BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : AFRICAN AMERICAN MAJOR GENERAL EVERETT H. THOMAS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "

  BLACK     SOCIAL     HISTORY                                                                                                                                                                            MAJOR GENERAL EVERETT H. THOMAS


Retiring effective Oct. 1 2013

Maj. Gen. Everett H. Thomas is ViCommander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. General Thomas assists the commander in organizing, training, equipping and maintaining our nation's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, B-2 and B-52 aircraft. Air Force Global Strike Command provides combatant commanders with combat ready forces to conduct the strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike missions.

General Thomas was commissioned through the ROTC program in 1980. He has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels, and has a broad range of operational tours in ICBM and space operations and maintenance. He has commanded an Air Force Station, a space launch squadron, the Air Force's largest Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBM operations group at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and the Air Force's largest ICBM wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. His staff assignments include executive officer to the Vice Commander of Air Force Space Command, and assistant executive officer to the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff. He has also served as Chief, Nuclear Arms Control Division and Deputy Director for the Middle East and International Negotiations, Directorate for Strategic Plans and Programs and later as Assistant Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs, Africa, and International Negotiations on the Joint Staff.

General Thomas also served as Vice Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, Nellis AFB, Nev., where he was the center's focal point for air, space and information warfare expertise. His recent leadership position was Commander of the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center where he was responsible for sustainment of nuclear weapons and weapons systems throughout the Air Force.

EDUCATION
1980 Bachelor of Science degree in environmental health, Mississippi Valley State University, Itta Bena, Miss.
1984 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1985 Master of Science degree in industrial safety, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Mo.
1993 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1999 Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
2004 National Security Management Course, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, N.Y.
2009 Executive Course on National and International Security, George Washington University, Washington, D.C.