A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lieutenant Colonel Paolicelli enlisted into the Marine Corps Reserve in 1993. He served as a machine gunner with Company B, 1st Battalion, 25th Marines and was commissioned through the Platoon Leader's Class (PLC) Program upon his graduation from Norwich University in December 1996.
Following The Basic School and the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, he was ordered to 5th Battalion, 10th Marines where he served as a Forward Observer for Battery I, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines. In 1998 he deployed with Battery S as the Liaison Officer during their UDP deployment to Okinawa, Japan. He subsequently served as the Fire Direction Officer, Executive Officer and Battalion Assistant Logistics Officer.
From 2000 to 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Paolicelli served with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) as the Target Information Officer, Fire Support Officer and Assistant Operations Officer. While with the 24th MEU he participated in Operation JOINT GUARDIAN in Kosovo, and combat operations ashore in Iraq as part of Task Force Tarawa for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
In August 2003, Lieutenant Colonel Paolicelli attended the Expeditionary Warfare School and was subsequently assigned to 2d Battalion, 11th Marines. He served as the Battery Commander for Headquarters Battery and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM II. In 2005, Lieutenant Colonel Paolicelli assumed command of Battery K, 3d Battalion, 12th Marines and deployed with Battalion Landing Team 2/5, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. In February 2006, he participated in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations on the island of Southern Leyte, Philippines.
In 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Paolicelli served as a Congressional Fellow to Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) for the first session of the 110th Congress. He then reported to Headquarters Marine Corps, Plans, Policy and Operations and served as the Joint Action Control Officer.
From 2009 to 2012, Lieutenant Colonel Paolicelli served with 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company as the Operations Officer and Brigade Platoon Commander and deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Additionally, in 2010, he attended the Tactical Air Control Party School and was designated as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC).
Lieutenant Colonel Paolicelli reported to the Joint Staff in 2012 and served as an Action Officer for the J-6 Spectrum Branch and the Executive Assistant to the Vice Director of the Joint Staff J-6 until 2015. From January 2015 to June 2016, he served in the Navy Secretariat as the Executive Assistant to the Department of the Navy/Assistant for Administration. From June 2016 to May 2018, he served as the Marine Corps Liaison to the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. In May 2018, he assumed his current duties as the Deputy Base Commander.
He is married to the former Courtney Paige Winston from Statesville, North Carolina. They have one daughter, Molly Paige and one golden doodle dog, Winston.
His personal awards include: the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star, the Combat Action Ribbon with gold star, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the Joint Staff Badge.
Social Sharing