Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Phillip Paquette is a proven senior enlisted leader with over two decades of service in the United States Army, culminating in his role as the Command Sergeant Major of the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Over a 23-year career, he held critical leadership positions across the special operations and conventional force spectrum, leading at every echelon from team leader to Battalion Command Sergeant Major. His career is marked by extensive combat experience, innovation in leader development, and a deep commitment to organizational excellence.
A native of Rhode Island, CSM Paquette enlisted in the Army in 2001 and began his career with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, where he served in multiple leadership roles. In 2015, he joined the 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Georgia, where he served as the Charlie Company First Sergeant and as an Interagency Enabling Team Ground Force Commander in Afghanistan. Additional key assignments include Operations Sergeant Major for 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade and Battalion Command Sergeant Major of 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team. In 2022, he returned to the 1st Ranger Battalion as the Command Sergeant Major, where he served until his retirement in 2025.
CSM Paquette deployed for over 70 months in support of combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, and support of Operation Assure, Deter, and Reinforce across Europe.
He is a graduate of Ranger School, Airborne School, Pathfinder School, Jumpmaster School, and Air Assault School. His academic credentials include a Bachelor’s degree in Leadership and Workforce Development from the Command and General Staff College, a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts from Excelsior College, and a Master of Business from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
His military awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (4 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Army Commendation Medal with “Valorous” device (2 OLC), Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, and the Air Assault Badge. He also holds foreign parachutist wings from the United Kingdom, Chile, Guatemala, Germany, and Ecuador and is a recipient of the Order of Saint Maurice.
In his civilian career, Phil serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Cronos LLC, an Audio Video and Information Technology firm specializing in the design, integration, and procurement of AV/IT solutions for the Department of Defense as well as state and local governments. Phil also advises corporate clients on leadership, process improvement, and talent development through his personal consulting and executive coaching work.
