A 1976 East graduate, Paul received an US Navy ROTC scholarship which allowed him to attend Rice University.  He graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1980.  He earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management from George Washington University in 1998.

Paul has spent his entire career with NASA facilitating and managing various manned space missions, including the International Space Station.  He began his work with NASA in 1980 at the Johnson Space Center, where he conducted engineering analysis and testing of Space Shuttle life support and space suit systems.  He transferred to NASA Headquarters in 1989 to support the Space Station Freedom Program Office.  He later served as a technical advisor for the NASA Chief Financial Officer conducting integrated program assessments across the NASA enterprises.

In 1996 he returned to the Johnson Space Center in the International Space Station Program.  In 2005, Paul was named Assistant Program Manager for the Orion Program.