Paul E. Lefebvre
{{short description|United States Marine Corps general}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Paul E. Lefebvre
|image= MajGenLefebvre.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Brigadier General Paul E. Lefebvre in 2009
|nickname=
|birth_date=
|birth_place=
|death_date=
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United States
|branch= United States Marine Corps
|serviceyears= 1977–2012
|rank= Major General
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit
3rd Battalion 8th Marines
|battles= Operation Uphold Democracy
Operation Just Cause
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
|awards= Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Bronze Star Medal
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
Paul E. Lefebvre is a retired United States Marine Corps major general who served as the third Commanding General of the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command.
Early life and education
Lefebvre graduated from Springfield College in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. Prior to entering the Marine Corps, he coached football at Pennsylvania State University under the tutelage of Joe Paterno.
Lefebvre is an honor graduate of Officer Candidate School, The Basic School and Amphibious Warfare School and a distinguished graduate of Marine Command and Staff College and the Marine Corps War College.
Military career
In April 1977, Lefebvre was commissioned a second lieutenant after graduating from Officer Candidate School. Before assignment to the Fleet Marine Force, he graduated from The Basic School and Infantry Officers Course. Initially assigned to 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, he commanded a rifle platoon, weapons platoon, and a 81mm mortar platoon.
In 1981, Lefebvre served as a Guard Company commander of the Marine Barracks at Naval Weapons Station Earle. In 1985, Lefebvre was assigned to the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines, where he commanded the Headquarters & Support Company and the Weapons Company, as well as operations officer. He served as an instructor at the Amphibious Warfare School from 1988 until 1992, when he transferred to the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg serving as current operations officer. In 1995, he served as the executive officer of the 8th Marine Regiment, then assumed command of 3rd Battalion 8th Marines.
After a short period as the executive officer of the 2nd Marine Regiment in 1998, Lefebvre transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps to direct the Strategic Initiatives Group and the Commandant's "War Room". He assumed command of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2000, and in the wake of the September 11 attacks, led the unit into Afghanistan.{{cite web |title=College honors Marine general Marine honored by college|author=Natalia E. Arbulu|publisher=The Republican|url=http://www.masslive.com/chicopeeholyoke/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1179129087286830.xml&coll=1}}
In 2003, Lefebvre directed the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Staff Training Program at Marine Corps Combat Development Command until 2004, when served as the Deputy Director of Operations at United States Pacific Command until 2006. He then commanded Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and Eastern Recruiting Region for two years. In 2008, he became the Deputy Commanding General of Multi-National Corps Iraq, and then briefly the Deputy Commanding General of II Marine Expeditionary Force in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.google.ca/(ArticlesRead)/E49DBCA495C7CC31852575B70066FD16|title=Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force|work=II Marine Expeditionary Force|publisher=United States Marine Corps|accessdate=27 December 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
In November 2009, Major General Mastin M. Robeson turned over command of United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command to Lefebvre.{{cite web|title=MARSOC gains third ever commander|author=Richard Blumenstein|work=Marine Corps Special Operations Command|publisher=United States Marine Corps|url=http://www.marsoc.usmc.mil/news/ThirdGen.html}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was retired from the Marine Corps in 2012. He also served on the board of governors for the Marine Corps Association and the editorial board for the Marine Corps Gazette. He is an honorary chairman of The OSS Society.
Awards and honors
Lefebvre's awards include:
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| colspan="4"|250px |
| colspan="2" align="right" |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|colspan="2" align="left" |{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=2|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Armed Forces Expedtionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |
| colspan="5"|Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia |
| 1st Row
| |Defense Superior Service Medal |Legion of Merit w/ 2 award stars | |
|---|
| 2nd Row
|Defense Meritorious Service Medal |Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 award star |
| 3rd Row
|Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 1 award star |
| 4th Row
|Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |Afghanistan Campaign Medal w/ 1 service star |Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 1 service star |
| 5th Row
|Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbonw/ 5 service stars |
In 1987, while serving with 2nd Battalion 9th Marines, Lefebvre was awarded the Leftwich Trophy.
References
{{commons category|Paul E. Lefebvre}}
{{Marine Corps}}
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120304201636/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=6&PERSON_TYPE=General Biography] from the Marine Corps website
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091211224016/http://www.marsoc.usmc.mil/co-sgtmaj-bio.html Biography] from MARSOC website
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Mastin M. Robeson}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commanding General of the United States Marine Forces Special Operations Command|years=2009–2012}}
{{s-aft|after=Mark A. Clark}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lefebvre, Paul E.}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Marine Corps War College alumni
Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War
Category:United States Marine Corps generals
Category:Springfield Pride football players
Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football coaches
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit