Paula C. Lodi is a

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

who has served as commanding general of the

United States Army Medical Research and Development Command United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two fi ...

since July 10, 2024. She served as commanding general of the 18th Medical Command (Deployment Support) from June 2022 to July 2024. She previously served as Deputy Commanding General for Support of the

United States Army Medical Command The U.S. Army Medical Command (MEDCOM) is a direct reporting unit of the U.S. Army that formerly provided command and control of the Army's fixed-facility medical, dental, and veterinary treatment facilities, providing preventive care, medical res ...

from July 2021 to May 2022. Lodi was the first female commander of the

44th Medical Brigade The 44th Medical Brigade is a US Army unit located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, providing health care and medical services to the Fort Bragg community, and continuing training in its combat support mission. It was the U.S. Army's second ope ...

. She is also the younger sister of Lieutenant General

Maria Barrett Maria Lodi Barrett is a United States Army Lieutenant general (United States), lieutenant general who serves as the Commanding General of the United States Army Cyber Command since May 3, 2022. She most recently served as Commanding General of t ...

. Lodi and Barrett are the United States Army's first ever sister General Officer tandem.

Early and personal life

Lodi grew up in

Franklin, Massachusetts The Town of Franklin is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Franklin is one of thirteen Massachusetts municipalities that have applied for, and been granted, city forms of government but wish to retain "The town of" in their o ...

, outside of

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

. She is the daughter of Ruston Lodi, an Italian immigrant, World War II veteran,

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

recipient, and school teacher; and Clara Lodi, an educator. Lodi has four siblings. Her elder sister,

, is a United States Army

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

. Lodi attended

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...

, graduating with a bachelor's degree. She also has a master's degrees in Public Administration, Military Arts and Science, and National Security and Strategic Studies.

Military career

Lodi received a commission as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the

as a Distinguished Military Graduate of Rutgers University ROTC program and Medical Service Corps. She served with the Forward Support Battalions in the 3rd Infantry Division in

Schweinfurt, Germany Schweinfurt ( , ; ) is a town#Germany, city in the district of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the surrounding Schweinfurt (district), district (''Landkreis'') of Schweinfurt and a major industrial, cultur ...

, and with 4th Infantry Division at

Fort Hood, Texas Fort Hood is a United States Army post located near Killeen, Texas. Named after Confederate General John Bell Hood, it is located halfway between Austin and Waco, about from each, within the U.S. state of Texas. The post is the headquarter ...

. She has served as Ambulance Platoon Leader, Battalion S1 and S4, Support Ops Maintenance Officer, Brigade S4, and company commander. Lodi also served as Deputy Chief of Managed Care, Hospital Executive Officer at Darnall Army Medical Center, III Corps Plans Officer, Executive Officer for 21st Combat Support Hospital, Deputy Brigade Commander for 1st Medical Brigade, Operations Officer for the 18th MEDCOM DCS-OPS in

Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) as stated iArticle 103 ...

, South Korea, and Chief, Military Personnel at William Beaumont Army Medical Center at

Fort Bliss Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in New Mexico and Texas, with its headquarters in El Paso, Texas. Named in honor of William Wallace Smith Bliss, LTC William Bliss (1815–1853), a mathematics professor who was the son-in-law of President ...

. At

the Pentagon The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense. It was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase ''The Pentagon'' is often used as a metony ...

, Lodi served as the Executive Officer to the Director of the Army Staff. Lodi has served in numerous command assignments, including of the 44th Medical Brigade, 15th Sustainment Brigade Special Troops Battalion, and 14th Combat Support Hospital. She was Chief and Leader of the Training Center at the AMEDD Center & School. She was also the Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations for the Office of the Surgeon General and United States Army Medical Command, as well as the Commanding General of the Regional Health Command in the Atlantic. Lodi has graduated from the Command and General Staff College & School of Advanced Military Studies, and the

Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associat ...

as a Distinguished Honor Graduate. She was promoted to

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

on June 2, 2019. She was nominated for promotion to major general on May 12, 2022, and the promotion took effect on February 3, 2023. In February 2024, Lodi was assigned as commanding general of the

Awards

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. The decoration is issued to members of the eight ...

(4 Oak Leaf Clusters) *

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone. Wh ...

(2 Oak Leaf Clusters) *

Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: *Meritorious Civilian Service Award *Meritorious Service Med ...

(6 Oak Leaf Clusters) *

Humanitarian Service Medal The Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is a military service medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under . The medal may be awarded to members of the United States military (includi ...

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is a military award which was created under Executive Order 12830 by George H. W. Bush on January 9, 1993. The medal was designed by the Institute of Heraldry and was first issued in Decem ...

Expert Field Medical Badge The Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB) is a United States Army special skills badge first created on June 18, 1965. This badge is the non-combat equivalent of the Combat Medical Badge (CMB) and is awarded to U.S. military personnel and North Atlan ...

Parachutist Badge A parachutist badge (or parachutist brevet) is a military badge awarded by the armed forces of many states to soldiers who have received parachute training and completed the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was th ...

Honors

* Recipient – Dr. Mary E. Walker and the St. Joan D’Arc Awards * Official Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3). * "A" proficiency designator awarded by the Surgeon General.

References

, - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Lodi, Paula C. Living people People from Franklin, Massachusetts Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Army generals United States Army personnel of the Gulf War United States Army personnel of the Iraq War Year of birth missing (living people)