Captain Paul S. Holmes was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He graduated from Spencer High School in Spencer, Iowa in 1972. He attended Iowa State University prior to entering the Navy in January 1975. He was commissioned an Ensign via Officer Candidate School in May 1978 and promoted to Captain in June 1999.

His previous at sea assignments have included:

USS MEMPHIS SSN 691 as a Technician - Sep 1976 - Dec 1977

USS DASH MSO 428 as XO, DCA, 1st LT, MCM - Dec 1978 - Dec 1980

USS LUCE DDG 38 as Communications Officer - Feb 1981 - Nov 1982

USS SAN DIEGO AFS 6 as Operations Officer - Jul 1985 - Apr 1987

USS RICHARD E BYRD DDG 23 as Operations Officer - Apr 1987 - Oct 1988

USS ADROIT MSO 509 as Commanding Officer - Apr 1991 - Jun 1991

USS AFFRAY MSO 511 as Commanding Officer - Jun 1991 - July 1992

USS TAYLOR FFG 50 as Commanding Officer - Dec 1996 - Aug 1998

USS COWPENS CG-63 as Commanding Officer - Jul 2000 - Apr 2002

During his command of USS ADROIT (MSO-509), as part of Operation Desert Storm following the ground war with Iraq, ADROIT successfully located and destroyed 58 Iraqi mines in the waters of the Persian Gulf off the coast of Kuwait. For this action Captain Holmes was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with the Combat "V".

CAPT Holmes assumed command of the USS AFFRAY (MSO-511) upon return from the Gulf and under his Command won the Atlantic Fleet Mine Warfare Excellence Award.

During Command of USS TAYLOR (FFG-50) he deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and served four months with the NATO Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean Squadron, which included operations in the Adriatic Sea in support of operations in Bosnia and exercises with the Navies of the Partnership for Peace Nations in the Black Sea, as well as Bi-lateral exercises with the Moroccan Navy.

While Commanding Officer of USS COWPENS (CG-63), the ship was forward deployed and Homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. During his Command, COWPENS participated in several multi-national fleet exercises in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, visited Vladivostock, Russia, represented the United States at the International Fleet Review in Mumbai, India, participated in contingency operations in the Yellow Sea, sortied for Operation Noble Eagle in response to the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and participated in escort operations in the Straights of Malacca in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

His shore assignments have included:

Recruit Training Center Orlando, Florida - Feb 1975 - Apr 1975
Naval Submarine School New London as a Student -Jun 1975 - Sep 1976
Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI - Jan 1978 - May 1978
Surface Warfare Officer School, Division Officers Course - Jun 1978 - Sep 1978
Headquarters, U.S. Forces, Korea in Joint Secretariat - Nov 1982 - Dec 1984
Surface Warfare Officers School, Department Head Course - Jan 1985 - Jul 1985
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School Monterey, CA as a Student - Oct 1988 - Jun 1990
Surface Warfare Officers School, Command Course - Jun 1990 - Sep 1990
Senior Officer Ship's Material Readiness Course (SOSMRC) - Nov 1990 - Feb 1991
U.S. Transportation Command as Chief, Strategic Sealift (J5) - July 1992 - July 1995
U.S. Naval War College as a Student, Graduated with Distinction. - Aug 1995 - Jun 1996
Surface Warfare Officers School, Command Course - Sep 1996 - Nov 1996
Director, Division Officer Trng, Surface Warfare Officers School - Sep 1998 - Jun 2000
Commanding Officer, Center for Naval Engineering - Jun 2002 - Present

Captain Holmes Degrees include: Bachelor of Arts in History
Master of Science in Management
Graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval War College in June 1996 earning a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies.

Personal Decorations include:

The Legion of Merit;The Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; Combat Action Ribbon; Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (three awards); Navy Commendation Medal (three awards); Navy Expeditionary Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Southwest Asian Service Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal; NATO Medal and a variety of other unit and service awards.

Captain Holmes and his wife Su, have a daughter Christina and son Jonathan.