Gary L. Thomas

Gary Lee Thomas (born 1962) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general. 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 led Marine Corps aviation's weapons school. Thomas is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and National Defense University.

Biography Early years Thomas graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in computer science and was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant.

Military career Brigadier General Thomas serves dinner to Marines at Camp Bastion, November 28, 2013.

ol Thomas took command of VMFA-323 on October 27, 2001, at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. The squadron deployed as the lone Marine fighter squadron on board the USS Constellation (CV-64) in November 2002. During this deployment, the squadron supported combat operations during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Thomas turned over command of the squadron on June 13, 2003. Following his command tour, he attended National Defense University and graduated with an M.S. in National Security Strategy in June 2004.

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 of 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) in Afghanistan from February to December 2013. He later served as the Commanding General of 2d Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina.

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. Thomas was the 35th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.

He retired from active duty at the end of his term as assistant commandant, and his retirement ceremony was held on October 15, 2021.

Awards and decorations Thomas' decorations and medals include:

Naval Aviator BadgeDefense Superior Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf clusterLegion of MeritBronze Star MedalMeritorious Service Medal with three gold award starsAir Medal with Combat "V", two gold award numerals and bronze Strike/Flight numeral 6Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and award starJoint Service Achievement MedalNavy Achievement MedalJoint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf clusterNavy Unit Commendation with one bronze service starNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation with three service starsNational Defense Service Medal with service starArmed Forces Expeditionary MedalSouthwest Asia Service Medal with two service starsAfghanistan Campaign Medal with service starGlobal War on Terrorism Expeditionary MedalGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Service MedalSea Service Deployment Ribbon with four service starsNavy Arctic Service RibbonNATO Medal for service with ISAFKuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)Rifle Expert BadgePistol Expert BadgeOffice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

Personal life In January 2022, Thomas was appointed board chairman of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. He is the former CEO and current board member of Draken International, LLC. In April 2023, Thomas was appointed CEO of Paradigm MedSolutions LLC.