952:
575:
1082:
515:
625:
647:
709:
1148:
325:
1232:
681:
1160:
1244:
750:
31:
874:
1051:
928:
1033:
768:
1012:
973:
70:
1094:
1217:
901:
560:
545:
530:
500:
90:
940:
1184:
1134:
1127:
1107:
1100:
1064:
1121:
997:
669:
821:
694:
659:
809:
991:
967:
744:
1172:
1211:
1027:
862:
914:
907:
887:
880:
848:
841:
834:
827:
795:
788:
781:
774:
1057:
485:
470:
455:
440:
1190:
635:
367:, 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
724:
599:
612:
375:. As a major general, Thomas was in charge of all United States and NATO special forces in Afghanistan from 2012 until 2013. 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.
1619:
305:, 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
1624:
1629:
1614:
1609:
383:
250:. 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.
1362:
1604:
302:
1589:
1594:
329:
1491:
1151:
1634:
955:
672:
410:, Florida, on March 30, 2016, Thomas took command of USSOCOM and received his fourth star. General Thomas retired from active duty on March 29, 2019.
1330:
918:
1551:
1465:
684:
403:
224:
134:
1235:
247:
168:
1163:
951:
1639:
697:
650:
360:
1435:
1599:
755:
700:
624:
178:
1389:
518:
458:
1310:
Gen. Tony Thomas, former head of the military's
Special Operations Command, expressed concern about upheaval inside the White House.
891:
619:
615:
574:
488:
152:
1081:
514:
282:. After completion of Infantry Officer Advanced Course in early 1986, he was assigned as Assistant S-3, Plans/Liaison Officer with
1531:
1366:
1247:
1068:
931:
563:
395:
372:
156:
138:
708:
646:
306:
1038:
799:
259:
183:
1147:
680:
1015:
473:
324:
1271:
1194:
1085:
978:
1231:
387:
378:
After commanding special forces units in
Afghanistan, Thomas was promoted to lieutenant general and was reassigned to
1159:
1111:
990:
966:
749:
743:
715:
873:
602:
1243:
1050:
927:
30:
1210:
1026:
503:
443:
414:
205:
113:
1334:
1032:
767:
1584:
1011:
943:
407:
336:
1469:
1410:
1294:
972:
533:
310:
231:
1093:
1579:
728:
712:
352:
318:
314:
291:
283:
267:
263:
235:
142:
124:
1216:
900:
559:
544:
529:
499:
1175:
1138:
1002:
548:
271:
1394:
399:
368:
348:
295:
220:
95:
1133:
1126:
1106:
1099:
1063:
939:
1443:
1183:
301:
In 1992, Thomas volunteered for and completed a specialized selection course for assignment to
1561:
852:
578:
192:
1541:
1120:
1072:
996:
759:
693:
668:
658:
379:
356:
820:
812:
216:
188:
1198:
808:
340:
317:
from June 1995 to July 1996. From 2000 to 2002, he served as commanding officer of the
413:
Thomas currently resides in the Tampa Bay area and was honored prior to Game 5 of the
1573:
75:
1523:
1171:
1042:
865:
861:
391:
287:
197:
56:
913:
906:
886:
879:
847:
840:
833:
826:
794:
787:
780:
773:
332:
1056:
1496:
1222:
1189:
638:
484:
469:
454:
439:
290:, Georgia until 1987. Thomas was then assigned as a company commander with
258:
Thomas was born in
Pennsylvania on October 6, 1958, and graduated from the
1272:"Register of Graduates and Former Cadets, United States Military Academy"
364:
243:
239:
230:
He participated in numerous combat operations during his career, such as
164:
160:
1492:"From 75th Ranger Regiment to the Pentagon, Gen. Clarke now helms SOCOM"
634:
279:
1295:"Unbelievable Turmoil': Trump's First Month Leaves Washington Reeling"
275:
723:
1620:
United States Army personnel of the War in
Afghanistan (2001–2021)
1390:"US NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER FACES CHALLENGES AT HOME AND ABROAD"
323:
1468:. U.S. Special Operations Command. March 30, 2016. Archived from
611:
371:. From 2010 until 2012 Thomas served as the deputy commander of
598:
398:. Votel was promoted to four-star general and replaced Admiral
1442:. U.S. Department of Defense. June 29, 2012. Archived from
298:, he led his Ranger Rifle Company in another combat jump.
