Patricia Ann Tracey was born in The Bronx, New York. She graduated from the Academy of Mount St. Ursula High School in 1966 and graduated from The College of New Rochelle with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics, completed Women's Officer Candidate School, and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1970. She also earned a Master's Degree, with distinction, in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.