Raymond A. Thomas

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Raymond A. Thomas III
General Raymond A. Thomas III (USSOCOM).jpg
Official portrait, 2016
Born (1959-10-06) 6 October 1959 (age 65)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
AllegianceFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Years of service1980–2019
Rank General
Unit1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Delta Force
Commands United States Special Operations Command
Joint Special Operations Command
Associate Directorate for Military Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency
1st Ranger Battalion
Battles / wars Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Just Cause
Gulf War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (5)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (5)
Purple Heart

General Raymond Anthony Thomas III (also known as Tony Thomas; born 6 October 1958) [1] [2] is a retired general officer of the United States Army and former commander of the United States Special Operations Command.

Contents

He participated in numerous combat operations during his career, such as Operation Urgent Fury 1983, Operation Just Cause in 1989, Gulf War in 1991, and since 2001 the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Every year between 2001 and 2013 (minus his time in Iraq with the 1st Armored Division in 2007), Thomas deployed to Afghanistan as part of various special operations units.

Military career

Thomas was born in Pennsylvania on 6 October 1958, and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1980. [1] [3] Thomas was a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment. [4] He led a Ranger Rifle platoon from A Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion during the Invasion of Grenada in 1983, that was dropped from an MC-130 onto a landing strip in Grenada. After completion of Infantry Officer Advanced Course in early 1986, he was assigned as Assistant S-3, Plans/Liaison Officer with 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia until 1987. Thomas was then assigned as a company commander with 3rd Ranger Battalion. In 1989, during the Invasion of Panama, he led his Ranger Rifle Company in another combat jump. [5]

In 1992, Thomas volunteered for and completed a specialized selection course for assignment to 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, also known as Delta Force. He served as Operations Officer, Troop Commander, Executive Officer and B Squadron Commander from 1992 to 1994 and 1996 to 1999. In June 1995 Thomas earned a master's degree from the Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, Rhode Island, followed by assignment as Executive Officer, 2nd Ranger Battalion from June 1995 to July 1996. From 2000 to 2002, he served as commanding officer of the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

Thomas meets with Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, 29 September 2016 Secretary Johnson meets with SOCOM (30028628961).jpg
Thomas meets with Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, 29 September 2016

Thomas crossed over from the special operations realm into the conventional warfare realm when he was selected by Lieutenant General Mark P. Hertling, then-commander of the 1st Armored Division, to be his deputy commander during the Iraq War, from 2007 to 2008. During that tour the division worked alongside Arabs and Kurds and despite the difficult relationship between the ethnic groups Thomas was praised by Hertling for "his ability to quickly fuse intelligence" adding, "He helped us fight better." After his tenure in the 1st Armored Division came to an end Thomas returned to special operations. [6] From 2010 until 2012 Thomas served as the deputy commander of Joint Special Operations Command. [3] As a major general, Thomas was in charge of all United States and NATO special forces in Afghanistan from 2012 until 2013. [3] [7] Every year between 2001 and 2013 (minus his time in Iraq with the 1st Armored Division in 2007) Thomas deployed to Afghanistan as part of various special operations units. [4]

After commanding special forces units in Afghanistan, Thomas was promoted to lieutenant general and was reassigned to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia where he served as the Associate Director of the Central Intelligence Agency for Military Affairs. [3] In August 2014, Thomas replaced Joseph Votel as the commander of Joint Special Operations Command. Votel was promoted to four-star general and replaced Admiral William H. McRaven as the commander of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). [4] In a ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, on 30 March 2016, Thomas took command of USSOCOM and received his fourth star. [8] General Thomas retired from active duty on 29 March 2019. [9]

Thomas currently resides in the Tampa Bay area and was honored prior to Game 5 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals.

Dates of rank

RankDate
Army-USA-OF-09.svg General 17 March 2016
Army-USA-OF-08.svg Lieutenant general 22 May 2014
Army-USA-OF-07.svg Major general 10 November 2011
Army-USA-OF-06.svg Brigadier general 16 June 2008
US Army O6 shoulderboard rotated.svg Colonel 1 June 2002
US Army O5 shoulderboard rotated.svg Lieutenant colonel 1 March 1997
US Army O4 shoulderboard rotated.svg Major 1 April 1992
US Army O3 shoulderboard rotated.svg Captain 1 February 1984
US Army O2 shoulderboard rotated.svg First lieutenant 28 November 1981
US Army O1 shoulderboard rotated.svg Second lieutenant 28 May 1980

Awards and decorations

CIB2.svg Combat Infantryman Badge with Star (denoting 2nd award)
CMP 2.jpg Master Parachutist Badge with 2 jump stars and USAE United States Special Operations Command BT 2010-03-01.png USSOCOM background trimming
Ranger Tab.svg Ranger Tab
USAF - Occupational Badge - High Altitude Low Opening.svg Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
Honduran Parachutist Badge.png Honduran Parachutist Badge
Joint Chiefs of Staff seal.svg Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
United States Special Operations Command Insignia.svg United States Special Operations Command Badge
US Army 1st Ranger BN CSIB.png 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment Combat Service Identification Badge
75 Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia.svg 75th Ranger Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia
ArmyOSB.svg 13 Overseas Service Bars
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg
Defense Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster
US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Defense Superior Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg Legion of Merit
Bronze Star ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze Star Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Purple Heart ribbon.svg Purple Heart
Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation ribbon.svg Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg Army Achievement Medal
U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg Army Presidential Unit Citation
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Bronze oakleaf-3d.svg
Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg
Valorous Unit Award with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Meritorious Unit Commendation
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg Arrowhead device.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead Device and service star
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg Southwest Asia Service Medal
Afghanistan Campaign ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two service stars
Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Iraq Campaign Medal with two service stars
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon.svg Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg Award numeral 4.png Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 4
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
NATO Medal Yugoslavia ribbon bar.svg
NATO Medal for the former Yugoslavia with service star
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References

  1. 1 2 "Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy". 19 September 1989. Retrieved 19 September 2019– via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Shear, Michael D. (14 February 2017). "Unbelievable Turmoil': Trump's First Month Leaves Washington Reeling". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 February 2017. Gen. Tony Thomas, former head of the military's Special Operations Command, expressed concern about upheaval inside the White House.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Aid, Matthew (9 May 2013). "New Senior Appointment at CIA". matthewaid.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Brooks, Drew (30 July 2014). "New Commander Takes Over JSOC at Fort Bragg". military.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Finkel, Gal Perl (22 February 2017). "US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER FACES CHALLENGES AT HOME AND ABROAD". The Jerusalem Post .
  6. ↑ Shanker, Thom; Schmitt, Eric (8 August 2011). "Special Operations Veterans Rise in Hierarchy". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "News Release: General Officer Assignments". Defense.gov. U.S. Department of Defense. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Thomas becomes 11th SOCOM Commander". U.S. Special Operations Command. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  9. ↑ Rempfer, Kyle (2 April 2019). "From 75th Ranger Regiment to the Pentagon, Gen. Clarke now helms SOCOM". Army Times . Retrieved 9 April 2019.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander, Joint Special Operations Command
2014–2016		Succeeded by
Commander, United States Special Operations Command
2016–2019		Succeeded by
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