390:
for
Military Affairs. In August 2014, Thomas replaced
1625:
Recipients of the
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
174:
148:
130:
119:
109:
101:
81:
63:
40:
21:
355:realm when he was selected by Lieutenant General
1630:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
266:. He led a Ranger Rifle platoon from A Company,
1411:"Special Operations Veterans Rise in Hierarchy"
1409:Shanker, Thom; Schmitt, Eric (August 8, 2011).
313:, followed by assignment as Executive Officer,
303:1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta
1363:"New Commander Takes Over JSOC at Fort Bragg"
8:
1615:United States Army personnel of the Iraq War
1610:United States Army personnel of the Gulf War
1324:
1322:
1320:
1318:
1225:for the former Yugoslavia with service star
382:in Langley, Virginia where he served as the
1436:"News Release: General Officer Assignments"
1152:Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
1512:
1356:
1354:
1352:
1266:
1264:
673:Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
18:
1605:College of Naval Command and Staff alumni
1552:United States Special Operations Command
685:United States Special Operations Command
424:
404:United States Special Operations Command
363:, to be his deputy commander during the
225:United States Special Operations Command
135:United States Special Operations Command
1293:Shear, Michael D. (February 14, 2017).
1260:
35:General Raymond A. Thomas in March 2016
1388:Finkel, Gal Perl (February 22, 2017).
1236:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
1590:United States Military Academy alumni
1466:"Thomas becomes 11th SOCOM Commander"
1164:Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
215:; born October 6, 1958) is a retired
7:
1595:Military personnel from Pennsylvania
651:Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge
262:in 1980. Thomas was a member of the
242:in 1991, and since 2001 the wars in
756:Defense Distinguished Service Medal
701:Combat Service Identification Badge
698:1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
179:Defense Distinguished Service Medal
16:Retired US Army general (born 1958)
274:in 1983, that was dropped from an
14:
1635:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
892:Defense Meritorious Service Medal
1532:Joint Special Operations Command
1333:. matthewaid.com. Archived from
1248:Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
1242:
1230:
1215:
1209:
1188:
1182:
1170:
1158:
1146:
1132:
1125:
1119:
1105:
1098:
1092:
1080:
1069:Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
1062:
1055:
1049:
1031:
1025:
1010:
995:
989:
971:
965:
950:
938:
932:Joint Service Commendation Medal
926:
912:
905:
899:
885:
878:
872:
860:
846:
839:
832:
825:
819:
807:
793:
786:
779:
772:
766:
748:
742:
722:
707:
692:
679:
667:
657:
645:
633:
623:
610:
597:
573:
558:
543:
528:
513:
498:
483:
468:
453:
438:
396:Joint Special Operations Command
373:Joint Special Operations Command
139:Joint Special Operations Command
88:
68:
29:
1490:Rempfer, Kyle (April 2, 2019).
1331:"New Senior Appointment at CIA"
956:Army Presidential Unit Citation
605:with Star (denoting 2nd award)
307:Naval Command and Staff College
1365:. military.com. Archived from
1361:Brooks, Drew (July 30, 2014).
1039:National Defense Service Medal
800:Defense Superior Service Medal
330:Secretary of Homeland Security
260:United States Military Academy
184:Defense Superior Service Medal
1:
1016:Meritorious Unit Commendation
347:Thomas crossed over from the
1329:Aid, Matthew (May 9, 2013).
