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Surface Warfare Magazine
CAPT Rodney A. Thomas
Past Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike Group NINE (CCSG9)
08 March 2022
CAPT Rodney A. Thomas
CAPT Rodney A. Thomas
CAPT Rodney A. Thomas
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VIRIN: 220311-N-N0831-0012
Captain Thomas hails from Alma, AR. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mathematics and Physical Science from Arkansas Tech University; a Master’s of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College; is an International Naval Staff College graduate and has taught Mathematics at the Secondary and Collegiate level.
Captain Thomas enlisted in the Navy in June 1987, attending enlisted boot camp at RTC Orlando, FL and Equipment Operator “A” school in Gulfport, MS. He served as a Naval Reserve SEABEE with the “OLD PROS” of Naval Construction Battalion TWENTY-EIGHT, Barksdale AFB, LA reaching the rank of Equipment Operator First Class before receiving a commission via the Navy’s Officer Candidate School program in August 1996.
He completed his initial flight training with the WILDCATS of VT-10, Pensacola, FL and was designated a Naval Flight Officer upon completion of intermediate flight training at the 562
nd
FTS, Randolph AFB, TX.
His first operational tour was with the IRONMEN of VQ-3, Tinker AFB, OK serving as an E-6B Mission Commander, Airborne Communications Officer Instructor and Navigator Instructor. His junior officer tour ground jobs included Avionics Branch Officer, Legal Officer and NATOPS Navigator Evaluator.
His first shore duty assignment was a joint staff tour at USEUCOM Stuttgart, Germany where he served as the HQ USEUCOM Information System Security Manager. His disassociated sea-duty tour was aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) homeported in San Diego, CA where he served as ship’s company Assistant Operations Officer and Command Security Manager while earning his Officer of the Deck Underway and Force Protection Action Officer qualifications.
His department tour was with the SHADOWS of VQ-4, Tinker AFB, OK where he served as Admin Officer, NATOPS/Training Officer, Operations Officer and VQ-4 Patuxent River, MD Detachment Officer-in-Charge. He completed a second joint staff tour at USSTRATCOM Offutt AFB, NE serving as the HQ USSTRATCOM E-6B Platform Manager and Chief, Secretary of the Joint Staff Division.
In May 2013, he returned to the IRONMEN of VQ-3, Tinker AFB, OK serving as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. From August 2015 to September 2017, he served as the USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) Force Navigator while assigned to Forward Deployed Naval Forces Yokosuka, Japan. His most recent shore duty was serving as Executive Assistant to Commander, Naval Education and Training Command Pensacola, FL from October 2017 to October 2019.
He joined Carrier Strike Group NINE in October 2019, serving as the Strike Group Operations Officer across two Western Pacific Deployments aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). He assumed his current position as the Carrier Strike Group NINE Chief of Staff in July 2021.
Captain Thomas has accumulated over 3,300 flight hours in the E-6B Nuclear Command and Control aircraft and over 100,000 nm underway serving as Navigator and Officer of the Deck Underway aboard the USS NIMITZ (CVN-68) and USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76).
Awards include: Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), and various other personal and unit awards.
Tags:
CCSG 9 XO PL
END 230504
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