Gary L. Thomas (general)
Gary L. Thomas | |
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![]() General Gary L. Thomas | |
Nickname(s) | "Lurch" |
Born | 1962 (age 59–60) Austin, Texas |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1984–2021 |
Rank | General |
Commands held | 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[1] (born 1962) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general.[2] He was most recently the 35th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. 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 lead Marine Corps aviation's weapons school. Thomas is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and National Defense University.[3]
Biography[]
Early years[]
Thomas graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1984 and was commissioned in the united States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant.[4]
Military career[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/U.S._Marine_Corps_Brig._Gen._Gary_L._Thomas%2C_left%2C_the_commanding_general%2C_2nd_Marine_Aircraft_Wing%2C_serves_dinner_to_Marines_at_Camp_Bastion%2C_Helmand_province%2C_Afghanistan%2C_Nov._28%2C_2013_131128-M-SA716-143.jpg/220px-thumbnail.jpg)
LtCol Thomas took command of VMFA-323 on October 27, 2001 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.[5] The squadron deployed as the lone Marine fighter squadron onboard the USS Constellation (CV-64) in November 2002. During this deployment the squadron supported combat operatioins during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[6] Thomas turned over command of the squadron on June 13, 2003.[5] 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, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) in Afghanistan from February to December 2013.[7] He later as the Commanding General, 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.[4] Thomas was the 35th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.[7] On October 7, 2020, General Thomas tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a meeting of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at The Pentagon.[8]
He retired from active duty at the end of his term as assistant commandant, with his retirement ceremony held on October 15, 2021.[9]
Awards and decorations[]
Thomas' decorations and medals include:
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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 Badge | Pistol Expert Badge | ||||||||||||||
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
References[]
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Lieutenant General Gary L. Thomas Promotion Ceremony".
- ^ a b c "Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps". marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ a b 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
- ^ a b "Marine Fighting Squadron 323". WINGS-AVIATION. 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Leland, Wendy (2003). "VMFA-323: Death Rattlers Afloat" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. 85 (5): 11–15. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ a b Snow, Shawn (2018-06-21). "The Marine Corps is getting a new assistant commandant". Marine Corps Times. Sightline Media.
2021-08-24
- ^ Baldor, Lolita C. (2021-10-07). "Marine general has coronavirus after Pentagon meeting". News Nation. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "Webcast: Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps General Gary L. Thomas Retirement Ceremony". DVIDS. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
External links[]
- 1962 births
- United States Marine Corps personnel of the Gulf War
- United States Marine Corps personnel of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
- Assistant Commandants of the United States Marine Corps
- Living people
- National Defense University alumni
- People from Austin, Texas
- Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- United States Marine Corps generals
- United States Naval Aviators
- University of Texas alumni
- Military personnel from Texas