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Brigadier General
Paul E. Pirog
Permanent Professor 2004–2014
B.S., United States Air Force Academy
J.D., University of Michigan
Paul Pirog, the Academy’s 76th Permanent Professor, a native of Novi, Michigan, was born in 1955. He is a 1977 Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Biological Sciences. He spent five years in flying operations, first at undergraduate navigator training and Navigator-Bombardier Training at Mather AFB, CA, 1977–1978, graduating at the top of both classes, and then navigating B-52Ds at Carswell AFB, TX, 1978–1982. He accrued more than 1,500 flying hours and was the navigator of the 9th Bomb Squadron Crew of the Year (1980). He was selected for the Funded Legal Education Program and sent to the University of Michigan Law School, earning his Juris Doctorate in 1985. Paul then performed duties as Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Ellsworth AFB, SD, 1985–1987; Senior Medical Law Consultant, Keesler AFB, MS, 1987–1990; Staff Judge Advocate, Onizuka AFB, CA, 1990–1992; Chief, National Security Law Branch, Office of the Air Force General Counsel, the Pentagon, Washington, DC, 1992–1995; Staff Judge Advocate, 16th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, FL, 1995–1997; Deputy Commandant, Air Force Judge Advocate General School, Maxwell AFB, AL, 1997–1998; Staff Judge Advocate, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1998–2000; and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, IL, 2000–2002. He returned to the Academy for his first faculty assignment in 2002, as Head, Department of Law. Two years later, he was appointed a Permanent Professor. During his tenure Paul revitalized the core course, Law for Air Force Officers, shifting its focus from a substantive knowledge of the law to a learning-centered approach concentrating on critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the ability to communicate, and knowledge of Air Force–oriented areas of the law. In addition, he created a new institutional post-graduate law school program for Academy graduates, performed duties as a judge at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law’s Law of Armed Conflict Competition for Military Academies, and served as Chair of the Institutional Review Committee, responsible for approval and monitoring of all Academy research on human subjects. Active across all mission elements, Paul helped safeguard the fairness of the cadet honor system through oversight of all Honor Case and Board Legal Advisors, was Officer in Charge of the Catholic Cadet Choir, and was Officer Representative for the intercollegiate women’s volleyball team. For six years, he chaired the Social Sciences Division, serving on the Academy Board and helping formulate the strategic direction of the Academy. He was a member of the Judge Advocate General School Advisory Group for many years, providing oversight and strategic direction for courses taught at the School. Paul took a sabbatical assignment as Staff Judge Advocate, 19th Air Force, Randolph AFB, TX, 2007–2008. He has published widely on legal issues, including the role of ethics in the fight against terrorism. Paul was promoted to brigadier general and retired from the Air Force in 2014.
Since retiring from active duty, Paul serves as a Trustee of the Judge Advocate General School Foundation and is active in his local community government.