Lt. Col. Charles Thomas is the Chief of Staff, 353d Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan. He leads staffing synchronization for special operations personnel across seven squadrons at Kadena and Yokota Air Bases, supporting special operations throughout the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Area of Responsibility, providing combat-ready Special Tactics, Teams, MC-130J Command II, CV-22 Osprey, and other Non-Standard Aviation aircraft.
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas is a 2004 graduate of The Ohio State University where he commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps. He attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He is a Master Navigator with over 2,800 hours in the T-43, T-1, C-130E, HC-130P/J, and MC-130P/J. He deployed in support of numerous operations to include Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM – Philippines, and FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science in Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
2010 Master of Human Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla.
2012 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2018 Master of Military Operational Art and Sciences, Air Command and Staff College Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2024 Air War College (non-residence), Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 2004 – September 2005, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, Class 05-15, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
2. April 2007 – June 2010, MC-130P Instructor Nav, Plans Officer/RA 17th Special Operations Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan
3. June 2010 – March 2014, MC-130P Evaluator CSO, Executive Officer 9th SOS, Eglin AFB, Fla.
4. March 2014 – July 2017, MC-130J Evaluator CSO, Assistant Operations Officer 522d/9th SOS, Cannon AFB, N.M.
5. July 2017 – June 2018, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
6. July 2018 – August 2020, Director, J5, Joint Special Operations Air Component – Europe, SOCEUR, RAF Mildenhall, U.K.
7. August 2020 – June 2021, Director of Staff, 352d Special Operations Wing, RAF Mildenhall, U.K.
8. June 2021 – July 2024, Operations Officer and Commander, 415th SOS, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
9. September 2024 – Present, Chief of Staff, 353d SOW, Kadena AB, Japan
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant September 2004
First Lieutenant September 2006
Captain September 2008
Major March 2015
Lieutenant Colonel July 2019
(Current as of May 2025)