date_and_time = '%m-%d-%Y %H:%M:%S %Z' require 'date' puts DateTime.strptime('02-09-2007 12:30:44 EST', date_and_time).to_s puts DateTime.strptime('02-09-2007 12:30:44 PST', date_and_time).to_s puts DateTime.strptime('02-09-2007 12:30:44 GMT', date_and_time).to_s