NEW CUMBERLAND, Pennsylvania –
Army Capt. Michael Thomas, aide-de-camp to the Defense Logistics Agency Distribution commander, was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal for his skillful planning and management of the General’s day-to-day mission requirements.
Upon his arrival at DLA Distribution in July 2015, Thomas’ communication, planning, and organizational skills enabled him to independently coordinate numerous CONUS and OCONUS command visits, as well as a myriad of conferences and meetings, said chief of staff Perry Knight.
Thomas enlisted in the United States Army in July 1991, completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Miss., and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where he earned the military occupational specialty of Combat Medic (91B/68W). After serving 17 years as a non-commissioned officer and achieving the rank of sergeant first class, he received his commission through Officer Candidate School, branching Quartermaster on February 10, 2011.
Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Trident University and is currently pursuing an MBA in Logistics Management through Florida Institute of Technology. His military education includes Officer Candidate School, Quartermaster Officer Basic Course, Contracting Officers Representative Course, Unit Movement Officer Course, Battle Staff, Force XXI Battle Command Brigade Course, Combatives Level I and II, Airborne School, and Sling Load Inspector’s Certification Course.
Thomas’s operational deployments include Operation Iraqi Freedom 05 as the night operations non-commissioned officer for 4th Sustainment Brigade, Operation Iraqi Freedom 08-09 as the brigade operations non-commissioned officer-in-charge 4th Sustainment Brigade, and Operation Enduring Freedom 12 as the Base Defense Operations Center officer-in-charge and Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 5th Battalion 82nd Field Artillery Regiment Executive Officer Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan. His assignments include distribution platoon leader, executive officer, maintenance control officer 4th Brigade Combat Team 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, and executive officer for Bravo Company 244th Quartermaster Battalion.
Thomas’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 oak leaf cluster), Army Commendation Medal (6 oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal (7 oak leaf clusters), Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (2 campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NATO Medal (1 campaign star), Meritorious Unit Citation, Korean Defense Service Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Expert Field Medical Badge, Drill Sergeant Identification Badge and the Parachutist Badge.