal, Kinshasa, Cameroon, Singapore, and Saigon. In 1972, she became the first woman to serve as a Diplomatic Security special agent.^[3][4] Later, she became the deputy director and manager of the Federal Women's Program.^[5][6]

Morton died in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 2019.^[1] Her blue clutch bag, used to carry her .357 Magnum pistol during her assignment at the Washington field office, was donated to the National Museum of American Diplomacy.^[3]