Executive Officer
Cmdr. Blake "Lamar" Thomas
A native of Waverly, Virginia, Cmdr. Thomas graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2004, earning a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography. He reported to NAS Pensacola for flight training in June of 2005, receiving his designation as a Naval Aviator in January 2007.
After completing Fleet Replacement Squadron training at VAW-120, he was qualified in the E-2C Hawkeye and reported to the VAW-125 “Tigertails” in July 2008. While assigned to VAW-125, he served aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), completing three deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Unified Response.
After finishing his first sea tour, CDR Thomas reported to the VAW-120 “Greyhawks” in 2011 for duty as an instructor pilot and was a trusted agent for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
In 2014, Cmdr. Thomas returned to the fleet, reporting to VAW-125. During this tour he completed multiple detachments aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in support of the inaugural Fleet Readiness Training Plan cycle for the E-2D, culminating in the U.S. Navy’s first Initial Operating Capability for the aircraft. After selection for an aviation department head tour, he reported to the VAW-126 “Seahawks” in April 2016. There he served as administrative officer, training officer, and maintenance officer during the squadron’s transition to the E-2D platform and pre-deployment workups with the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
Following his department head tour, Cmdr. Thomas reported to the Joint Force Development Directorate of the Joint Staff in November 2017. There he served as an operations and information sharing observer/trainer and a senior leader education facilitator in the Deployable Training Division.
Following selection for aviation command, he served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of the VT-9 “Tigers” in Meridian, MS from 2019 to 2022, training Student Naval Aviators in the T-45C Goshawk.
After command he reported to USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as the air officer from 2022-2024, where he deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet in support of NATO exercise Neptune Strike.
Cmdr. Thomas has flown over 2,500 hours and performed over 200 arrested landings. His decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Strike/Flight Air Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), Humanitarian Service Medal, and additional individual, campaign, and unit awards.