1195:Army Overseas Service Ribbon
1086:Southwest Asia Service Medal
979:Joint Meritorious Unit Award
855:with four oak leaf clusters
802:with four oak leaf clusters
628:USSOCOM background trimming
406:(USSOCOM). In a ceremony at
223:and former commander of the
1640:United States Army generals
921:with two oak leaf clusters
894:with two oak leaf clusters
662:Honduran Parachutist Badge
388:Central Intelligence Agency
1656:
1600:United States Army Rangers
1112:Afghanistan Campaign Medal
209:Raymond Anthony Thomas III
1558:
1548:
1538:
1528:
1520:
1515:
1282:– via Google Books.
919:Meritorious Service Medal
716:Distinctive Unit Insignia
28:
616:Master Parachutist Badge
603:Combat Infantryman Badge
359:, then-commander of the
321:, 75th Ranger Regiment.
278:onto a landing strip in
1141:with two service stars
1114:with two service stars
415:2021 Stanley Cup Finals
1005:with oak leaf cluster
981:with oak leaf cluster
944:Army Achievement Medal
590:Awards and decorations
408:MacDill Air Force Base
344:
337:MacDill Air Force Base
294:. In 1989, during the
729:Overseas Service Bars
327:
311:Newport, Rhode Island
232:Operation Urgent Fury
153:Operation Urgent Fury
102:Years of service
23:Raymond A. Thomas III
1337:on September 4, 2014
713:75th Ranger Regiment
402:as the commander of
394:as the commander of
361:1st Armored Division
353:conventional warfare
343:, on Sept. 29, 2016.
319:1st Ranger Battalion
315:2nd Ranger Battalion
292:3rd Ranger Battalion
284:75th Ranger Regiment
268:2nd Ranger Battalion
264:75th Ranger Regiment
236:Operation Just Cause
157:Operation Just Cause
143:1st Ranger Battalion
125:75th Ranger Regiment
1176:Army Service Ribbon
1139:Iraq Campaign Medal
1003:Valorous Unit Award
426:
272:Invasion of Grenada
1446:on October 8, 2014
1415:The New York Times
1395:The Jerusalem Post
1369:on October 6, 2014
1299:The New York Times
568:November 28, 1981
519:Lieutenant colonel
478:November 10, 2011
459:Lieutenant general
425:
400:William H. McRaven
384:Associate Director
369:special operations
349:special operations
345:
328:Thomas meets with
296:Invasion of Panama
221:United States Army
169:War in Afghanistan
96:United States Army
1568:
1567:
1562:Richard D. Clarke
1559:Succeeded by
1539:Succeeded by
1516:Military offices
1253:
1252:
1075:and service star
853:Bronze Star Medal
734:
733:
587:
586:
579:Second lieutenant
553:February 1, 1984
489:Brigadier general
203:
202:
193:Bronze Star Medal
1647:
1542:Austin S. Miller
1521:Preceded by
1513:
1508:
1507:
1505:
1504:
1487:
1481:
1480:
1478:
1477:
1462:
1456:
1455:
1453:
1451:
1432:
1426:
1425:
1423:
1421:
1406:
1400:
1399:
1385:
1379:
1378:
1376:
1374:
1358:
1347:
1346:
1344:
1342:
1326:
1313:
1312:
1307:
1305:
1290:
1284:
1283:
1281:
1279:
1268:
1246:
1234:
1219:
1213:
1193:
1192:
1186:
1174:
1162:
1150:
1137:
1136:
1130:
1129:
1123:
1110:
1109:
1103:
1102:
1096:
1084:
1073:Arrowhead Device
1067:
1066:
1060:
1059:
1053:
1041:with one bronze
1035:
1029:
1014:
999:
993:
975:
969:
954:
942:
930:
917:
916:
910:
909:
903:
890:
889:
883:
882:
876:
864:
851:
850:
844:
843:
837:
836:
830:
