Thomas J. Plewes

Thomas Jeffrey Plewes (born 15 December 1940) is a retired lieutenant general in the United States Army. He is a former chief of the United States Army Reserve, a position he held from 25 May 1998 to 24 May 2002.

Raised in Zeeland, Michigan, Plewes earned a B.A. degree in economics from Hope College in 1962. He went to work for the United States Department of Labor as an economist in Washington, D.C. After Project Head Start was launched in 1965, Plewes was sent to help establish local programs for poor and minority preschoolers in the South. Near the end of 1965, he lost his Selective Service occupational deferment. Plewes enlisted in the Army in 1966 and was commissioned on 20 January 1967 after completing Engineer Officer Candidate School.