Paul M. Nakasone

Paul M. Nakasone
Nakasone in 2016
Born	November 19, 1963(1963-11-19)
Place of birth	St. Paul, Minnesota
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1986–present
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands held	United States Army Cyber Command United States Second Army Director of Intelligence, J2, International Security Assistance Force
Awards	Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (three oak leaf clusters) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster) Army Commendation Medal

Paul Miki Nakasone (born November 19, 1963) is a senior officer in the United States Army and is the current commander of the United States Army Cyber Command. Nakasone was also the commander of the United States Second Army prior to its inactivation on March 31, 2017. He took command of the United States Second Army and United States Army Cyber Command on October 14, 2016, from Lieutenant General Edward C. Cardon.

Early life and education

Nakasone was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of Edwin M. Nakasone, a retired Army Colonel who served in the Military Intelligence Service during World War II, and Mary Anne Nakasone (née Costello). Nakasone grew up in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and attended White Bear High School. He is married and has four children.

He attended St. John’s University where he received his commission after graduation in 1986 through a reserve officer training program. Nakasone has also attended the University of Southern California, the National Defense Intelligence College, and the US Army War College, holding masters degrees from each. He also is a graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

Career

Nakasone casing the Second Army's colors in 2017 at its inactivation ceremony.

During his career, Nakasone has served in various roles in the United States Army, holding commands at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. He has also held foreign postings in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea and has served as a senior intelligence officer at the battalion, division and corps levels. Nakasone served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as Deputy Director for Trans-Regional Policy in 2012 when he was promoted to Brigadier General and previously served as a staff officer for General Keith B. Alexander.

Prior to being promoted to Lieutenant General in 2016, Nakasone was deputy commanding general of United States Cyber Command and later commander of the Cyber National Mission Force at United States Cyber Command. Nakasone has twice served as a staff officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the Director of Intelligence, J2, for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. On October 14, 2016, Nakasone took command of the United States Second Army and United States Army Cyber Command. Nakasone was also given control of United States Cyber Command's Joint Task Force-ARES, a task-force designed to coordinate electronic counter-terrorist activities against the Islamic State. He served as commander of the Second Army until it was inactivated for the fourth time in its history on March 31, 2017 and remains commander of United States Army Cyber Command.

Awards and decorations

Since receiving his commission, Nakasone has received the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal, among a number of other decorations.