 On May 22, 2007, Paxton relinquished command of the 1st Marine Division to take the role of Chief of Staff for Multi-National Force-Iraq.Born in Chester, Pennsylvania on June 25, 1951, Paxton attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, earning both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Civil Engineering.He was elected to the Sphinx Head Society during his senior year.