Captain Thomas hails from Alma, AR. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physical Science from Arkansas Tech University; a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College; is a Naval Staff College graduate and has extensive experience as a secondary, college, and military college instructor.
He enlisted in the Navy in June 1987, attending boot camp at RTC Orlando, FL, and SEABEE Equipment Operator "A" School in Gulfport, MS. He served with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TWENTY-EIGHT, reaching the rank of Equipment Operator First Class before receiving a commission via Officer Candidate School in August 1996. He completed initial flight training with VT-10 in Pensacola, FL, and was designated a Naval Flight Officer upon completion of intermediate flight training at the 562nd Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX.
Operational assignments include: E-6B Mission Commander, Airborne Communications Officer Instructor, Legal Officer, and Avionics Branch Officer, VQ-3, Tinker AFB, OK; Assistant Operations Officer and Command Security Manager, USS NIMITZ (CVN-68), San Diego, CA; Admin Officer, Operations Officer, and Officer-in-Charge of a detachment, Patuxent River, MD, VQ-4, Tinker AFB, OK; Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, VQ-3, Tinker AFB, OK; Navigator, USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76), Forward Deployed Naval Forces, Yokosuka, Japan; Strike Group Operations Officer and Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike Group NINE, embarked aboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71) San Diego, CA.
Ashore assignments include: Headquarters USEUCOM Information Systems Security Manager, HQ USEUCOM in Stuttgart, Germany; E-6B platform Manager and Chief, Secretary of the Joint Staff, HQ USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, NE; Executive Assistant to Commander, Naval Education and Training, NAS Pensacola, FL; Assistant Professor and Navy Element Director, Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS; University of Oklahoma Professor of Naval Science, Commanding Officer Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, Norman, OK.
Captain Thomas has accumulated over 3,300 flight hours aboard the E-6B Nuclear Command and Control aircraft and has completed a Middle East deployment aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN-68), five Forward Deployed Naval Force patrols aboard USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76), and two Western Pacific Deployments aboard USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71).
Awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), as well as various other personal and unit awards.
