Col Steven J. Thomas

Dean, The Civil Engineer School

Colonel Steven J. Thomas is the Dean of The Civil Engineer School, Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson AFB Ohio where he is responsible for providing technical, environmental and engineering management focused Professional Continuing Education to 5,500 military and civilian members annually as well as the Initial Skills Training for all newly commissioned Civil Engineer officers.

Col Thomas is a native of Massachusettes and received his commission in 2000 through Air Force ROTC from The Pennsylvania State University. He has commanded three times at the squadron and group level for a total of seven years and deployed five times in support of contingency operations across South West Asia. Additionally, he’s served various operational and staff positions in addition to serving as an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the United States Air Force Academy responsible for educating and developing the next generation of Civil Engineer officers.

Colonel Thomas is married with two children. Prior to his current position, he was Commander of the Legendary 86th Civil Engineer Group, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

EDUCATION

2000 Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pa.

2002 Master of Science, Structural Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

2002 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

2011 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

2016 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS/JOBS

1. July 2000–June 2002, Graduate Student, University of Pittsburgh, Pa.
2. June 2002–May 2004, Chief Airfield Engineer, 4th Civil Engineer Sq, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. (May 2003–November 2003, Expeditionary Village Project Engineer, Al Udeid AB, Qatar)
3. May 2004–May 2005, Executive Officer, 4th Mission Support Group, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.
4. May 2005–July 2008, Chief of Design, 820th RED HORSE Sq, Nellis AFB, Nev. (May 2005–January 2006, Project Engineer and Tactical Operations Center Commander, 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Sq, 30th Engineer Brigade, various locations in Iraq; March 2007–November 2007, Chief of Operations/Deputy Commander, 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group, various locations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar)
5. July 2008–July 2011: Assistant Professor, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, United States Air Force Academy, Colo.
6. July 2011–May 2013, Operations Flight Commander, 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Sq, Hurlburt Field, Fla. (May 2012–September 2012, Head Quarters Commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, Camp Integrity, Kabul, Afghanistan; September 2012–December 2012, Chief of Staff, Administration and Logistics Operations Center (A1, A4, A7, A8), Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component-Afghanistan, Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan)
7. May 2013–July 2015, Commander, Detachment 1, 823d RED HORSE Sq, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
8. July 2015–August 2016, Deputy Director of Installations (A7), United States Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar
9. August 2016–May 2018, Chief, Plans & Analysis Division, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas
10. June 2018–July 2021, Commander, 97th Civil Engineer Squadron, Altus AFB, Okla.
11. August 2021¬–June 2022, Director, Operations Directorate, Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Tyndall AFB, Fla
12. June 2022–July 2024, Commander, 86th Civil Engineer Group, Ramstein AB, Germany
13. July 2024–Present, Dean, The Civil Engineer School, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit

Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters

Joint Commendation Medal

Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters

Army Commendation Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant May 12, 2000

First Lieutenant May 12, 2002

Captain May 28, 2004

Major December 1, 2009

Lieutenant Colonel May 1, 2015

Colonel February 1, 2022