From military service to serving Minnesota

For Jill Frankfurth, Patrick Wolfgram and Jodie Ryan, three military veterans who are Department of Public Safety (DPS) employees, their dedication to serve something bigger than themselves did not end with their military service.

Their transition to public service did not mean leaving every aspect of military life behind. The lessons they learned about commitment, adaptability and teamwork transitioned with them into public service.

Serving Minnesota through a new mission

During State Patrol Major Jill Frankfurth’s time in the Minnesota National Guard, serving the people of Minnesota was part of the mission. 

Her military career also included a unique assignment as a biathlete with the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP), combining cross-country skiing and precision rifle shooting. She placed fifth overall at the 2002 Olympic Trials, earning an alternate spot. While the top four women competed at the Salt Lake City Olympics, she chose to race in the Europa Cup Series to guarantee opportunities to compete that month. After several finishes in the top three, she rejoined the other women in Scandinavia to finish the 2002 World Cup circuit, the sport’s highest level of competition.

In the WCAP, Frankfurth trained and competed alongside many fellow service members. She believes her transition from military service and the WCAP to public service was easier because she was used to training hard, being accountable and relying on others. All of which is required in her role with the State Patrol.

“You can't give up,” Frankfurth said. “The missions are different and it depends on the job or the role that you have at the time, but you still have that commitment of service to the people.”

When the unexpected becomes the mission

For Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Special Agent Patrick Wolfgram, flexibility is one of the most valuable lessons he carried over from a U.S. Army aviation unit to DPS. 

His experience taught him to recognize when a situation evolves and adapt his response. In aviation, Wolfgram said, there are three factors that impact the mission: weather, aircraft and people. There can be last-minute changes to any of these.

During one training exercise, three helicopters were scheduled to transport command staff and heavy equipment. The morning forecast, however, called for fog and gusty winds. Because poor visibility and unpredictable winds made the mission dangerous, the crew postponed it until the afternoon.

But one of the three aircraft originally scheduled for the morning was scheduled for another flight that afternoon. Completing the training exercise meant swapping out the larger helicopter with a smaller helicopter which carried less personnel and could not carry the heavy equipment. That meant more trips, more fuel, more time and another crew to brief.

Success depended on everyone adapting as the challenges kept changing. “It’s been easy for me to adapt because I’ve been doing it all my life,” said Wolfgram.

No one carries the mission alone

Keeping Minnesotans safe is a complex mission that requires many people working together, said Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Jodie Ryan. No single individual can accomplish it alone.

While with the U.S. Army, Ryan spent several months doing jungle operations training in Panama. The South American location was a lot different from his childhood in the Arizona desert.

One challenge he faced came during a timed test that required a team to find their way through a dense rainforest. He believes he would not have come out of that experience intact if it were not for the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers.

“The only thing that kept us from drifting was whether people were willing to speak up and correct one another,” Ryan said. “That kind of trust doesn’t come from training alone. It comes from deciding, in the moment, that the team is more important than any one person’s pride.”

Their mission never really ended

In their current roles at DPS, each veteran interacts with members of the public, law enforcement partners and others in the community. They also encounter people during difficult moments in their lives. These veterans know their work at DPS requires preparation, sound judgment and a willingness to show up and help when people need it most.

We thank Frankfurth, Wolfgram, Ryan and all 300 DPS veterans for their service, both military and public. Although their missions have changed, their dedication to the Minnesota communities they serve has not.

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