Paula C. Lodi is a

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

major general who has served as commanding general of the

United States Army Medical Research and Development Command The United States Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) is the United States Army's medical materiel developer, responsible for medical research, development, and acquisition. Overview USAMRDC Headquarters at Fort Detrick, Mar ...

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 re ...

from July 2021 to May 2022. Lodi was the first female commander of the 44th Medical Brigade. She is also the younger sister of Lieutenant General Maria Barrett. 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 ...

, outside of

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. 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 a ...

recipient, and school teacher; and Clara Lodi, an educator. Lodi has four siblings. Her elder sister, Maria Barrett, is a United States Army

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank 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 battlefield, who was norma ...

. Lodi attended

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

, 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 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, and with 4th Infantry Division at

Fort Hood, Texas Fort Cavazos is a United States Army Military installation, post located near Killeen, Texas. The post is currently named after Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, a native Texan and the US Army’s first Hispanic four-star general. The post is located ha ...

. 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 Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

, 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. Established in 1848, the fort was renamed in 1854 to honor William Wallace Smith Bliss, Bvt.Lieut.Colonel William W.S. Bliss (1815–1853 ...

. At

the Pentagon The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense, in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The building was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As ...

, 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 associa ...

as a Distinguished Honor Graduate. She was promoted to brigadier general 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 Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

(4 Oak Leaf Clusters) *

Bronze Star Medal The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious a ...

(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: Singapore *Pingat Jasa Gemilang, or Meritorious Services Me ...

(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 (incl ...

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award which was created under Executive order (United States), Executive Order 12830 by George H. W. Bush on January 9, ...

* Expert Field Medical Badge * Parachutist Badge

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 Surgeon general (: surgeons general) is a title used in several Commonwealth countries and most NATO nations to refer either to a senior military medical officer or to a senior uniformed physician commissioned by the government and entrusted with p ...

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) American female military personnel of the Gulf War Women in the Iraq War