Paul LaCamera

Paul LaCamera
Official portrait, 2021
Born	(1963-09-04) 4 September 1963 (age 61) Westwood, Massachusetts, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Army
Years of service	1985–2025
Rank	General
Commands	United Nations Command ROK/US Combined Forces Command United States Forces Korea United 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 / wars	Invasion of Panama Operation Uphold Democracy War in Afghanistan Iraq War Operation Inherent Resolve
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2) Army Distinguished Service Medal (4) Silver Star Defense Superior Service Medal (4) Legion of Merit (2) Bronze Star Medal (6)

Paul Joseph LaCamera ^[1] (born 4 September 1963) ^[2] is a retired United States Army general who last served as the commander of United Nations Command, ROK/US Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea from 2021 to 2024. ^[3] LaCamera most recently served as commanding general of United States Army Pacific from 2019 to 2021. ^[4] 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. ^[5]

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 2 December 2020, ^{[6] [7]} however his nomination was returned to the president on 3 January 2021, without action. ^[6] He was renominated on 27 April 2021. ^[8]

Military career

General Paul J. LaCamera receives the United Nations Command colors from Adm. John C. Aquilino, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, during the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea change of command ceremony on 2 July 2021 at Barker Field.

LaCamera was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1985. ^[9] 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 during which he was awarded the Silver Star. ^[10] 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. ^[11] He later served as commanding general XVIII Airborne Corps and commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. ^[12]

Family and personal life

LaCamera is a native of Westwood, Massachusetts.

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. ^[5]

Awards and decorations

Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award) [5]

Expert Infantryman Badge

Ranger tab

Master Combat Parachutist Badge with one bronze jump star

Pathfinder Badge

United Nations Command Badge

Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badge [13]

75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge

75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

18 Overseas Service Bars [14]

Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

Army Distinguished Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters [15]

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 with Arrowhead device

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Korea Defense Service Medal

Humanitarian Service Medal

Army Service Ribbon

Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 7

NATO Medal for service with ISAF

References

1. "Paul Joseph LaCamera". West Point Association of Graduates. Archived from the original on 4 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
2. "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy". 1986. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
3. Oh Seok-min; Choi Soo-hyang (2 July 2021). "Gen. LaCamera takes office as new U.S. Forces Korea chief". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
4. "Milley Formally Nominated as Joint Chiefs Chairman". Association of the U.S. Army. 9 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
5. "LaCamera takes command". Dvidshub.net. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
6. "PN2392 – Gen. Paul J. LaCamera – Army, 116th Congress (2019–2020)". www.congress.gov. 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
7. Park, Yong-Han; Kyu-Seok, Shim (4 December 2020). "Washington names LaCamera to head USFK". Korea JoongAng Daily (In association with The New York Times). Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
8. "PN461 — Gen. Paul J. LaCamera — Army, 117th Congress (2021–2022)". www.congress.gov. 27 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
9. "Major General Paul J. LaCamera". U.S. Army Fort Bragg. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
10. "Paul J. LaCamera". www.valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
11. "4th Infantry Division – CDR". Carson.army.mil. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
12. "Milley Formally Nominated as Joint Chiefs Chairman". Association of the United States Army. 9 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
13. "Thailand Army Master Parachute Wings Parachute jump wings or badge". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
14. "5B2A0273". 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
15. "WEBCAST: U.S. ARMY PACIFIC CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY". dvidshub.net. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

Military offices
Preceded by James C. Nixon	Commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment 2005–2007	Succeeded by Richard D. Clarke
Preceded by ???	Assistant Commanding General of Joint Special Operations Command 2009–2010	Succeeded by Marshall B. Webb
Preceded by Joseph Anderson	Commanding General of the 4th Infantry Division 2013–2015	Succeeded by Ryan F. Gonsalves
Preceded by John Michael Bednarek	Chief of the Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq 2015–2016	Succeeded by Scott McKean
Preceded by Jefforey A. Smith	Deputy Commanding General of XVIII Airborne Corps 2016–2018	Succeeded by Brian J. McKiernan
Preceded by Stephen J. Townsend	Commanding General of XVIII Airborne Corps 2018–2019	Succeeded by Michael Kurilla
Preceded by Paul E. Funk II	Commanding General of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve 2018–2019	Succeeded by Robert P. White
Preceded by Robert Brooks Brown	Commanding General of United States Army Pacific 2019–2021	Succeeded by Charles A. Flynn
Preceded by Robert B. Abrams	Commander of United Nations Command Commander of United States Forces Korea Commander of ROK/US Combined Forces Command 2021–2024	Succeeded by Xavier Brunson