Military Wiki
Paul LaCamera
Official portrait, 2021
Born 4 September 1963(1963-09-04) (age 62)
Place of birth Westwood, Massachusetts, U.S.
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1985–2025
Rank General
Commands held Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "wikitext").
Battles/wars
Awards

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.

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[]

CIB2 Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award)[5]
Expert Infantry Badge Expert Infantryman Badge
Ranger Tab Ranger tab
Master Parachutist badge (United States)Bronze-service-star-3d-vector Master Combat Parachutist Badge with one bronze jump star
Pathfinder Pathfinder Badge
United Nations Command logo United Nations Command Badge
RTA Master Parachutist Badge Royal Thai Army Parachutist Badge[13]
75 Ranger Regiment SCSIB 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
Distinctive unit insignia of the 75th Ranger Regiment 75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
ArmyOSB 18 Overseas Service Bars[14]
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3dBronze oakleaf-3dBronze oakleaf-3d Army Distinguished Service Medal with three bronze oak leaf clusters[15]
Silver Star
Bronze oakleaf-3dBronze oakleaf-3dBronze oakleaf-3d Defense Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Silver oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Bronze oakleaf-3dBronze oakleaf-3dBronze oakleaf-3dBronze oakleaf-3d Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3dBronze oakleaf-3d Joint Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters
Valorous Unit Award
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Arrowhead deviceBronze-service-star-3d-vector Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead device and service star
Silver star
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with five campaign stars
Iraq Campaign Medal with five campaign stars
Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal with two campaign stars
Arrowhead
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
Award numeral 7 Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 7
NATO Medal for service with ISAF

References[]

  1. "Paul Joseph LaCamera". https://www.westpointaog.org/page.aspx?pid=3390&reid=%2fk%2b3kGCbP40ZmNICXgY0SA%3d%3d&bbsys=0&bbrt=0. Retrieved 4 May 2018. 
  2. "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy". 1986. https://books.google.com/books?id=FqspAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Paul+Joseph+LaCamera%22. 
  3. "Gen. LaCamera takes office as new U.S. Forces Korea chief". 2021-07-02. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210702005600325. 
  4. "Milley Formally Nominated as Joint Chiefs Chairman". 9 April 2019. https://www.ausa.org/news/milley-formally-nominated-joint-chiefs-chairman. Retrieved 10 April 2019. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "LaCamera takes command". Dvidshub.net. http://www.dvidshub.net/news/103502/lacamera-takes-command#.Ua0jlpwWDTo. Retrieved 3 June 2013. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 "PN2392 – Gen. Paul J. LaCamera – Army, 116th Congress (2019–2020)". 2020-12-02. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/2392. 
  7. Park, Yong-Han; Kyu-Seok, Shim (2020-12-04). "Washington names LaCamera to head USFK". https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/12/04/national/defense/USFK-Paul-LaCamera-UN-Command/20201204050602147.html. 
  8. "PN461 — Gen. Paul J. LaCamera — Army, 117th Congress (2021–2022)". 2021-04-27. https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/461. 
  9. "Major General Paul J. LaCamera". U.S. Army Fort Bragg. http://www.bragg.army.mil/leaders/Pages/DCG.aspx. 
  10. "Paul J. LaCamera". https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/17146. 
  11. "4th Infantry Division – CDR". Carson.army.mil. Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130521023301/http://www.carson.army.mil/units/4id/leaders/cmd-cdr.html. Retrieved 3 June 2013. 
  12. "Milley Formally Nominated as Joint Chiefs Chairman" (in en). 2019-04-09. https://www.ausa.org/news/milley-formally-nominated-joint-chiefs-chairman. 
  13. "Thailand Army Master Parachute Wings Parachute jump wings or badge". https://www.kellybadges.co.uk/airborne-special-forces-parachute-jump-wings-badges/39652-thailand-army-master-parachute-wings-upswept-wings--chrome-gilt-and-enamel-parachute-jump-wings-or-badge.html. 
  14. "5B2A0273". 7 July 2020. https://www.flickr.com/photos/usarpac/albums/72157715013968417. 
  15. "WEBCAST: U.S. ARMY PACIFIC CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY". 2021-06-04. https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/26333. 
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
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