Juozas Paliūnas, widely known by his codename Rytas (1 May 1915 – 1 October 1952) was an anti-Sovet Lithuanian partisan and the last commander of the Prisikėlimas military district.

Another brother by the name of Jonas was a teacher until his death during the German occupation of Lithuania during World War II.

In 1947 he was appointed the deputy leader of the Povilas Lukšys unit, belonging to the Kęstutis military district.

When Morkūnas became the commander of the Prisikėlimas military district, Paliūnas replaced him as the leader of the Maironis unit.

Not long after, the exact location of Paliūnas's headquarters in Padotnuvys was betrayed by a fellow partisan.