Gerald Eustis Thomas

Gerald Eustis Thomas (June 23, 1929 – March 20, 2019), was an American naval officer, diplomat and academic. He was the second African American to achieve the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Early life Thomas was born in Natick, Massachusetts, the son of Walter W. and Leila L. (née Jacobs) Thomas. He was educated at Natick High School, going on to spend a year studying at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln before transferring to Harvard University. He graduated from Harvard in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts in biochemical sciences.

Naval career During his time at Harvard, Thomas was a member of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and joined the Navy after graduation. He was commissioned as an ensign on June 1, 1951, serving aboard for three years, barring three months spent at the Destroyer Force, US Atlantic Fleet Engineering School in Newport, Rhode Island. In July 1954, he transferred to . concluding this command with his appointment as Rear Admiral in November 1974. He was the second African American to achieve this landmark, preceded only by Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Thomas left Guyana on September 6, 1983, and was appointed Ambassador to Kenya a month later. He served in this capacity until leaving the diplomatic service on September 29, 1989. Thomas served in this capacity for 10 years before retiring in July 2001.

Thomas is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Personal life and death He is married to Rhoda (née Henderson), and the couple have two sons and a daughter.