Pat Stewart was born on November 7, 1954, in Ohio. He was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force through the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Florida on November 30, 1978, and went on active duty beginning January 9, 1979. After completing Weapons Director training at Tyndall AFB, Florida, Lt Stewart served with the 606th Tactical Control Squadron at Bremerhaven, West Germany; with the 963rd Airborne Warning and Control Squadron at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; with the 28th Air Division at Tinker AFB; with the 960th Airborne Warning and Control Squadron at Keflavik Naval Air Station, Iceland; with the 602d Tactical Air Control Wing at Luke AFB, Arizona; with the 607th Tactical Control Training Squadron at Luke AFB; and with Headquarters Air Combat Command at Langley AFB, Virginia. His final assignment was as an E-3 Sentry Mission Crew Commander with the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, from January 1995 until he was killed in the crash of an E-3B Sentry (Call Sign "Yukla 27") shortly after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB on September 22, 1995.

His 3rd Meritorious Service Medal Citation reads:

Members of Flight Yukla 27 distinguished themselves in the performance of outstanding service to the United States and Canada while serving as E-3 Airborne Warning and Air Control Systems air crew members assigned to 3rd Wing, 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron and the 381st Air Intelligence Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. They consistantly demonstrated outstanding airmanship while providing long range airborne surveillance, detection, identification, and command and control during deployed operations and in the Alaska region. All were dedicated volunteers selflessly serving, and fully committed to the defense of their nations and the Alaska region. Our memory of these airmen will forever be of professionals who stepped to the front and answered the call to duty and made the ultimate sacrifice in the cause of peace and freedom. The distinctive accomplishments of each of these individuals reflect credit upon themselves, the United States Air Force, and Canadian Forces.