Thomas McClelland

Last updated
Thomas Lee McClelland
Mcclelland portrait.jpg
Captain Thomas L. McClelland, USN (Ret.)
Nickname(s)T-Mac
Born (1942-06-08) June 8, 1942 (age 82)
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  USA
Service/branchFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
Years of service1966–1998
Rank US-O6 insignia.svg Captain
UnitNJROTC Admiral Farragut Academy
Commands heldLight Attack Weapons School
VA-97 Warhawks
Carrier Air Wing 9
Amphibious Cargo Ship, USS St. Louis (LKA-116)
Amphibious Squadron 5, NJROTC Admiral Farragut Academy
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Operation Desert Storm
Awards Legion of Merit (6)
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Meritorious Service Medal (4)
Air Medal (27)
Navy Commendation Medal (6)
Combat Action Ribbon
Other work Admiral Farragut Academy

Thomas McClelland is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.

Contents

Early life and education

Thomas McClelland was born on November 23, 1942, in Louisville, Kentucky, and a graduate of Southern Illinois University. He earned his Officer Commission through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program in January 1966 and was designated a Naval Aviator in April 1967. He attended the Naval War College and later earned a master's degree in Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University.

Captain McClelland's sea duty aviation assignments include tours with VA-82, CVW-14, VA-113, VA-97 and CVW-9. He has deployed aboard USS America (CVA-66), USS Coral Sea (CVA-43), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Ranger (CVA-61), USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), and USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63).

His command tours began in 1980 with the Light Attack Weapons School in Lemoore, California. He has commanded the VA-97 Warhawks, Carrier Air Wing NINE, and the Amphibious Cargo Ship, USS St. Louis (LKA-116), in Sasebo, Japan. His final operational command was during Desert Storm, where he served as Commander, Amphibious Squadron FIVE, [1] conducting advance force operations with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit against the Iraqi Army.

Captain McClelland's shore duty assignments include Instructor Pilot and Safety Officer for VA-122 in Lemoore, CA; A-7 Projects Officer at the Naval Weapons Evaluation Facility in Albuquerque, NM; Director of the Technical Support Group for the Director of Naval Warfare in Washington DC; Force Readiness Officer for Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Deputy and Chief of Staff for the Chief of Naval Education and Training in Pensacola, FL; and his final active duty assignment as Chief of Staff for the Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, in London, England.

Post-Naval career and awards

Captain McClelland began his second career at Admiral Farragut Academy in 1998, after 32 years of Naval Service. [2] He has earned the following personal awards: Five Legion of Merit Medals, the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Meritorious Service Medals, two Individual Air Medals, 25 Strike/Flight Air Medals, six Navy Commendation Medals, and the Combat Action Ribbon. He has over 4,700 flight hours in 23 different aircraft, over 1,200 carrier landings, and more than 300 combat missions.

Personal life

Captain McClelland resides in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Dona. His son, Charles, teaches biology in Menifee, California and his daughter, Katherine, is a Marketing Project Team Leader for website development company in San Diego, California. [3]

Flight information

Rating: Naval Aviator
Flight hours: More than 4,700
Carrier Landing: More than 1,200 [4]
Aircraft flown: 23

Awards and decorations

McClelland's awards include:

Naval Aviator Badge.jpg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Distinguished Flying Cross ribbon.svg Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Air Medal ribbon.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon.svg Combat Action Ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 1st award.svg Navy Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg Korean Service Medal - Ribbon.svg Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) ribbon.svg Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) ribbon.svg United States Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg

See also

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald E. Williams</span> American test pilot, astronaut and engineer (1942–2016)

Donald Edward Williams was an American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, mechanical engineer and NASA astronaut. He logged a total of 287 hours and 35 minutes in space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Lemoore</span> Military airport in California, US

Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California, United States. Lemoore Station, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timothy J. Keating</span> US Navy admiral

