Paula Dean Broadwell (née Kranz; born November 9, 1972) is an American writer, academic and former military officer. She has served in the US Army on active and reserve duty for over 20 years, with academic and intelligence experience in over 70 countries. In 2012, she co-authored, with Vernon Loeb, All In: The Education of General David Petraeus, a biography of then International Security Assistance Force commander David Petraeus. She is the co-founder and co-director of the Think Broader Foundation, a media consulting firm that focuses on addressing gender bias in the media and society.
Broadwell is primarily known for her extramarital affair with then-CIA director, David Petraeus.
Born and reared as Paula Dean Kranz in Bismarck, North Dakota, she attended Century High School, where she was homecoming queen, valedictorian of the class of 1991, and an All-State basketball player. Her father was a high school teacher and coach and successful cattle rancher. In 2006 she was inducted into the Century High School Hall of Fame.