Brigadier General (sel) Paul J. Kennedy currently serves as the Director Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps Public Affairs, The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
Colonel Kennedy was commissioned a second lieutenant on May 18, 1985, after graduating from the Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He received a Master of Military Science from Marine Corps University in June 2001, and a Master of Arts in National Security Strategy from the National War College in June 2006. His other formal military education includes The Basic School (1985), the Infantry Officers Course (1986), the Amphibious Warfare School (1994), and the School of Advanced Warfighting (2002).
From 1986 to 1989, Colonel Kennedy served as a rifle, weapons, and 81mm mortar platoon commander, company executive officer and Weapons Company Commander with 3d Battalion, 9th Marines at Camp Pendleton, California. He deployed twice with the battalion to the West Pacific as part of BLT 3/9. He was promoted to first lieutenant on June 1, 1987. In August 1989, he was transferred to Quantico, Virginia where he served as a tactics instructor at The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course. He was promoted to captain on May 1, 1990. Following attendance of the Amphibious Warfare School, Colonel Kennedy was assigned to 2d Battalion, 9th Marines (redesignated 2d Battalion, 4th Marines) at Camp Pendleton, California where he served as Weapons Company Commander (designated as the Mobile Assault Company) and battalion operations officer until June 1997. He was promoted to Major on June 1, 1996 and deployed twice to the West Pacific as part of BLT 2/4.
Colonel Kennedy was transferred in June 1997 to Recruiting Station San Francisco as the commanding officer. In July 2000, he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and, subsequently, the School of Advanced Warfighting. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on July 1, 2001. Following graduation in 2002, Colonel Kennedy transferred to the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California. He served as the Division Plans Officer (G-3 Operations) during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and later as both Plans and Future Operations Officer during the Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In May 2003, Colonel Kennedy assumed command of 2d Battalion, 4th Marine, 1st Marine Division. From January to September 2004, he participated in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, assigned to the city of Ramadi, Iraq. Following command, he attended the National War College, graduating in 2006, and was subsequently assigned to the Office of Legislative Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps as the Director of Marine Liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives. He was promoted to his present rank in February 2007.
From July 2008 to July 2010, he commanded 2nd Marine Regiment which deployed Regimental Combat Team 2 to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM 10.1/10.2.
Colonel Kennedy’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (with the Combat Distinguishing Device), the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal (with Gold Star), Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with Gold Star), the Combat Action Ribbon (with Bronze Star), the Presidential Unit Citation, and Navy Unit Commendation (with Gold Star).