829:
823:
811:
798:
797:
791:
790:
784:
783:
777:
776:
770:
760:oak leaf cluster
758:with one bronze
752:
746:
736:
735:
726:
711:
696:
683:
671:
661:
649:
637:
627:
614:
601:
594:
593:
577:
564:First lieutenant
562:
547:
532:
517:
502:
487:
472:
457:
442:
427:
380:CIA headquarters
357:Mark P. Hertling
94:
92:
91:
83:
74:
72:
71:
54:
50:
48:
33:
19:
1655:
1654:
1650:
1649:
1648:
1646:
1645:
1644:
1570:
1569:
1564:
1555:
1544:
1535:
1526:
1511:
1502:
1500:
1489:
1488:
1484:
1475:
1473:
1464:
1463:
1459:
1449:
1447:
1434:
1433:
1429:
1419:
1417:
1408:
1407:
1403:
1387:
1386:
1382:
1372:
1370:
1360:
1359:
1350:
1340:
1338:
1328:
1327:
1316:
1303:
1301:
1292:
1291:
1287:
1277:
1275:
1270:
1269:
1262:
1258:
1221:
1220:
1214:
1187:
1131:
1124:
1104:
1097:
1061:
1054:
1037:
1036:
1030:
1001:
1000:
994:
977:
976:
970:
911:
904:
884:
877:
845:
838:
831:
824:
813:Legion of Merit
792:
785:
778:
771:
754:
753:
747:
592:
448:March 17, 2016
423:
351:realm into the
256:
254:Military career
217:general officer
211:(also known as
196:
191:
189:Legion of Merit
187:
182:
167:
163:
159:
155:
141:
137:
123:1st Battalion,
89:
87:
69:
67:
59:, United States
55:
52:
51:October 6, 1958
46:
44:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1653:
1651:
1643:
1642:
1637:
1632:
1627:
1622:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1592:
1587:
1582:
1572:
1571:
1566:
1565:
1560:
1557:
1546:
1545:
1540:
1537:
1527:
1522:
1518:
1517:
1510:
1509:
1482:
1457:
1427:
1401:
1380:
1348:
1314:
1285:
1274:. Sep 19, 1989
1259:
1257:
1254:
1251:
1250:
1239:
1238:
1227:
1226:
1208:
1207:
1206:
1203:
1202:
1179:
1178:
1167:
1166:
1155:
1154:
1143:
1142:
1116:
1115:
1089:
1088:
1077:
1076:
1046:
1045:
1024:
1023:
1022:
1019:
1018:
1007:
1006:
988:
987:
986:
983:
982:
964:
963:
962:
959:
958:
947:
946:
935:
934:
923:
922:
896:
895:
869:
868:
857:
856:
816:
815:
804:
803:
763:
762:
741:
740:
739:
732:
731:
719:
718:
704:
703:
689:
688:
676:
675:
664:
663:
654:
653:
642:
641:
630:
629:
607:
606:
591:
588:
585:
584:
581:
570:
569:
566:
555:
554:
551:
540:
539:
538:April 1, 1992
536:
525:
524:
523:March 1, 1997
521:
510:
509:
506:
495:
494:
493:June 16, 2008
491:
480:
479:
476:
465:
464:
461:
450:
449:
446:
435:
434:
431:
422:
419:
341:Tampa, Florida
255:
252:
201:
200:
176:
172:
171:
150:
146:
145:
132:
128:
127:
121:
117:
116:
111:
107:
106:
103:
99:
98:
85:
79:
78:
65:
61:
60:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1652:
1641:
1638:
1636:
1633:
1631:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1621:
1618:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1586:
1585:Living people
1583:
1581:
1578:
1577:
1575:
1563:
1554:
1553:
1547:
1543:
1534:
1533:
1525:
1519:
1514:
1499:
1498:
1493:
1486:
1483:
1472:on 2016-10-19
1471:
1467:
1461:
1458:
1445:
1441:
1437:
1431:
1428:
1416:
1412:
1405:
1402:
1397:
1396:
1391:
1384:
1381:
1368:
1364:
1357:
1355:
1353:
1349:
1336:
1332:
1325:
1323:
1321:
1319:
1315:
1311:
1300:
1296:
1289:
1286:
1273:
1267:
1265:
1261:
1255:
1249:
1245:
1241:
1240:
1237:
1233:
1229:
1228:
1224:
1218:
1212:
1205:
1204:
1200:
