Episode 24: Paul Steketee, Chief of Staff, Airbus US Space & Defense
Please join us in welcoming Paul Steketee
Paul Steketee is the son of a Christian missionary family and was raised in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), west Africa. He graduated from The Citadel in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps in May 2003 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program. After completing The Basic School and adjutant course, he served as the Senior Military Manpower Officer for the 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Second Marine Division.
Paul’s military experience in the Fleet Marine Forces includes combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq, as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004-2005, humanitarian and disaster relief in September 2005 to Mississippi and Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) deployment in 2005-2006 as a part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU (SOC)). During the 24th MEU (SOC) deployment, Battalion Landing Team 1/8 conducted noncombatant evacuation operations off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon, bilateral training in Pakistan and Jordan, and theater support to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Paul Steketee also served as the manpower officer and deputy director manpower directorate, 2d Marine Logistics Group, during 2011-2012 in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. From the I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) manpower and operations plans section, he deployed in 2018 as the deputy commander (second in command), Task Force Al-Asad, the Combined Joint Task Force - Iraq brigade headquarters, regional targeting center for northern Al Anbar province and the advisory group to the 7th and 8th Iraqi Security Force Divisions.
His supporting establishment and Headquarters Marine Corps tours include second in command of
the Navy and Marine Corps Appellate Leave Activity, Washington Navy Yard, D.C from 2007-
2010, operations officer and faculty advisor, Personnel Administration School, Camp Johnson,
North Carolina, from 2012-2014, Director Manpower Management, Marine Barracks Washington,
D.C., from 2014-2017, and Chief of Staff, Human Capital Management Directorate, Training
Command from 2019-2021. He culminated his 21-year military career as the second in command,
Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., in March 2024.
Paul is married to Gretchen Scarbrough of Augusta, G.A. They have three children: Joel, Sarah, and
Annie, and a lively yellow labrador, Essie. In his free time, Paul coaches little league baseball and
soccer, hunts, and mentors transitioning service members as they join the private sector. He is a
graduate of Expeditionary Warfare School (non-resident), the Manpower Officer Course, and Marine
Corps Command & Staff College (Non-Resident). He also has a master’s in business administration
– Strategic Leadership from New England College and serves as a board member for Operation
Second Chance – a non-profit that helps combat wounded veterans and their families. Since leaving
active duty, Paul created a single-proprietor LLC specializing in business development and strategic
planning for multiple clients.