[2] Born in São Paulo, Paiva began his military career in 1975, when he joined the Brazilian Army Preparatory School of Cadets in Campinas and was declared officer candidate in 1981.

He acted in a mission of the Army in Haiti as Undercommander of the Peacekeeping Infantry Battalion and was Commander of the Peacekeeping Forces of Operation Archangel VI in Penha and Alemão Complexes in Rio de Janeiro, in 2012.

Paiva also commanded the Presidential Guard Battalion in Brasília and was aide to the President during Fernando Henrique Cardoso presidency and Brazilian Military Aide to the Ecuadorian Army.

General Tomás was also commander of the 11th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in Campinas, of the Agulhas Negras Military Academy in Resende, Rio de Janeiro and the Southeastern Military Command in São Paulo.

[4] This biographical article related to the military of Brazil is a stub.