Gary L. Thomas (general)

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Gary L. Thomas
ACMC 2018 HiRes.jpg
General Gary L. Thomas
Nickname(s)"Lurch"
Born1962 (age 62–63)
Austin, Texas
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service1984–2021
Rank General
Commands Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One
VMFA-323
Battles / wars Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Awards Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal

Gary Lee Thomas (born 1962) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general. [1] He was most recently the 35th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. [2] Gen Thomas is a naval aviator who flew the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet and participated in combat operations during the Gulf War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the War in Afghanistan. He has commanded at the squadron and Wing level and also led Marine Corps aviation's weapons school. Thomas is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and National Defense University. [3]

Contents

Biography

Early years

Thomas graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in computer science [4] and was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant. [5]

Military career

Brigadier General Thomas serves dinner to Marines at Camp Bastion, November 28, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Gary L. Thomas, left, the commanding general, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, serves dinner to Marines at Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Nov. 28, 2013 131128-M-SA716-143.jpg
Brigadier General Thomas serves dinner to Marines at Camp Bastion, November 28, 2013.

ol Thomas took command of VMFA-323 on October 27, 2001, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. [6] The squadron deployed as the lone Marine fighter squadron on board the USS Constellation (CV-64) in November 2002. During this deployment, the squadron supported combat operations during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. [7] Thomas turned over command of the squadron on June 13, 2003. [6] Following his command tour, he attended National Defense University and graduated with an M.S. in National Security Strategy in June 2004. [3]

As a Colonel, he commanded Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1). As a Brigadier General, he served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation, and later as the Assistant Wing Commander of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing He was the Commanding General of 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) in Afghanistan from February to December 2013. [8] He later served as the Commanding General of 2d Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. [3]

On June 21, 2018, LtGen Thomas was nominated for appointment to the rank of General and to serve as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. [5] Thomas was the 35th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. [8]

He retired from active duty at the end of his term as assistant commandant, and his retirement ceremony was held on October 15, 2021. [9]

Awards and decorations

Thomas' decorations and medals include:

Naval Aviator Badge.jpg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Bronze Star ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg 1 golden star.svg Air Medal ribbon.svg Award numeral 6.png "V" device, gold.svg Award Numeral 2 golden.png Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg "V" device, gold.svg 1 golden star.svg Joint Service Achievement Medal ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expedtionary Medal ribbon.svg Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Afghanistan Campaign Medal ribbon.svg
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon.svg NATO Medal ISAF ribbon bar.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg
USMC Rifle Expert badge.png USMC Pistol Expert badge.png
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal (2).svg
Naval Aviator Badge
Defense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three gold award stars Air Medal with Combat "V", two gold award numerals and bronze Strike/Flight numeral 6 Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and award star Joint Service Achievement Medal
Navy Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster Navy Unit Commendation with one bronze service star Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with three service stars
National Defense Service Medal with service star Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars Afghanistan Campaign Medal with service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Armed Forces Service Medal Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four service stars
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon NATO Medal for service with ISAF Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Rifle Expert BadgePistol Expert Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Personal life

In January 2022, Thomas was appointed board chairman of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. [10] He is the former CEO and current board member of Draken International, LLC. In April 2023, Thomas was appointed CEO of Paradigm MedSolutions LLC. [11]

References

  1. ↑ "Lieutenant General Gary L. Thomas Promotion Ceremony".
  2. ↑ "General Gary L. Thomas". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  3. 1 2 3 "Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps". marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  4. ↑ Team, PWLiving Editorial (2022-01-26). "General Gary Thomas Named Chairman of Marine Corps Heritage Foundation". Prince William Living. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  5. 1 2 Werner, Ben (2018-06-21). "LtGen. Gary Thomas Nominated to be Assistant Commandant Of Marine Corps". USNI News. United States Naval Institute. 2021-08-24
  6. 1 2 "Marine Fighting Squadron 323". WINGS-AVIATION. 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  7. ↑ Leland, Wendy (2003). "VMFA-323: Death Rattlers Afloat" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. 85 (5): 11–15. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
  8. 1 2 Snow, Shawn (2018-06-21). "The Marine Corps is getting a new assistant commandant". Marine Corps Times. Sightline Media. 2021-08-24
  9. ↑ "Webcast: Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General Gary L. Thomas Retirement Ceremony". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
  10. ↑ Team, PWLiving Editorial (2022-01-26). "General Gary Thomas Named Chairman of Marine Corps Heritage Foundation". Prince William Living. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  11. ↑ "March of the Four–Stars: The Role of Retired Generals and Admirals in the Arms Industry". Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
Military offices
Preceded by Commanding General of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing
2015–2016		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources of the United States Marine Corps
2016–2018		Succeeded by
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
2018–2021		Succeeded by
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