1199:award numeral
1196:
1191:
1185:
1181:
1180:
1177:
1173:
1169:
1168:
1165:
1161:
1157:
1156:
1153:
1149:
1145:
1144:
1140:
1135:
1128:
1122:
1118:
1117:
1113:
1108:
1101:
1095:
1091:
1090:
1087:
1083:
1079:
1078:
1074:
1070:
1065:
1058:
1052:
1048:
1047:
1044:
1040:
1034:
1028:
1021:
1020:
1017:
1013:
1009:
1008:
1004:
998:
992:
985:
984:
980:
974:
968:
961:
960:
957:
953:
949:
948:
945:
941:
937:
936:
933:
929:
925:
924:
920:
915:
908:
902:
898:
897:
893:
888:
881:
875:
871:
870:
867:
863:
859:
858:
854:
849:
842:
835:
828:
822:
818:
817:
814:
810:
806:
805:
801:
796:
789:
782:
775:
769:
765:
764:
761:
757:
751:
745:
738:
737:
730:
725:
721:
720:
717:
714:
710:
706:
705:
702:
699:
695:
691:
690:
686:
682:
678:
677:
674:
670:
666:
665:
660:
656:
655:
652:
648:
644:
643:
640:
636:
632:
631:
626:
621:
617:
613:
609:
608:
604:
600:
596:
595:
589:
583:May 28, 1980
582:
580:
576:
572:
571:
567:
565:
561:
557:
556:
552:
550:
546:
542:
541:
537:
535:
531:
527:
526:
522:
520:
516:
512:
511:
508:June 1, 2002
507:
505:
501:
497:
496:
492:
490:
486:
482:
481:
477:
475:
474:Major general
471:
467:
466:
463:May 22, 2014
462:
460:
456:
452:
451:
447:
445:
441:
437:
436:
432:
429:
428:
421:Dates of rank
420:
418:
416:
411:
409:
405:
401:
397:
393:
389:
385:
381:
376:
374:
370:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
342:
338:
334:
331:
326:
322:
320:
316:
312:
308:
304:
299:
297:
293:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
261:
253:
251:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
228:
226:
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1524:Joseph Votel
1501:. Retrieved
1495:
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1470:the original
1460:
1450:September 4,
1448:. Retrieved
1444:the original
1439:
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1298:
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1197:with bronze
1043:service star
866:Purple Heart
412:
392:Joseph Votel
377:
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288:Fort Benning
257:
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198:Purple Heart
149:Battles/wars
57:Pennsylvania
1580:1958 births
1550:Commander,
1530:Commander,
1440:Defense.gov
333:Jeh Johnson
270:during the
248:Afghanistan
213:Tony Thomas
105:1980 – 2019
1574:Categories
1556:2016–2019
1536:2014–2016
1503:2019-04-09
1497:Army Times
1476:2016-04-04
1256:References
1223:NATO Medal
639:Ranger Tab
620:jump stars
64:Allegiance
47:1958-10-06
238:in 1989,
365:Iraq War
240:Gulf War
165:Iraq War
161:Gulf War
131:Commands
82:Service/
1278:Sep 19,
618:with 2
549:Captain
504:Colonel
444:General
386:of the
280:Grenada
219:of the
206:General
114:General
687:Badge
276:MC-130
234:1983,
175:Awards
93:
84:branch
73:
1071:with
534:Major
433:Date
1452:2014
1422:2014
1375:2014
1343:2014
1306:2017
1280:2019
622:and
430:Rank
246:and
244:Iraq
120:Unit
110:Rank
41:Born
727:13
339:in
335:at
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286:at
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186:(5)
181:(2)
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