Brigadier General Paul J. Rock, Director of Strategy, Policy, & Plans (J5) of the United States Southern Command, will visit Argentina on October 18-21. Brigadier General Rock will meet with the Ambassador and Embassy officers, and Argentine government officials to discuss security cooperation and peacekeeping operations
Paul J. Rock Jr. Bio
Brigadier General, USMC
Director of Strategy, Policy, & Plans (J5)
United States Southern Command
BGen Rock serves as US Southern Command’s Director of Strategy, Policy, & Plans, J5. As the J5, Rock leads the combatant command’s policy recommendations, strategy, and contingency and theater campaign plans for the Caribbean, Central American, and South American regions. His immediate previous assignment was as the Commanding General of the 2d Marine Air Wing.
Brigadier General Rock was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1988 upon graduation from the
US Naval Academy. Designated a Naval Aviator in 1990, he flew the CH-46E Sea Knight while serving in
HMM-263, MAG-29, 2d MAW during operational deployments to the Mediterranean, eastern Africa, the
Persian Gulf, and the former Republic of Yugoslavia (1991-95). Following duty as the Air Officer for 3rd
Bn, 8th Mar, 2d MarDiv, (1995-96), he returned to the cockpit as a flight instructor at HMT-204, (1997).
His involvement with the MV-22 Osprey commenced with operational testing at HMX-1 (1997-2000)
and instructor at VMMT-204 (2000-03). He was then selected as the “plankowner” Aircraft
Maintenance Officer for the standup of the Corps’ dedicated operational test squadron, VMX-22
(2003-2005). He next reported to the 2d MAW (Forward) staff in G-3(Plans), where he deployed to Iraq
(2005). Upon returning home he took command of VMM-263, the Marine Corps’ first operational
MV-22B squadron, and deployed to Iraq again in support of OIF (2006-2008).
Personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal,
Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy
Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal.
He attended National War College, and took command of VMMT-204, the Joint USMC/USAF MV-22B
training squadron (2008-11). That command tour was followed by duty in the J-5 Strategic Plans and
Policy Directorate (Deputy Directorate-Asia) of the Joint Staff (2011-13). He was the Aviation
Expeditionary Enabler Branch Chief and V-22 Cell Lead at Headquarters Marine Corps (2013-14). BGen
Rock became the Assistant Wing Commander of 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (2d MAW) in July 2014. He
took over as the Commanding General of 2d MAW in June 2015.
