About Paul - Biography

Paul Evans was born in Salem, Oregon in 1970.  Raised in Monmouth, Paul graduated from Central High School (Independence, Oregon).  At age 18, Paul was elected to serve his community city councilor, one of the youngest elected leaders in the nation.  After graduation from Western Oregon University (then - Western Oregon State College), Paul joined the United States Air Force. 

Upon completion of his military commitment, Paul returned home to continue his education and begin a civilian career.  He returned home to lead the city as Mayor, serving in the Oregon Air National Guard, educating students at Western Oregon University and Oregon State University, teaching Sunday School at Monmouth Christian Church, working with the Monmouth-Independence YMCA to support youth programs, and volunteering as a firefighter with Polk County Fire District #1. 

During his two terms as mayor, Paul worked with citizens to help establish:

• After school alternatives to keep local youth on track;
• Revitalization of the downtown and local economic development;
• Investments in the community’s future, including a publicly-owned high-speed internet network for the local area; and
• Initiatives for clean water, open green space, and safe communities.

Shortly after the September 2001 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, Paul's Oregon Air National Guard unit was recalled to active duty.  Knowing that his skills were needed in the evolving Global War on Terror, Paul stepped down as mayor in December 2002.  Since then he has served on active duty overseas including Iraq in 2003 (and 2005) and Afghanistan in 2006, as well as on priority homeland security missions throughout the throughout the Continental United States.
In 2007, Paul joined the senior policy staff of Governor Kulongoski as his primary advisor for emergency management, military issues, and veterans' affairs.  In that capacity, he lead recovery planning for the TOP-OFFICIALS IV exercise, directed initial state-level storm recovery efforts in response to major disasters in 2007 and 2008, coauthored the Governor's Recovery Framework, and served as Chair of the Governor's Task Force on Veterans' Services. 

Paul will depart the Governor's Office in March, 2010 to resume a private sector career working with High Impact Technologies, an Oregon-based manufacturing company.  He currently serves on the Oregon Homeland Security Council, the Monmouth Planning Commission, the Board of Directors for Central School District 13J, the Board of Directors for the Monmouth-Independence Community Foundation, and on the leadership team for the Oregon Pioneer PAC.