Thomas F. Thaler

ThomasFThaler@gmail.com

Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 589-3202 / (757) 865-5670

OBJECTIVE:   Senior Executive Management and/or Military Training Leadership

EXPERIENCE SUMMARY: 

• 30+ years, Leadership and Management – Joint/Military Operations
• 30 years, United States Marine Corps (Ret.); (honorable discharge)
• 5 years, Defense Contracting; Business Development
• 4 years, M1A1 Main Battle Tank New Equipment Training Team
• 2 years, C.O. Marine Corps West Coast Boot Camp (Training Management)
• 2.5 years, Operations Staff Officer, NATO Exercises and Training
• 6 months, Iraqi Army Trainer/Advisor, Base Commander

CLEARANCE:  DoD, Top Secret (Last Adjudication Date: 10/11; Last SCI read-on 05/07; U.S. Passport: Expires 05/26/19)

Work Location Preferences: Willing to travel or relocate, CONUS/OCONUS

EXPERIENCE PORTFOLIO:

05/10 – present, Capture Manager, Business Development

Global Mission Solutions, BAE Systems Solutions, Hampton, VA

• Responsible for pursuing new Training and Support oriented business in the greater Hampton Roads / DC Metro area of Virginia.
• Target opportunities currently include contracts with the US Navy and Coast Guard covering a wide variety of Warfare and Training Support activities including Program and Project Management, Analytical Support, IT Support, Advisory and Consulting Services and Human Terrain Analysis.

12/06 – 05/10, Business Development Analyst, Senior Staff

Lockheed Martin Corporation, Suffolk, VA

• Lead Liaison for Advanced Concepts Protection Organizations’ (ACPO) business development for Homeland Defense and Security Laboratory at Lockheed Martin’s Center for Innovation
• Responsibilities included managing laboratory content valued at $3-5M
• Managed daily operations including: Flag Officer Briefings, visiting NATO officials, corporate partners, potential customers; assisting in the Joint Experimentation process; supporting Joint and service branch specific exercises as Team Leader and supporting role; planning meetings
• Conducted weekly tours and demonstrations and customer shaped events for Homeland Security and Missile Defense Stakeholders
• Corporate lead for the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response (DP/ER) Strategic Mission thread focused on investigating new business opportunities for future growth including weekly meetings during Exercises, and setting up quarterly Experiments and Demonstrations
• Initiated “outreach” program and briefs to the six operating business areas of Lockheed Martin (one brief per Business Unit, as well as 40 external customers, to investigate local, national, and international markets; resulting in opportunity to extend the business of a focused/priority program for homeland security technology
• Secured $1.5M for cross-corporate concept development project concentrating on Executive Branch Command, Control, and Communication (C³) in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response for the White House Military Office and the Presidential Helicopter Squadron
• Conducted customer calls; participation in exercises, seminars and planning meetings on ‘Preparing for New Business’ phase of business development, gaining additional exposure to the capture phase support (Blue, Gold, Pink and Red Teams for Proposal Process) from administrative support staff to Directors and VPs

1973 – 2005, Colonel (honorable discharge)

United States Marine Corps (US, Japan, Korea, Belgium, Iraq)

• Joined 1973; Active Duty Commission received 05/76
• 30 years of service: Tank, Assault Amphibian, Acquisition, Logistics Services, Air-Ground Task Force Support, Formal Schools Instructor, Operations, Recruit Training, and Staff Officer, US Navy Fleet Forces Command

09/04 – 03/05, Colonel, Military Advisor to Iraqi Army

United States Marine Corps

Al Kasik Military Training Base, Iraq

• Managed logistics and infrastructure, base defense, construction management, training, and sustainment of approximately 4,000-5,000 multi-national, multi-cultural base population of South Africans, Britons, Americans, Australians, and Iraqis
• Devised/implemented a successful fuel conservation program which saved 32,000 gallons weekly; implemented water conservation program, prioritizing usage, allowing for maintenance of critical services while reducing overall base requirement of 600k liters to 140K liters daily; cutting requirements, transportation costs (fuel), and associated risks by 60%+

