Robert Thomas

Vice Admiral Robert Thomas retired from the U.S. Navy in January 2017 after 38 years of Naval Service. "As a career submarine officer, he served and commanded fast-attack submarines operating in both U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command theaters of operation."

He then accepted an appointment as a Senior Research Fellow with the University of California’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC). He is also a full time faculty member (Professor of Practice) at UC San Diego’s Graduate School of Global Policy and Strategy (GPS). His international awards include The Order of the Rising Sun, Second Class (Gold and Silver Star), and The Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit, Second Grade (Gukseon Medal).

Vice Admiral Thomas’ last operational tour was in command of the U.S. 7th Fleet from July 2013 to September 2015. His final assignment before retiring was Director Navy Staff in the Pentagon.

Vice Admiral Thomas graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He holds a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from the National War College in Washington, DC.