Patrick Finnegan (September 20, 1949 – July 2, 2018)[2][3] was a United States Army brigadier general, and the president of Longwood University.

While a cadet, Finnegan served as the chairman of the Honor Committee and manager of the Army Black Knights football team his senior year.

[5] During this time, he was selected for the Army JAG Funded Legal Education Program, and was accepted to the University of Virginia School of Law in 1976.

[5] In 1983, Finnegan was assigned to The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, serving as a criminal law instructor and the deputy director of the Academic Department.

[4] In 1988, Finnegan served as the chief of administrative and civil law for XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

[5] In 2005, Finnegan was recommended and approved for the rank of brigadier general, to serve as the 12th dean of the Academic Board at West Point.

[9] While serving as the dean, Finnegan traveled to Hollywood with several FBI interrogators to voice concerns to the producers of the hit TV series 24.

[6] While serving as president, Finnegan undertook several initiatives that included the creation of an academic strategic plan that was collaborated campus-wide, securing Longwood University's membership in the NCAA Division I Big South Conference, and creating an Office of Sponsored Programs and Research to aide in funding for faculty research projects.