After working in the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, Paterson became Head of Strategy and Personnel Policy for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in May 2009,[1] Chief Executive of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency in October 2011,[2] and Chief Executive of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency in May 2015.

[3] On 31 July 1983, Paterson was commissioned in the Administrative Branch of the Royal Air Force as a flying officer and was granted seniority in that rank from 31 January 1982.

[7] He was succeeded in that role by Air Commodore Bill Gibson in January 2024.

[8] In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, Paterson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

[6] Paterson was awarded the St Andrews University Medal during a graduation ceremony in June 2024.