Paul joined as Director Naval Staff in May 2021, following 1* assignments as Chief of Staff to Navy Command, and Head of the Naval Staff. He is a graduate of the US Naval War College and the UK Higher Command and Staff Course, holds a MSc in Leadership and Management, and is an advocate for Social Mobility in Defence.

Paul joined the Royal Navy in 1989 and spent his early years conducting maritime embargo enforcement in the Persian Gulf, Northern Ireland and the Adriatic before completing a second Northern Ireland tour as the Commanding Officer of the Patrol Boat HMS Arun.  After warfare training, he returned to sea as the Operations Officer of HMS York and then HMS Edinburgh.  From 2004-2006 he served as the Military Assistant to the Navy Capability lead before returning to sea as the XO (Second in Command) of HMS Westminster, and then as the inaugural XO of the first Type 45 Destroyer, HMS DARING.  This was followed by Command of HMS Manchester.

Paul then ventured across the Atlantic.  Firstly, completing the US Navy Senior Command Course at Newport, Rhode Island, before serving in the Pentagon on the USN Strategy Staff.  He returned to the UK in 2013 to work in Head Office supporting the preparations for the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review, during which he authored the UK's first National Strategy for Maritime Security.  Promoted to Captain in 2014, he served first as Chief of Staff to the UK Maritime Battle Staff, during a time when the Royal Navy held both NATO Response Force and CJEF Command, and subsequently as the Principal Staff Officer to Commander Joint Forces Command (now UK STRATCOM).