Captain Paul M. Rivera was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia on September 13, 1976. He graduated from Mayde Creek High School, Houston, Texas in 1996. He entered boot camp at MCRD San Diego, California on June 3, 1996 and graduated as a meritorious Private First Class on August 28, 1996. He then proceeded to Marine Combat Training, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California in September 1996 and subsequently Marine Corps Communication Electronics School in Marine Corps Base Twenty-Nine Palms, California in October 1996.
Private First Class Rivera joined the Marine Corps Reserves at 1st Battalion 23rd Marines (1/23) located in Houston, Texas in December of 1996. During his tour with 1/23 he served in the billets as a Field Radio Operator (2531/0621), Machine Gunner (0331) and Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) team leader.
In 2001 Sergeant Rivera reported to Platoon Leaders Course (Combined), Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation, Sergeant Rivera resumed his duties with 1/23 as a TACP Chief and continued his college studies. After September 11, 2011, Sergeant Rivera was involuntarily mobilized on Active Duty in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) at which time he was assigned to 1/23 as an Anti Terrorism's Mobile Training Team (AT-MTT) team leader.
After honorably serving his enlisted time in the Marine Corps as a reservist, he graduated from Texas A&M University in 2002, with a Bachelor of Art in History with a minor in business administration. He was commissioned in 2003 as a Second Lieutenant and reported to The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation in 2004, Second Lieutenant Rivera reported to Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination (API) School in Pensacola, Florida as a student pilot, after completing API he reported to Corpus Christi, Texas for Primary Flight Training. After being reassigned, Second Lieutenant Rivera reported to Amphibian Officer Course and graduated from he then proceeded to Delta Company, 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion on Marine Corps Base Twenty-Nine Palms, California and held the billet of Platoon Commander. First Lieutenant Rivera received orders to report to Okinawa, Japan for a Unit Deployment Program (UDP) in 2005. He subsequently deployed to Iraq in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from October 2006 to April 2007, operating in the Al Anbar Province. Following the deployment, in 2007, First Lieutenant Rivera reported to the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch (AVTB) as a Developmental Test Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and Deputy Director. While serving at AVTB he completed a Master's of Science in Project Management from The University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
In 2010 Captain Rivera reported to Maneuver Captains Career Course, and upon graduation he reported to his current assignment with 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, Company B, as the Company Commander.
Captain Rivera's personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a gold star in lieu of second award, the Combat Action Ribbon, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal with bronze star in lieu of second award, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device.