Colonel Paul. B. Culberson

Colonel Paul B. Culberson assumed command of Task Force Essayons in October 2019. As the Commander, he provides oversight of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers support to the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) for Operation Inherent Resolve, Iraq and Syria. He commands a unit that provides planning, design, engineering, environmental support, and construction contract administration services for U.S. military operations. Task Force Essayons is headquartered in Camp Taji, Iraq, with offices in Iraq and Kuwait.

The colonel came to TFE after attending the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, from 2018-2019. He has had a long and distinguished career, serving in a multitude of assignments over the years, most recently serving as the commander of the 7^th Engineer Battalion with service in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. He also served as the Senior Engineer Battalion Trainer at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana from 2017-2018.

Colonel Culberson was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers through ROTC from the New Mexico Military Institute in 1996. He attended Louisiana State University and received his Bachelors of Science Degree in 1999 and entered active duty service. He started his career with the 40^th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Armored Division at Baumholder, Germany, where he served as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer and Assistant Brigade Engineer. Following that assignment, he served as the division engineer for the 101^st Airborne Division with service in Iraq from 2003-2004. He later served from 2004-2006 as the Company Commander for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team “Rakkasans,” 101^st Airborne Division, with service again in Iraq. From 2006-2007 and again from 2008-2009, he served as the Operations Officer for the Australian 3^rd Combat Engineer Regiment, 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, and from 2007-2008, he served as the Task Force Lead Planner for the Australian Reconstruction Task Force 3 in Afghanistan.

The colonel served as the Operations Officer and Executive Officer for the 425^th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (Airborne), 4^th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25^th Infantry Division, with service in Afghanistan from 2010-2012, and from 2012-2013 he served as the Secretary of the General Staff for U.S. Army Alaska. From 2013-2015, he served as the Professor of Military Science at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He also served as the commander of the 7^th Engineer Battalion with service in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Colonel Culberson holds an Associates of Arts Degree from New Mexico Military Institute, Bachelor of Science Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University and A&M College, Masters of Science Degree in Geological Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology, Masters of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and is a recent graduate of the Naval War College. 

Colonel Culberson’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star (with three Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (with four Oak Leaf Clusters), NATO Medal and the De Fleury Medal. He has also earned the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab and Canadian Jump Wings.