06/01 – 07/03, Colonel, Commanding Officer

Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot

United States Marine Corps, San Diego, CA

• Managed and provided sustainment training, leadership, and guidance to 525 drill instructors, 86 Company and Field Grade Officers, and 63 other ranks
• Responsible for education, training, logistics, and health requirements of 20,000+ Marine Recruits annually
• Improved the continued effort to standardize the SMART (Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapy) Clinic policy and treatment of entry level training injuries at the Marine Corps’ west coast boot camp

06/99 – 05/01, Colonel, Operations Staff Officer

United States Marine Corps, NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

• Team-member of NATO Military Chairmen’s speech writing cell during 1999 Kosovo Crisis entailing the composition of daily speeches during the six month period
• Presented dozens of briefings to the NATO Military Committee, NATO military officers (including Generals and Admirals) from respective member nations, focusing on multi-national and combined operations using NATO forces
• Conflict resolution concerning troop numbers, assets to theatre, rules of engagement and political issues of distinctive national and international concerns among member nations was routine

12/95 – 06/97, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer, Tank Battalion

United States Marine Corps, 2^nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, NC

• Commanded one of two Tank Battalions in the Marine Corps with an inventory valued at $200M, and 800 men (Lieutenant Colonel to Private ranks)
• Leadership challenges included multiple deployments for internal units for duty in the Caribbean, the Middle-East, and Far East
• Commander of the Tank Battalion in Joint and Combined Operations involving British, Canadian, and other foreign forces (Partnership For Peace members including emerging democracies from former Warsaw Pact nations: Poland, Ukraine, Moldova, and Estonia)

1993 – 1995, Lieutenant Colonel, Head

Operations Division, Amphibious Warfare School

United States Marine Corps, Combat Development Command, Quantico, VA

• Responsible for the Curriculum Development and execution of all instruction for Amphibious Operations for career level course; led four-man team of Field Grade Officers training hundreds of Marine Captains in Expeditionary Warfare planning skills
• Assisted in Training of Ground Combat Arms Occupational Field Course for Infantry, Armor, Artillery and Combat Engineer Officers
• Performed as a Faculty Advisor and Classroom Instructor, as well as Primary Staff
• Developed and implemented innovative methods to get students out of the classroom and into a field environment, which resulted in a substantial reduction in the facilities operating budget, as well as an increase in student enthusiasm and performance

1992 – 1993, Major (student & Academic Committee Chairman)

Naval College of Command and Staff, Naval War College (NWC), Newport, RI

1988 – 1992, Major, Project Officer, M1A1 Main Battle Tank

United States Marine Corps, Air Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, CA

• Responsible for material fielding and new equipment training for the M1A1 Main Battle Tank; a $500M, 4-year acquisition and fielding strategy to replace the entire tank fleet
• Project Officer for program involved substantial inventory distribution and control, as well as manufacturing quality assurance commensurate with large acquisition objective
• Created the Curriculum Development and Training of all crews for five tank battalions
• Coordinated and implemented “Train the Trainer” courses for 33-man USMC New Equipment Training Team; Team received Meritorious Unit Commendation for efforts in preparing tank crews for Operation Desert Storm

1987 – 1988, Captain, Deputy

G-2, S-3A, CSSD-33, LNO 19^th SUPCOM, 3^rd Force Service Support Group

United States Marine Corps, Okinawa, Japan

• Supported the Operations Officer of Combat Service Support Detachment providing Logistics Support to Marine Regiment during major deployment exercise to Korean peninsula (6 months)
• Conducted 24/7 resupply missions to Marine maneuver elements under the austere conditions of a Korean winter
• Assigned as only Marine Corps Officer on an all Army Staff (19th Support Command) to coordinate logistics for Marine units from Okinawa, Hawaii, and California training on the Korean peninsula

1985 – 1987, Captain, Tank Company Commander

S-3A, 27^th Marines, 1^st Marine Division

United States Marine Corps, MCAGCC, Twenty-nine Palms, CA

• Responsible for effective training, employment, maintenance, and logistical supply of 17 M60A1 Main Battle Tanks and crews, including bi-annual gunnery qualification

1981 – 1984, Captain, Instructor

United States Army Armor School, Fort Knox, KY

• Only Marine officer on the Gunnery Division faculty at an Army school
• Implemented a new study regimen resulting in an 80% first time passing rate for 2^nd Lieutenants on Tank Crew Gunnery Skills Test, in the Armor School
• Revamped/perfected Special Gunnery Examination in Armor Officer Advanced Course

