Captain James Paulsen, U.S. Navy
Professor of Naval Science and Commanding Officer
Chicago Area NROTC Consortium

Captain James Paulsen was born on Long Island, New York and raised in rural Indiana. He graduated from Purdue University in 1983 and was commissioned at Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. Following flight training at Milton, Florida and Kingsville, Texas, he received his Wings of Gold in 1985. Ensign Paulsen completed A-7 Corsair II training with VA-122 at Lemoore, California, flew the EA-7L electronic warfare variant at VAQ-34 from NAS Point Mugu, CA.

Lieutenant Paulsen transitioned to the FA-18 Hornet in 1989 at VFA-125 in Lemoore. He then reported to VFA-146 in 1990 as the Blue Diamonds accepted the first FA-18C model Hornets. Deploying in 1991 and 1993 supporting Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch, VFA-146 earned the 1993 Battle 'E' as they introduced Night Vision Goggles and Targeting FLIRs to strike warfare from USS Nimitz.

Following a brief staff tour with Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, Lieutenant Commander Paulsen joined VFA-94 for his department head tour in 1994. The Battle 'E' winning Mighty Shrikes deployed in 1995 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln and in 1996 aboard USS Kitty Hawk to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.

In 1997, he attended the Air Command and Staff College in Montgomery, Alabama and the University of Alabama, receiving a Master of Arts degree in Military History. After Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, he reported to the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the Department of State in Washington, DC, in 1998 as a political-military advisor.

He joined the World Famous Golden Dragons of VFA-192 as the Executive Officer in 2001, home ported in Yokosuka, Japan. Following the events of 9-11, he led Carrier Air Wing Five's Detachment Bravo during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Commander Paulsen assumed command of VFA-192 on Guam in May 2002. In 2003, the Golden Dragons fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom from the USS Kitty Hawk. Following his change of command, Commander Paulsen reported to the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, where he led technology development efforts to defeat Improvised Explosive Device weapons.

In 2006, Captain Paulsen reported to Carrier Airwing One as the Deputy Airwing Commander in July 2006. After combat deployments in 2006 and 2007 to both Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom from the USS Enterprise, he assumed command of CVW-1 in 2008. Leaving CVW-1 in 2009, he reported to the Navy Personnel Center where he oversaw the career management of 25,000 Navy Restricted Line and Staff Officers.

In his present assigment as the Professor of Naval Science at the Chicago Consortium NROTC, he commands staffs at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology who are training tomorrow's Naval Officers from those schools and also Midshipmen from Loyola University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Kennedy King Institute.

Captain Paulsen has logged over 5000 flight hours, including more than 3000 hours in the FA-18A-F Hornet and Super Hornet. He has 1000 carrier-arrested landings on the decks of aircraft carriers Lexington, Ranger, Kitty Hawk, Constellation, Enterprise, Nimitz, Carl Vinson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. He was the first Airwing Commander to land on the Navy's newest carrier, George Herbert Walker Bush. He also flew the T-34B/C, T-2C, TA-4J, QF-4S, A-7E, EA-7L, ERA-3B, KA-3B, EA-6B, E-2C, SH-60F, HH-60H, C-2A, C-12, and civilian aircraft ranging from gliders to jetliners. He is the recipient of the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with combat "V", eight Air Medal/Strike Flight Awards, two Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medals, three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various campaign and service awards.

CDR Liberman currently serves as Executive Officer, Chicago Area NROTC Consortium. He is an Associate Professor of Naval Science at Northwestern University and at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

A Native of Maryland, he graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering cum Laude with a minor in Economics. After receiving his commission thru Officer Candidate School (Newport, RI), he attended Nuclear Power school (Orlando, Florida) and Nuclear Prototype and Training Unit (S5G) (Idaho Falls, Idaho).

In March 1994, after completion of Submarine Officers Basic Course (Groton, CT), Lieutenant Liberman reported to the USS FINBACK (SSN670), in Norfolk, Virginia, and served as Electrical Officer and Damage Control Assistant. While on FINBACK, he completed a Mediterranean Deployment, a Caribbean deployment, and an inter-fleet transfer to the Pacific Fleet. During his tour, he graduated from the Navy Diving and Salvage School, Panama City Florida and qualified as a Navy Diver. In March 1997, he reported to the staff of Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia. He served as the Special Warfare Liaison Officer and Strike Warfare Officer. During the assignment, he completed a Master of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University.

In November 1999, after graduation from Submarine Officers Advanced Course (Groton, CT), CDR Liberman reported to the USS WEST VIRGINIA (SSBN 736 BLUE) in Kings Bay, Georgia where he served as Navigator/Operations Officer, completing 5 strategic deterrent patrols and earning the Battle Efficiency Award. In January 2003, Lieutenant Commander Liberman reported to the staff of Director of Strategic Systems Programs, in Washington D.C. He served as the Navigation/Operations Officer, Test and Evaluation Branch. In March 2005, he graduated from the 3rd convening of the Submarine Commander's Course, Pearl Harbor, HI. In April 2005 he reported to the USS TENNESSEE (SSBN 734 GOLD) as the Executive Officer completing 3 strategic deterrent patrols.

In May 2007, he served as the Director of Training, Special Activities Branch, Operations Directorate, United States Northern Command, Colorado Springs, CO where he was selected as the 2007 US Northern Command, Operations Directorate Field Grade Officer of the Year. While stationed at USNORTHCOM, he graduated from the Air Force Command and Staff College non-resident course, earning his Joint Professional Military Education Phase I. He also earned a Masters Certificate in Homeland Defense Studies, Center of Homeland Security, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

In July 2009, Commander Liberman reported to Commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine, Everett, Washington. He served in various key positions to include Submarine Operations Officer, Plans Officer, and Current Operations Officer. During 2010-2011, he completed a combat deployment to the 7th and 5TH Fleet Areas of Responsibility embarked on the Aircraft Carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. While deployed he served as the Commander Task Force Fifty Liaison Officer to Commander, Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain supporting Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom.

CDR Liberman's awards include the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards), and various unit and service awards. CDR Liberman is married to the former Kerry Burgess of Orlando, Florida. They have four children; Sean (12), Rachel (9), Kiernan (9), and Veronica (9). His brother, Major Aric Liberman, USMC, is an F/A 18 super hornet pilot, and currently is qualifying on the F-35 as a founding member of the Warlords Lightning II Squadron, Eglin, Florida.