COL ‘JT’ Jeffrey L. Thomas joins National Defense University/Eisenhower School as
incoming Faculty. COL Thomas will assist with the Strategic Leader Foundation Course,
Contemporary Topics in National Security and Industry Studies with a focus on
pandemic response. COL Thomas comes to NDU/ES from the Walter Reed Army
Institute of Research (WRAIR) where he served as the Center Director for Military
Psychiatry and Neuroscience (CMPN) directing behavior health, neuroprotection, and
sleep and performance research predicated on delivering evidence-based solutions to
improve and optimize the behavioral health, decisiveness and lethality of US Service
Members.
COL Thomas was commissioned in 1994 through ROTC at Lincoln University where he
received a B.A. in Psychology. He graduated from Wayne State University on an ROTC
educational delay with an M.A. (1997) and Ph.D. (1999) in Social Psychology. He began
his Army career as a Research Psychologist (71F) at WRAIR followed by a tour at the US
Army Medical Research Unit-Europe (USAMRU-E) in Heidelberg, Germany. COL Thomas
then served as a technical staff officer at the Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Logistics, Science, and Technology ASA(ALT). Following ASA(ALT), he returned to WRAIR
in the roles of Deputy Branch Chief and Branch Chief of Military Psychiatry before
returning to Germany as the Commander of an overseas research lab. COL Thomas has
deployed on four Mental Health Advisory Teams—twice to Iraq, once to Afghanistan
and led one to Korea. He has also conducted numerous strategic research engagements
with international partners in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East on psychological
research and support.
As a scientist, COL Thomas has been cited over 8,000 times (h-index 35) and has
published 75+ peer reviewed scientific papers and book chapters. He peer-reviews for
numerous scientific journals to include the Journal of Clinical Psychology, Social
Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, Psychological Services, and Personality and
Social Psychology Bulletin. He has presented Army behavioral health research at dozens
of professional, military, and international conferences. COL Thomas is an Adjunct
Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences. He is the Research Psychology Consultant to the US Army Surgeon
General and the Assistant Corps Chief for Allied Health Sciences for the US Army Medical
Service Corps. He is Level 3 certified in Science and Technology Management and is a
member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.
COL Thomas’s military awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal (4
Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army
Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service
Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal,
Korean Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal,
NATO Medal (Kosovo). COL Thomas has earned the Airborne Parachutist and Air Assault
Badges.
COL Thomas resides in Frederick MD with his wife, Barbara, and two children, Samantha
(14) and Joseph (12).