Paul grew up in San Marcos, Texas, and attended San Marcos Baptist Academy, where he participated in the JROTC program. He rose to the rank of cadet major and graduated fifth in his class in 2000. For his Eagle Scout project, he built a disc golf course on the school grounds. After graduation, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point with the Class of 2004.

After earning his commission, Paul completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Basic Airborne School, and Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then assigned to Fort Richardson, Alaska, with the 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne), and deployed to Iraq for 14 months as a platoon leader. Later, he joined the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and deployed to Afghanistan in 2009. On January 19, 2010, while leading a foot patrol in the Arghandab River Valley of Kandahar Province, Paul and another service member were killed by an improvised explosive device.

A quiet professional with a big smile, Paul was kind-hearted and deeply respected by his family, friends, and fellow soldiers. His legacy lives on in all who knew and served with him.