Lieutenant Colonel Paul C. Trower
Born on November 27, 1984, in Killeen, TX, LtCol Trower commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 2007, after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in History.
Following The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 3d Marines in April 2009. During this tour, LtCol Trower served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, a Company Executive Officer, and completed two deployments to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In July 2012, LtCol Trower was assigned to Joint Interagency Task Force West, United States Pacific Command as a Forward Deployed Operations Officer. During this tour, LtCol Trower conducted Counter Narcotics-Terrorism training events with United States Special Operations Forces and partner nation paramilitary forces in Vietnam and Bangladesh. In 2015, LtCol Trower attended Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA.
Following school, LtCol Trower was assigned to 1st Battalion, 4th Marines and served as the Assistant Operations Officer, Commanding Officer of Weapons Company, and Battalion Operations Officer from 2016-2019. As a company commander, LtCol Trower deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2016. During this deployment, LtCol Trower led a 200 Marine task force in Northern Syria in support of the SOJTF-OIR missions. In 2018 LtCol Trower deployed as the Battalion Landing Team’s Operations Officer for the 31st MEU.
In June 2019, Maj Trower executed orders to Headquarters Marine Corps, Combat Development and Integration as a Capabilities Integration Officer. In May 2020 LtCol Trower was selected to serve as the Aide-de-Camp for the Deputy Commandant of Combat Development and Integration. Following his tour at CD&I, LtCol Trower attended the School of Advanced Warfighting and received a Master’s of Operational Studies. Upon graduating from SAW, LtCol Trower received orders to I Marine Expeditionary Force as an operational planner.
During his tour at I MEF LtCol Trower served as a planner in the G-9 as the lead planner for all MEF experimentation and futures capability development and as a planner in the MEF’s G-35, Future Operations Plans section.
LtCol Trower’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2nd Award), Navy Achievement Medal (with Valor device), and the Combat Action Ribbon.
LtCol Trower is married to Emily Petro of Allentown, PA and they live in San Diego, CA.