Three decades of leadership in military and civilian roles.
Paul E. Knapp is a distinguished retired Major General with over three decades of leadership in military and civilian roles. As the Adjutant General of Wisconsin, he commanded the Wisconsin National Guard, overseeing over 10,000 personnel during historic crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, and major national security events like the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. He also served as the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor, spearheading the state’s first comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and leading the transformation of the National Guard’s organizational culture to address critical issues such as sexual harassment and suicide prevention.
Knapp’s military career is marked by his expertise in operations and crisis management, with over 3,000 flight hours and 262 combat sorties in operations across the globe, including Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Prior to his Wisconsin role, he served as Mobilization Assistant to the Commander at the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, where he advised on lifecycle management for critical nuclear assets.
Knapp holds a Master of Science in Technology Management from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Japanese from the U.S. Air Force Academy. His accolades include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Force Combat Action Medal. He is an active member of several professional military associations and continues to champion innovation in defense, cybersecurity, and public administration.