1980 – 1981, 1^st Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, XO

3^rd Marine Division, United States Marine Corps, Okinawa, Japan

• Executive Officer of a Headquarters and Service Company for 400+/- men handling all commodity areas organic to a tracked vehicle unit
• Led a Tank Platoon and an Assault Amphibian Platoon to conduct Pre-Deployment Training on Mainland Japan; responsible for Gunnery and Tactical training

1976 – 1981, 2^nd Lieutenant, Platoon Leader, Executive Officer (XO), and

Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) Company Commander

United States Marine Corps, 1^st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA

Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twenty-nine Palms, CA

• Responsible for 10 AAVP-7 Assault Amphibians (AMTRACS) and crews
• Managed training, logistical support, and deployment readiness

EDUCATION:

• 1993, Master of Arts, National Security and Strategic Studies; United States Naval War College, Newport, RI
• 1983, Master of Arts, Public Administration; Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
• 1976, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science; Saint Michael’s College, Colchester Park, VT

TRAINING / CERTIFICATIONS:

• 2008, Capture Manager’s Institute, Lockheed Martin Center for Leadership Excellence, Bethesda, MD
• 2008, Customer Relations Institute, LM Center for Leadership Excellence, Bethesda, MD
• 2006, Defense Support of Civil Authorities, Department of Defense (DoD), Fort Monroe, VA
• 2007, Customer Value Conversations, Sinequanon Group, Manassas, VA
• Mastering Business Development, Mastering Business Development Institute (MBDI), Arlington, VA
• 1999, Graduate, NATO Defense College
• 1991, Graduate, Marine Corps Command & Staff College, Quantico, VA
• 1982, Armor Officers Advanced Course, US Army Armor School, Fort Knox, KY
• 1982, Graduate, Instructors Training Course (ITC), US Army Armor School, Fort Knox, KY
• 1979, Armor Officers Basic Course, US Army Armor School, Fort Knox, KY
• 1977, Assault Amphibian Officer’s School, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, CA

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT / TRAINING PROGRAMS:

• 1999 – 2001, Operations Officer/Exercise/Training Branch; re-wrote NATO Exercise Manual for training NATO forces to participate in NATO and Western European Union Exercises
• 1993 – 1995, Branch Head, Operations Department, Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; Course Developer/Instructor for Career Level Course for Marine Officers in all aspects of Amphibious Warfare
• 1988 – 1992, Officer In Charge, M1A1 Main Battle Tank New Equipment Training Team; trained 2,400+ Marine Tank Crewmen (Officer & Enlisted) all aspects – M1A1 Main Battle Tank
• 1985 – 1986, Assistant Operations Officer/Training Officer for 27^th Marine Regiment; Ensured all Marine Corps-directed training executed and documented according to standing regulations; Oversight included five Battalions; Tank, Infantry, Artillery, Armored Reconnaissance and Assault Amphibian
• 1981 – 1984, US Army Armor School; Instructor of Offensive and Defensive Tactics; Tank Gunnery Instructor for the M60A1, M60A3 and M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank for Armor Officer Basic and Armor Officer Advanced Courses

RECOGNITION / AWARDS – TRAINING:

• 2005: Bronze Star, Coalition Military Assistance Training Team, Al Kasik, Iraq
• 2002: Legion Of Merit, Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA
• 1999: Defense Superior Service Medal for superior service at the Exercise and Training Branch, NATO International Military Staff, Brussels, Belgium
• 1995: Meritorious Service Medal for service as Branch Head, Operations Division at USMC Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, VA
• 1991: Navy Commendation Medal for organizing and executing New M1A1 Equipment Training for the Marine Corps, Twenty-nine Palms, CA
• 1984: Army Achievement Medal for Organizing and Executing Third Class Armor Training for West Point Cadets and Fort Knox, KY
• 1984: Recipient of the “Hibbs Award” and the Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Instructor; US Army Armor School, Gunnery Division, Fort Knox, KY

RECOGNITION / MILITARY AWARDS – OTHER:

• Defense Superior Service Medal
• Legion of Merit (2)
• Bronze Star
• Defense Meritorious Service Medal
• Meritorious Service Medal (2)
• Navy Commendation Medal
• Army Commendation Medal
• Army Achievement Medal