In this episode of The Modern Facilities Management Podcast, Griffin sits down with Cyrus Patterson, Facilities Director at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii.

Cyrus shares his incredible journey—from growing up on job sites, to serving as a Marine Corps combat engineer and facilities maintenance officer, to leading facilities for Hawaii’s only medical school.

He opens up about the leadership lessons the military instilled, the importance of mastering the basics, and how humility and lifelong learning shaped his transition into civilian construction and facilities roles.

Griffin and Cyrus dive deep into:

• The unique challenges of facilities management on the most isolated islands in the world

• How long lead times, labor shortages, and logistics shape planning, procurement, and execution

• Managing expectations, communicating risk, and building alignment across campus stakeholders

• The true value of investing in resilient, sustainable materials—especially in constrained environments

• Navigating budget pressures and advocating for long-term thinking

• Career transitions, mentorship, resilience, and finding purpose in public service

A powerful blend of leadership, storytelling, and practical FM insights—this episode is packed with lessons for facilities professionals in any environment.

Enjoy!