David M. Thomas

David M. Thomas
Service/branch	United States Navy
Rank	Rear Admiral
Commands held	JTF-GTMO Carrier Strike Group Two Naval Surface Forces Atlantic

David M. Thomas was an officer in the United States Navy.

Thomas's father was a career Navy officer. Thomas, and three of his brothers, are graduates of the United States Naval Academy. All are retired, including one who was in the Marine Corps. Another brother served in the Peace Corps. His two uncles also were Navy officers via Officers' Candidate School programs. Thomas graduated in 1981.

Thomas was a 1976 graduate of Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland.

In 1999 Thomas commanded the destroyer USS Ross. He has served aboard the USS Shreveport, , USS Willamette, and the USS Leyte Gulf

Captain David Thomas was serving in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, when al Qaeda hijackers crashed a passenger jet into it, causing an explosion, fire, and consequent injuries and loss of life. Thomas was one of the people who spontaneously volunteered to enter the damaged part of the building to rescue survivors. When asked about his rescue efforts on September 11, Thomas replied:

"I am who I am, a trained sailor who sails ships at sea. You run toward your shipmate in times of trouble."

His fire-damaged uniform now hangs in the Smithsonian's American History gallery.

On May 27, 2008 Rear Admiral David Thomas replaced Rear Admiral Mark Buzby to become the 8th Commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, and the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

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