Biography

MG Paul J. LaCamera recently served as the deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, N.C. since July, 2012.

A native of Westwood, Mass., LaCamera, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of the Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1985. His initial assignment was with the 3rd Battalion, 504th Infantry, 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., where he served as a Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer. His next assignment was in 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga., where he served as a Platoon Leader, Support Platoon Leader, and Assistant Logistics Officer.

After attending the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, he served as a Company Commander in B Company, 4th Ranger Training Battalion, Ranger Training Brigade, Fort Benning, Ga. Following command, he returned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga., as the Plans and Liaison Officer. He served as the Battalion Air Operations Officer, later took command of B Company and also served as the Liaison Officer in 2d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.

He then attended the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas followed by an assignment as the Operations Officer in 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 2d Infantry Division, Eighth United States Army, Korea. He then served as the Battalion Operations Officer and later Battalion Executive Officer for 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. LaCamera then served as the Regimental Operations Officer for 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

From 2001–2003, LaCamera commanded 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, N.Y., and from 2003–2004, he commanded 3d Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga. Following command, he attended the College of Naval Warfare, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

In 2005, LaCamera commanded the 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga. In 2007, he became the Director of Operations, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. In 2009, he became the Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. From 2010 to 2012, LaCamera served as the deputy commanding general (operations) for the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

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

LaCamera has participated in a number of contingency operations including Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama, as a member of Task Force Ranger in Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, Haiti, Operation ANACONDA in Afghanistan, and multiple rotations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, Afghanistan and Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation NEW DAWN in Iraq.

His awards include the Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Combat Infantryman Badge with star, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Master Parachutist Badge with bronze star, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Ranger Tab.