Palamo began playing rugby in high school for San Francisco Golden Gate and Sacramento Lions and earned his first international cap for the Eagles at the IRB Rugby World Cup 2007 in France at the age of 19. During his freshman year at the University of Utah, Palamo walked onto the football team and earned a scholarship for his remaining three years. Palamo was a member of the USA U20s at the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship. From 2014-16, he was attached to Saracens of the Aviva Premiership but on-loan to the London Irish for the 2015-16 season. Following the season's end, Palamo returned to the Olympic Training Center to the Men's Eagles Sevens in residency. On June 27, 2016, it was announced that Palamo will be joining newly promoted Bristol Rugby for the upcoming 2016-17 Aviva Premiership season.