Major General Walter Alfred Paulson II was born in Hot Springs and graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1966. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English and History from the University of Arkansas in 1970, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1979, and completed the Army War College in 1997.

His military career began as an ROTC cadet at the University of Central Arkansas and he was commissioned in May 1970. He entered active service in September 1970 with the U.S. Army, serving as a field artillery information officer, rotary wing pilot, helicopter section commander, and race relations officer. Leaving active duty in February 1975, he joined the Arkansas Army National Guard in May.

Walter held various command roles including two battalion commands, the command of the 39th Infantry Brigade, and deputy commander of State Area Command for the Arkansas Army National Guard. He became Deputy Commanding General, Reserve Component First U.S. Army on December 4, 2001, and retired in 2005.

His awards include the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Hourglass Device, and Army Aviator Badge.