Master Chief Thomas is from Follansbee, West Virginia and joined the Navy in January 1986. He attended Recruit Training in San Diego, California and Equipment Operator “A” School at the Naval Construction Training Center in Port Hueneme, California.

Master Chief Thomas’ first assignment was NAF Detroit, Public Works in Mt Clemons, Michigan until October 1988. He then transferred to NMCB 133 and deployed to Rota, Spain, then to Det Midway Island, then to Det Sigonella, Sicily, then to Iraq, for Operation Provide Comfort in 1991.

In April 1992 Master Chief Thomas transferred to 20th Naval Construction Regiment where he was the Water Well Drilling Instructor at the R24 Department.

In April 1994 he transferred to NMCB 133 where he deployed to Guam, DFT El Salvador, Det Souda Bay Crete, and then to Bosnia with Det Juliet Echo.

In September 1997 Master Chief transferred to Naval Recruiting Command assigned to Naval Recruiting Station Steubenville, Ohio where he was the Recruiter in Charge (RINC) for one of the NRD’s large stations.

September 2000 Master Chief Thomas was transferred to NMCB 74 where he deployed to Puerto Rico as the Alfa Company Projects Chief and assistant A-3.

August 2002 Master Chief Thomas was transferred to the 20th Seabee Readiness Group as the Embarkation Officer (R-33).

January 2005 Master Chief Thomas was transferred to NMCB ONE and assigned as the AOIC for both DFT New Horizons, Haiti and Detail Djibouti, Africa during the 2005 Deployment, then Alfa Company Operation’s Chief during the 2006 Oki Deployment and finally the Battalion Operation’s Chief (S3C) from Nov 2006 to Sep 2008 and completed the 2007-2008 Deployment to Ramadi, Iraq.

Sep 2008, Master Chief attended the Senior Enlisted Academy Class 141 and then transferred to NMCB 74 and served as the Alfa Company Chief from Nov 2008 – Jun 2010. He completed the 2009-2010 deployment to Camp Krutke, Afghanistan.

Master Chief was transferred to NMCB ONE in Jun 2010 where he is currently serving as the Command Master Chief.

Master Chief Thomas is Seabee Combat Warfare Qualified (SCW), Fleet Marine Force Qualified (FMF), as well as Master Training Specialist Qualified (MTS).

His awards and decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (6), and the Army Achievement Medal.