Paul LaCamera

Paul Joseph LaCamera[1] (born September 4, 1963)[2] is a United States Army four-star general and infantry officer who currently serves as the commanding general of United States Army Pacific.[3] He previously served as the commanding general of XVIII Airborne Corps. His other assignments include the commander of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and as the commanding general of the 4th Infantry Division.[4] LaCamera is a native of Westwood, Massachusetts. He was nominated to replace General Robert Abrams as the next commander of United Nations Command, R.O.K.-U.S. Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea, on December 2, 2020,[5][6] however his nomination was returned to the president on January 3, 2021, without action.[5] He assumed his current assignment on November 18, 2019.

Paul LaCamera
General Paul LaCamera in 2019
Born (1963-09-04) September 4, 1963
Westwood, Massachusetts, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branchUnited States Army
Years of service1985–present
RankGeneral
Commands heldUnited States Army Pacific
Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve
XVIII Airborne Corps
4th Infantry Division
75th Ranger Regiment
3rd Ranger Battalion
1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment
Battles/warsInvasion of Panama
Operation Uphold Democracy
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Operation Inherent Resolve
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal (4)
Legion of Merit (2)

Military career

LaCamera was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1985.[7] He served as rifle platoon leader with C Company, 3d Battalion (Airborne), 504th Infantry, 82nd Airborne Division. Later he served as Company commander, 4th Ranger Training Battalion, Ranger Training Brigade, Operations Officer, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 2d Infantry Division and Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. From February 2001 to May 2003, he commanded the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light), which deployed as part of Operation Anaconda to Afghanistan. LaCamera then took command of the 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia from June 2003 to May 2004. Lacamera graduated from College of Naval Warfare, Naval War College located at Newport, Rhode Island in June 2005 before taking command of the 75th Ranger Regiment from August 2005 to August 2007. Following this command, he became the Director of Operations, Joint Special Operations Command from 2007 to 2009. In 2009, he became the Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command. From 2010 to 2012, LaCamera served as the Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 25th Infantry Division.[8] He later served as commanding general XVIII Airborne Corps and commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve.[9]

Training and education

LaCamera earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Army Command and General Staff College, the Army War College, the Naval War College, and the Senior Service College Fellowship Course.[4]

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award)[4]
Expert Infantryman Badge
Ranger tab
Master Combat Parachutist Badge with one bronze jump star
Pathfinder Badge
Thailand Parachutist Badge
75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
18 Overseas Service Bars[10]
Unidentified badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal[11]
Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
Silver Star
Defense Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Valorous Unit Award
Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device and service star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with five campaign stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with five campaign stars
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon
NATO Medal for service with ISAF

References

  1. "Paul Joseph LaCamera". West Point Association of Graduates. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  2. "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy". 1986.
  3. "Milley Formally Nominated as Joint Chiefs Chairman". Association of the U.S. Army. 9 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  4. "LaCamera takes command". Dvidshub.net. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  5. "PN2392 - Gen. Paul J. LaCamera - Army, 116th Congress (2019-2020)". www.congress.gov. 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  6. Park, Yong-Han; Kyu-Seok, Shim (2020-12-04). "Washington names LaCamera to head USFK". Korea JoongAng Daily (In association with The New York Times). Archived from the original on 2020-12-03. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  7. "Major General Paul J. LaCamera". U.S. Army Fort Bragg. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  8. "4th Infantry Division – CDR". Carson.army.mil. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  9. "Milley Formally Nominated as Joint Chiefs Chairman". Association of the United States Army. 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  10. https://www.flickr.com/photos/usarpac/albums/72157715013968417
  11. https://m.facebook.com/pg/USARPAC/photos/?tab=album&album_id=3441473199237495&ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1
Military offices
Preceded by
James C. Nixon
Commander, 75th Ranger Regiment
2005–2007
Succeeded by
Richard D. Clarke
Preceded by
Joseph Anderson
Commander, 4th Infantry Division
2013–2015
Succeeded by
Ryan F. Gonsalves
Preceded by
Stephen J. Townsend
Commander, XVIII Airborne Corps
2018–2019
Succeeded by
Michael Kurilla
Preceded by
Paul E. Funk II
Commanding General, Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve
2018–2019
Succeeded by
Robert P. White
Preceded by
Robert Brooks Brown
Commanding General, United States Army Pacific
2019–present
Incumbent
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