New mobilization general joins Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

By Leah Bryant, AFNWC Public Affairs 

KIRTLAND AFB, NM – The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center recently welcomed a new leader to its headquarters here.

In March, Brig. Gen. Paul Knapp, a U.S. Air Force Reservist, began his new position as the mobilization assistant to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center commander.  In this position, he helps direct the Air Force’s nuclear modernization, acquisition, and sustainment programs with more than 1,300 personnel at 18 locations worldwide.  These programs include ICBMs, air-launched cruise missiles, gravity bombs, and nuclear command-and-control communications.

A mobilization assistant is an Air Force Reserve colonel or above assigned to back-fill an active-duty general officer.  As such, Knapp performs Reserve duty at the center in preparation to take over for the center commander, Maj. Gen. Shaun Morris, should Morris be deployed.  Knapp could also be mobilized to active duty in times of war or national emergency.

“I’m excited for Paul to be here,” Morris said.  “He brings a critical warfighter perspective to the center with his extensive operational and combat experience, as well as his staff experience at Air Force Global Strike Command.”

Prior to this assignment, Knapp was the mobilization assistant to Air Force Global Strike Command’s director of operations and communications at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.  He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in December 2018.

A native of Antigo, Wisconsin, Knapp currently lives in Milwaukee with his wife, Dr. Renee Knapp, and children, Connor and Kennedy.  He graduated in 1992 from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  He entered active duty as a special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations prior to attending navigator training at Randolph AFB, Texas, and Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida.

He served two operational tours as an F-15E Strike Eagle weapon systems officer and one as an air liaison officer to the U.S. Army in South Korea.  He separated from active duty in August 2003 and joined the 440th Airlift Wing at the Gen. Mitchell Air Reserve Station, Wisconsin, flying the C-130H Hercules.  He has over 680 combat hours supporting operations Allied Force, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.