Education

Tom holds a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government, a Master of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School at National Defense University. His personal awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, one Joint Service Achievement Medal, and three Navy Achievement Medals.

Driving submarines through the world’s oceans and operating nuclear power plants hundreds of feet below the surface develops a rare kind of tested leader. In this inherently dangerous environment, Tom learned to make time-critical decisions, conduct rigorous self and team evaluations, and value experience above all. On a U.S. submarine, every sailor — from Captain to Seaman — carries responsibility for the safety and success of the entire crew. America needs leaders who have led.

Between submarine tours, Tom completed high-level assignments as a Flag Aide to the Commander of the Pacific Fleet, a Legislative Defense Fellow on Capitol Hill, and a Military Assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. These roles gave him first-hand experience in high-level foreign policy meetings, strategic planning, resource allocation, and public policy improvements. America needs leaders with this level of experience.

Tom completed Nuclear Power Training and the Basic Submarine Officer Course before reporting to the USS Chicago (SSN 721) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He later served on the USS Charlotte (SSN 766) and USS Columbia (SSN 771) as Navigator and Operations Officer, and as Executive Officer on the USS Michigan (SSGN 727). Over the course of five submarine deployments across the Indo-Pacific, he conducted numerous missions vital to national security.

Between submarine assignments, Tom held several key leadership positions: developing national security policy as a Legislative Defense Fellow for Congressman Rob Wittman (Virginia’s 1st District); serving as Flag Aide to ADM Patrick Walsh, Commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet; working as a strategic communicator for the Director of Undersea Warfare Division (OPNAV N97); and serving as Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security.

Additional career highlights include volunteering for a Global War on Terrorism Individual Augmentation assignment to U.S. European Command; deploying to Operation TOMODACHI following the Great Japanese Earthquake as Aide to the Joint Task Force Commander; and being selected as the only American in his year group to attend and complete the prestigious UK Royal Navy Submarine Command Course, known as “Perisher.”