Army commissions influencer-executive Logan Paul as colonel, taps him to command 75th Ranger Regiment

The YouTuber, WWE performer and Prime co-founder entered the force after the Army further slashed its direct-commission pipeline — this time all the way to a beret and a scroll.

By Drew F. Lawrence · September 21, 2026

Logan Paul in a tuxedo — Newly minted Col. Logan Paul, shown here in civilian evening wear at a prior industry event. The Army says he will assume command of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Moore, Georgia. (File photo)

The Army commissioned a new kind of executive into its ranks this week, the service said — not another Silicon Valley CTO for Detachment 201, but a social-media principal, professional wrestler and beverage magnate who will skip the lieutenant colonel advisory track entirely and take command of the 75th Ranger Regiment as an O-6.

Logan Paul, co-founder of Prime Hydration, WWE performer and longtime content executive, was sworn in as a colonel during a ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, on Friday, according to a release that cited the same overhauled direct-commissioning pipeline used last year to bring tech executives into the Executive Innovation Corps.

Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll — Army Sec. Daniel Driscoll. (U.S. Army)

Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll administered the oath, the release said. Officials framed the move as the next step in a campaign to pull “high-visibility civilian talent” into uniform and close what they called a “narrative gap” between the force and the platforms where most Americans already live.

“The Regiment’s most pressing challenges in raid tempo, recruiting and large-scale attention warfare require leaders who can evaluate a thumbnail in the morning and advise a four-star in the afternoon,” Paul said in remarks included with the release. “Rangers lead the way. I lead the algorithm.”

The 75th Ranger Regiment is the Army’s premier direct-action raid force, with battalions at Hunter Army Airfield, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Fort Moore. Command of the regiment is normally a colonel’s billet filled from a small pool of infantry and special-operations officers who have commanded Ranger battalions, completed RASP 2 and spent years in the formation. The service did not explain how those gates were waived.

Rangers in formation — Soldiers of the 75th Ranger Regiment and partner forces at a commemorative event. The regiment is the Army’s special-operations raid force. (U.S. Army)

An Army spokesperson said Paul’s civilian portfolio — live events at stadium scale, a consumer brand with global distribution, and a personal following large enough to move product overnight — mapped onto “mission command in a contested information environment.” The spokesperson added that Paul would complete a compressed version of the direct-commission course and a “modified” RASP 2 “aligned to his existing physical profile.”

Asked why Paul could not serve as a civilian adviser the way Detachment 201 officers do, a senior Army official who requested anonymity to speak candidly said the regiment needed someone “in the cloth” who could also post.

“There’s a difference units see when someone is wearing the scroll and also has the followership,” the official said. “He is a deployable content asset.”

Rangers on a hillside during training — Rangers during training. Regiment officials say standards will not change. (U.S. Army)

The same official said ethics rules that apply to Detachment 201 — recusal from matters affecting personal financial interests, OGE Form 450 disclosure, annual ethics training and legal review of each work task — will apply to Paul “in spirit,” with an added rider that Prime will not be the official hydration of the Ranger Regiment “at this time.”

Paul’s commissioning follows two cohorts of tech executives sworn in as lieutenant colonels in 2025 and 2026 to advise on munitions data, autonomy and talent. Those officers were not given operational command. Several defense officials, speaking privately, said putting a first-time colonel in charge of the Ranger Regiment was a different category of experiment and would be watched closely by Congress and by the regiment itself.

Army officer taking the oath — A U.S. Army officer takes the oath of office in a file photograph. Paul’s commissioning used the same oath. (U.S. Army)

In a short statement, Paul said he intended to live the Ranger Creed, move further and faster, and “bring the boys some look.” He declined to say whether WWE dates would be treated as reserve drills.

A regiment spokesman said the change-of-command date at Fort Moore had not been finalized and that outgoing leadership would remain in place until a transfer of authority. Rangers Lead The Way, the spokesman added, remains the standard. The new commander’s first formation run has not been scheduled.

Rangers at night — Rangers during a night movement. (U.S. Army)

WarScoop could not independently confirm that Paul has completed Ranger School, airborne school, or any prior military service. The Army release did not list those qualifications. It listed instead “executive-level experience in high-risk live performance, brand combat and direct-to-consumer logistics.”