Colonel Paul Kassebaum assumed command of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense on August 5, 2022. As MRICD’s commander, Colonel Kassebaum leads a dedicated team of scientists, educators, and clinical professionals pursuing the vision of eliminating suffering in the world caused by chemical threats and non-kinetic battlefield injuries.
Colonel Kassebaum is a 2003 graduate of the University of Florida where he earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree. He received a direct commission into the United States Army as a Pharmacy Officer (67E) in the Medical Service Corps in August 2003.
Upon completion of the Army Medical Department Officer Basic Course, he was assigned to Madigan Army Medical Center at Fort Lewis, WA where he completed his pharmacy practice residency. He applied that foundational experience in assignments of increasing complexity and responsibility within pharmacies at Fort Gordon, GA; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Fort Campbell, KY; Fort Knox, KY; Joint Base Lewis-McChord; and Landstuhl, Germany. He earned board certification in pharmacotherapy in 2005. During his assignment to Fort Leonard Wood in 2009, he deployed with the 47th Combat Support Hospital to Mosul, Iraq where he completed a 10-month tour as Chief, Pharmacy Services.
From 2014-2016 he completed a broadening assignment at Human Resources Command where he served as Assignment Officer for 67E/F/G & 71A/B/E/F officers. COL Kassebaum commanded the Fort Lee Medical Department Activity and Kenner Army Health Clinic from 2017-2019. He is grateful to have had the privilege of leading nearly 500 staff in their mission to enhance Soldier and medical force readiness through the delivery of exceptional and compassionate patient-centered care to the Fort Lee community. Following battalion-level command, he served as Chief, Department of Pharmacy at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Regional Health Command Europe Pharmacy Consultant from 2019-2022.
COL Kassebaum is a graduate of the Captain’s Career Course, Intermediate Level Education, Defense Strategy Course, and Army War College. He earned a Master’s Degree in Pharmaceutical Policy and Outcomes from the University of Florida and Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.
COL Kassebaum’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (two oak leaf clusters), Meritorious Unit Citation (one oak leaf cluster), Superior Unit Award (two oak leaf clusters), Iraq Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon (numeral 2), Expert Field Medical Badge, Air Assault Badge, and German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold). He is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.
COL Kassebaum is married to Megan. They have two sons, Henry (16) and Timothy (14).
