Colonel Chris Paone, a native of Ramsey, New Jersey, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps through the Providence College ROTC program. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Providence College and graduate degrees in Business Administration (University of Maryland University College), Logistics Management (Florida Institute of Technology), and Strategic Studies (United States Army War College).
He is a graduate of the Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Mortuary Affairs Course, Combined Logistics Captains Career Course, Combined Officer Advanced Course, Aerial Delivery and Materials Officer Course, Jumpmaster Course, Pathfinder Course, Logistics Executive Development Course, Theater Logistics Studies Course, Joint Course on Logistics, Command and General Staff Course - Intermediate Level Education, and United States Army War College.
During his career, the colonel’s earliest assignments between 1998 and 2002 were as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Petroleum Operations Officer in the 260th Quartermaster Battalion at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; and as a Supply and Services Officer in the 148th Logistics Task Force, in Bosnia/Herzegovina.
From 2003-2014, Colonel Paone assumed roles of increasing responsibility at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, including Group Assistant S4 and Service Detachment Commander in the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne); Aide-de-Camp at the United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania; Presidential Inauguration Logistics Coordinator on the Armed Forces Inauguration Committee, Military District of Washington; Services Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division and Group S4 back in the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Later, he served as an Interagency Fellow with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, D.C., and as National Programs and Employment Director in the Soldier For Life Program on the Army Staff. During that time, he also served multiple tours in Afghanistan as a member of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force and Combined Joint Task Force-82.
Colonel Paone commanded the Group Support Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from 2015-2017. Following battalion command, he was assigned to the Combined Arms Support Command, Fort Lee, Virginia, where he served as Chief, Logistics Branch Proponency, and then G-3, Army Sustainment Command, Rock Island Arsenal. He assumed his present duties July 16, 2020.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and numerous other achievement awards. He also is a Master Rated Parachutist, Demonstrated Master Logistician, and member of the United States Army Quartermaster Corps’ Distinguished Order of Saint Martin.