Timothy John Keating is a retired United States Navy admiral. During his career, he served as commander of Carrier Group Five, the United States 5th Fleet, the United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), and United States Pacific Command. He retired in 2009 after more than 38 years of service. He was the first navy officer to head Northern Command and NORAD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Nine</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircraft assigned to CVW-9 is NG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-97</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97) is a naval aviation squadron of the United States Navy. It is equipped with the F-35C Lightning II and is stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The squadron is nicknamed "Warhawks" and it is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two, tail code "NE". The squadron was originally established as Attack Squadron 97 (VA-97) on 1 June 1967 and redesignated VFA-97 on 24 January 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-115</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115) is known as the "Eagles", callsign "Talon", a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Their tail code is NF. It was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-11 on 10 October 1942, redesignated VA-12A on 15 November 1946, VA-115 on 15 July 1948, then finally VFA-115.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-195 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 195 (VFA-195), also known as the "Dambusters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) and their tail code is NF. Their radio callsign is "Chippy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Two</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Fourteen</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14), was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George E. Mayer</span> United States admiral

Rear Admiral George E. "Rico" Mayer is a retired United States Naval officer and Naval Aviator. At the time of his retirement, he was the first Puerto Rican Commander of the Naval Safety Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Strike Group 10</span> Military unit

Carrier Strike Group 10, is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. As of August 2022, CSG-10 consists of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), the strike group's current flagship, with Carrier Air Wing Seven embarked on board, as well as the Ticonderoga-class cruiserLeyte Gulf, and four ships of Destroyer Squadron 26.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James H. Flatley III</span> United States Navy admiral

James Henry Flatley III, is a retired rear admiral in the United States Navy. A naval aviator, fighter pilot, and test pilot, he is the son of Vice Admiral James H. Flatley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Mazach</span> American Navy admiral

John James Mazach is a vice admiral who retired from the United States Navy at the end of 1998. His last assignment on active duty was as commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James E. Service</span>

James Edward Service was a vice admiral of the United States Navy active during much of the Cold War. A naval aviator, he flew combat missions in the Korean War and Vietnam War, commanded aviation units and various ships including aircraft carriers, served as a test pilot, and was President of the Naval War College.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Strike Group 5</span> Military unit

Carrier Strike Group 5, also known as CSG 5 or CARSTRKGRU 5, is the U.S. Navy carrier strike group assigned to the United States Pacific Fleet and permanently forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet. The Strike Group Flagship is the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) which also embarks Strike Warfare Commander, Carrier Air Wing Five and its nine squadrons. As of June 2015, CSG 5 includes two Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Destroyer Squadron Fifteen, which serves as the Sea Combat Commander and is responsible for nine assigned Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert F. Schoultz</span> Vice admiral in the US Navy from 1943 to 1987

Robert Francis "Dutch" Schoultz was a vice admiral in the United States Navy. He was a former commander of the Naval Air Force U.S. Pacific Fleet and a former Deputy Commander in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe/U.S. Commander Eastern Atlantic. He also served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare. From June 26, 1981 until his retirement on February 17, 1987, he was U.S. naval aviation's Gray Eagle, the second longest serving senior active-duty naval aviator. In retirement he became president of Rosco, Inc., an aerospace industry consulting firm, and served on the board of Reflectone Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anthony A. Less</span>

Anthony Albert Less is a vice admiral in the United States Navy. He was Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet from 1991 to 1994. He is an alumnus of Leetonia High School in Leetonia, Ohio and Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott H. Swift</span> American Admiral

Scott Harbison Swift is a retired admiral in the United States Navy, serving as the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from May 27, 2015 to May 17, 2018. He previously served as the director of Navy Staff in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel P. Martin</span> U.S. Navy admiral

Daniel P. Martin is a United States Navy rear admiral and naval aviator who serves as the director of maritime operations of the United States Pacific Fleet. He most recently served as the commander of Carrier Strike Group 1 from May 28, 2021 to May 3, 2022. He previously served as senior military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. In earlier command tours, he commanded Carrier Air Wing 8 from June 2015 to 2016 and Strike Fighter Squadron 37 from 2010 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael C. Manazir</span> U. S. admiral

Michael Charles Manazir, also known as Rear Admiral Mike Manazir, is a retired United States Navy two-star admiral who transitioned to civilian life from duty as the deputy chief of naval operations for warfare systems on July 7, 2017.