After graduating from the PMA in 1988 and finishing his military pilot training in 1990. He started his junior days as a lieutenant as a seasoned attack pilot in the 18th Attack Squadron under the
15th Strike Wing flying the
McDonnell Douglas MD 520MG Defender light attack helicopters, conducting air support operations in
Mindanao. Paredes flew a total of 76 combat missions and afterwards received the Top Gun Award as an expert for Aerial Rocketry. Paredes also served as the commander of the Tactical Operations Group 10, based in
Cagayan de Oro. During his time as a
colonel, he was also part of a special committee during the
Death of Jesse Robredo in 2012, where he served as the Air Force representative during the investigation. Paredes also served as Deputy Wing Commander of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing and as the Director of Air Force Safety Office. He earned his first star and was promoted to
brigadier general in 2016, as he commanded the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, from February 2016 to July 2018, where he flew both President
Benigno Aquino III and
Rodrigo Duterte. Paredes also flew then-President
Rodrigo Duterte to the ground zero of
Marawi City during the
Battle of Marawi. He also pushed for the PAF's modernization through the procurement of additional aircraft in the air force, such as 32 additional units of the
Sikorsky S-70i helicopters, the
TAI/AgustaWestland T129 ATAK attack helicopters, the
C-130J Super Hercules, and the
KAI KT-1 Woongbi. He also led the overall air force operations and assistance despite the effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Paredes also enhanced the PAF's maintenance funds and facilities and led the PAF to assist 80 TIKAS projects, which was followed by the implementation of the Safety Management System, which replaced the 1960s-based Safety Program, and led the establishment of the Aviation Leadership and Excellence Nexus and Civilian Human Resource School. Paredes also commissioned a total of 33 new aircraft, and added 3,845 new air force personnel. ==Awards in military service==