Lt Col Paul D. Julian Jr. is the Deputy Commander of the 21st Air Task Force, Dyess AFB. Texas. He serves as second in command for the Air Force’s pathfinder unit responsible for training and presenting forces to provide mission ready Airmen across fifty-five Air Force specialties for global taskings. The Air Task Force is a Unit of Action optimized for combat effectiveness, able to execute mission command and employ schemes of maneuver to advance Air Force and Joint Force Commander objectives during an era of Great Power Competition.
Lt Col Julian graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a concentration in Aerospace Engineering from the Virginia Military Institute. He commissioned through the ROTC program and entered active duty in July 2005 as a Civil Engineer officer at Holloman AFB, New Mexico. He has served in a variety of squadron-level civil engineer assignments, on a major command staff, at Headquarters Air Force, and as a professional military education instructor. Prior to his current position, he earned a Master of Arts from the United States College of Naval Warfare.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington
2006 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Master of Science in Management, Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness, Troy University, Ala.
2011 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell, AFB, Ala.
2017 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2024 Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies, College of Naval Warfare, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
ASSIGNMENTS or CAREER CHRONOLOGY
1. July 2005 – September 2008, Program Manager and Readiness Flight Commander, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
2. September 2008 – March 2011, Flight Commander, 37th Student Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
3. August 2011 – December 2011, Director of Training, Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
4. December 2011 – November 2012, Civil Engineer Advisor, 443d Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
5. April 2013 – July 2016, Deputy United Kingdom Regional Engineer, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces Europe, Royal Air Force Wyton, United Kingdom
6. July 2016 – June 2017, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7. June 2017 – July 2019, Operations Flight Commander, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
8. July 2019 – July 2020, Lead Mission Assurance Integration Manager, Directorate of Civil Engineers, Headquarters Air Force, Arlington, Va
9. July 2020 – July 2021, Executive Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy, Headquarters Air Force, Arlington, Va
10. July 2021 – June 2023, Commander, 628th Civil Engineer Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, SC
11. July 2023 – June 2024, Student, U.S. Naval War College, Naval Station Newport, R.I.
12. July 2024 – Present, Deputy Commander, 21st Air Task Force, Dyess AFB, T.X.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with 5 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor
National Defense Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2011: Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School
2016: Distinguished Graduate, Air Command and Staff College
2024: Highest Distinction, College of Naval Warfare
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 13, 2005
First Lieutenant June 13, 2007
Captain June 13, 2009
Major January 1, 2016
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2020
(Current as of September 2024)