Karl O. Thomas

Karl O. Thomas
Karl O. Thomas
Born	November 1, 1963 (age 58); Fairfax, Virginia
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1986–present (34–35 years)
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	United States Seventh Fleet; Carrier Strike Group 5; USS Carl Vinson; USS Abraham Lincoln

Karl Owen Thomas^[1] (born November 1, 1963)^[2]^[3] is a United States Navy vice admiral who serves as the 53rd commander of the United States Seventh Fleet since July 8, 2021.^[4] He previously served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy and prior to that as the Commander of Carrier Strike Group 5.^[5]^[6]^[7] In April 2021, he was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment to relieve Vice Admiral William R. Merz as Commander of the United States Seventh Fleet.^[8] Born in Fairfax, Virginia^[2] and raised in Northern Virginia, Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in management systems from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1986. He later received an M.S. degree in information technology from the Naval Postgraduate School.^[5]

Awards and decorations[]

Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Karl Thomas relieves Vice Adm. Bill Merz of command during the 7th Fleet change of command ceremony at the Fleet Activities Yokosuka Theater.

Naval Flight Officer Badge
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal	Legion of Merit with four award stars	Meritorious Service Medal with two award stars
Air Medal	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four award stars	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two award stars
Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze oak leaf cluster	Navy Unit Commendation with bronze service star	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars
Navy E Ribbon, 4th award	National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two bronze service stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and three bronze service stars	Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star
Special Operations Service Ribbon with bronze service star	Navy Expert Rifleman Medal	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Command at Sea insignia
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge

References[]

^ "Active-Duty Navy Promotions to the Permanent or Temporary Grades of Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, and Lieutenant, Line and Staff Corps, and Chief Warrant Officer". Washington, D.C.: Chief of Naval Operations. February 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Certificate of Birth". Births, 1864-2016 (81635). Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Department of Health. 1963.
^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 122. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
^ "COMMANDER, U.S. 7th FLEET TO HOLD CHANGE OF COMMAND". U.S. Navy. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Rear Admiral Karl Thomas". U.S. Navy. August 7, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
^ "New commanding officer takes helm of Abraham Lincoln".
^ "USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 11, 2019". March 11, 2019.
^ "Flag Officer Announcements".

External links[]

Media related to Karl O. Thomas at Wikimedia Commons

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

Military offices
Preceded by ???	Director of the 21st Century Sailor Office 2017–2019	Succeeded by ???
Preceded by Marc H. Dalton	Commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 2018–2019	Succeeded by George Wikoff
Preceded by ???	Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy of the United States Navy 2021–present	Succeeded by Frederick W. Kacher
Preceded by William R. Merz	Commander of the United States Seventh Fleet 2021-present	Incumbent

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[1] "Active-Duty Navy Promotions to the Permanent or Temporary Grades of Captain, Commander, Lieutenant Commander, and Lieutenant, Line and Staff Corps, and Chief Warrant Officer". Washington, D.C.: Chief of Naval Operations. February 2008. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

[birth-2] "Certificate of Birth". Births, 1864-2016 (81635). Richmond, Virginia: Virginia Department of Health. 1963.

[3] Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 122. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

[4] "COMMANDER, U.S. 7th FLEET TO HOLD CHANGE OF COMMAND". U.S. Navy. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.

[Navy_bio-5] "Rear Admiral Karl Thomas". U.S. Navy. August 7, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2021.

[6] "New commanding officer takes helm of Abraham Lincoln".

[7] "USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 11, 2019". March 11, 2019.

[8] "Flag Officer Announcements".

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Karl O. Thomas

Born	(1963-11-01) November 1, 1963 (age 58) Fairfax, Virginia
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1986–present (34–35 years)
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	United States Seventh Fleet Carrier Strike Group 5 USS Carl Vinson USS Abraham Lincoln