Paul S. Mulligan

A 4th-generation Arizonan, Paul S. Mulligan grew up the 6th of 8 children in Phoenix where he attended K-12 Catholic schools. In 1992 he received his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy, and served 7 years on active duty in the Navy as a surface warfare officer, propulsion engineer, and meteorology-oceanography officer, including 4 years overseas.

Paul received his Master’s in Theological Studies in 2002 from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage & Family at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, and was a regular presenter and public speaker at marriage and family conferences in the USA and Canada.

Before returning to Phoenix in 2007 to lead Catholic Education Arizona, Paul spent a decade in nonprofit pro-life leadership positions, co-founding (with his wife Michelle) the Gentle Refuge Crisis Pregnancy Center in Guam in 1998, directing the Gabriel Network in Maryland/Washington DC from 2001-2007, and commissioning Gabriel Project Africa in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, in 2003.

In September 2014 Paul began his tenure as CEO of Catholic Charities Community Services, the bishop’s charitable service arm, dedicated to helping our community’s most vulnerable with solutions that permanently improve lives.

Paul completed his Executive MBA at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in May 2015. He serves in roles on boards or councils of numerous community organizations including Catholic Charities USA Executive Council, AZ Governor’s Council on Child Safety & Family Empowerment, ASU Community Council, AZ Partnership for Children, Housing for Hope, University of Mary President’s Circle (Tempe), Life Perspectives (CA) and Precious Life Ministries (MD).

Paul and Michelle met on the infield at ASU Stadium in 1987 as high school seniors during the papal mass of Pope St. John Paul II. They married in 1992 and have 3 children plus 1 in heaven. Paul and Michelle are parishioners at St. Francis Xavier Jesuit Parish in Phoenix.