Karl O. Thomas

Born in Fairfax, Virginia,^[2] and raised in Northern Virginia, Thomas earned a bachelor's degree in management systems from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1986. He later received a Master of Science degree in information technology from the Naval Postgraduate School.^[6]

Thomas started off as a carrier aviator in the E-2C Hawkeye; he rose quickly to serve as commanding officer of VAW-117 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has served on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), USS George Washington (CVN-73), U.S. 6th Fleet Command Ship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.^[6]

Thomas served as the commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 for a time, deploying on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) out of Yokosuka, Japan.^[6][7][8] While in that role he took the opportunity to stress "Freedom of Navigation Operations" when his weaker allies couldn't. CVN 76 transited the South China Sea regularly in order to send a message to Beijing that the seas must be free and open.^[9]

He then served as Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans, and Strategy.^[6][7][8]

In April 2021, he was nominated for promotion to vice admiral and assignment to relieve Vice Admiral William R. Merz as commander of the United States Seventh Fleet.^[10]

• 
  At the change of command ceremony in 2018
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  At the change of command ceremony in 2018
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  U.S. Navy Capt. Karl O. Thomas, right foreground, the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), speaks with an attendee during a Veterans Day ceremony, 8 November 2013
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  With Swedish Admiral who hosted Baltic Operations Exercise 2009 Leadership in Karlskrona
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  Capt. Karl Thomas, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, serves food on the mess decks during Thanksgiving dinner on 27 November 2014. Carl Vinson was deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region
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  Capt. Karl Thomas, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, addresses Sailor of the Year candidates in the Chief’s Mess.
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  Capt. Karl O. Thomas, commanding officer of USS Mount Whitney, leads Sailors, civilian mariners, and embarked U.S. 6th fleet staff members to conduct a foreign object debris walk down on the flight deck prior to the ship getting underway for flight quarters on 1 February 2010. Mount Whitney is the U.S. Sixth Fleet's flagship. It is home-ported in Gaeta, Italy, and operates with a hybrid crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civilian mariners.
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  Capt. Karl Thomas, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, speaks with U.S. Rep. John Mica, from Florida, in the navigation bridge aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on 22 October 2014. Carl Vinson and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 17, are deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region.
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  Capt. Karl Thomas, commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, speaks on 22 October 2014 with U.S. Representatives John Mica, left, from Florida, Juan Vargas, middle, and Darrell Issa, seated, from California, on the navigation bridge. Carl Vinson and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 17, are deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region.
• 
  ABU DHABI Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Samantha Kelly, left, takes a “selfie” with Capt. Karl Thomas, commanding officer of aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, in the ship’s in-port cabin on 25 February 2015. Carl Vinson is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region.