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Colonel John D. Thomas, President National Aerospace Organization

Colonel John D. Thomas, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)
President,  National Aerospace Organization


Biography 

Colonel John D. Thomas,  United States Air Force  (Retired)
President, National Aerospace Organization

     

     As the President of the National Aerospace Organization, Colonel Thomas coordinates the participation of private industry and government with educational technology forums and symposiums for Department of Defense and NASA agencies.  At these events, promising technologies, innovative systems, and cost effective processes are briefed and discussed. He also serves as a senior ombudsman balancing the needs of the U.S. Government with the capabilities of private industry.   The National Aerospace Organization promotes technical feasibility studies and evaluations of government defense systems.  This organization also identifies and advocates solutions to critical problems affecting the implementation of important national security programs.      

     Immediately prior to his retirement, Colonel Thomas capped off his exciting career with a high visibility assignment as the Air Force's first acquisition Program Manager for the new C-27J Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program.  Under this program, the Air Force and the Army will purchase a new fleet of intra-theater cargo aircraft for use in rapidly moving high value, time sensitive material and personnel within the forward area of the combat theater of operations.  This aircraft will help to save the lives of ground forces by reducing the number of overland vehicle convoys necessary to re-supply forward deployed personnel.  The Joint Cargo Aircraft program is valued in excess of $5.5 Billion has been designated by the Office of Secretary of Defense as an Acquisition Category 1 program.  It has been identified as one of the top five defense systems modernization programs.

     Colonel Thomas is a 1979 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and a 1985 graduate of the Air Force Institute of Technology. He holds a Senior Space & Master Missile Rating with operational and engineering experience spanning an 11 year period. During this time, Colonel Thomas logged over 11,000 hours commanding strategic nuclear alert missions with the Titan II missile system where he was the commander of missile complex 3-8, dubbed by crew members as "Iron Man 3-8".   Colonel Thomas has served in a wide variety of high visibility acquisition assignments that include key programs such as the F-22 stealth fighter, the Airborne Laser, and LANTIRN. Colonel Thomas has also served on a number of headquarters’ staff positions that include Air Staff at the Pentagon, U.S. Southern Command, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, and the Air Force Security Assistance Center.

EDUCATION

1979 Bachelor of Science, U.S. Air Force Academy,
Colorado Springs, CO

1985 Master of Science, Air Force Institute of Technology,
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

2001 Air War College, Air University,
Maxwell AFB, AL



MILITARY AWARDS

Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (4 awards), Air Force Commendation Medal (2 awards), Air Force Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Recognition Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short Tour, Air Force Overseas Ribbon Long Tour (2 awards), Air Force Longevity Service (6 awards), Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon (2 awards), Air Force Training Ribbon. 

HONORS

Selected as the first Air Force Director for the new C-27J Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft acquisition program. C-27J program was heralded by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition as one of the best managed major acquisition programs in the Air Force.

Awarded the Air Force’s prestigious Program Element Monitor of the Year (The Pentagon) for 2003.

Selected as Chief of Logistics (Systems Integration) for the F-22 Stealth Fighter program.

Twice elected as President of the Robins Air Force Base Officers Association.

Elected as President of the Logistics Officers Association for Robins Air Force Base.

Selected by the Commander of United States Air Forces Europe as the American logistics team leader for the International Nuclear Forces Treaty (worked with Soviet counterpart for Treaty implementation and short-notice inspections.)

Elected as President of the Junior Officer’s Council at Comiso Air Station, Italy.

Awarded the coveted 8th Air Force Combat Crew Excellence Award for superior missile crew leadership during 1982-1984.

 

 
   

  

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