As Ryan Thomas reflected on the past 12 months of 2007, he said, ‘it’s been a very busy, but rewarding year.?
After graduating from Clarkston High School in 2000, Thomas went on to the Air Force Academy and graduated in 2004. He was assigned to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where his squadron is responsible for missile and satellite launches.
‘I feel very fortunate to be in this situation and working with great people,? said Thomas. ‘I feel like we do something very important, so it’s been a great year and very rewarding.?
Thomas, operations commander for his crew, commanded a critical launch mission to intercept and destroy a missile launched from Kodiak, Alaska. The demonstration was considered a major achievement by the Air Force.
‘It was a lot of work and probably the most complicated in depth launch we’ve done out here at Vandenberg,? he said. ‘Once we finished, it was a huge success.?
The launch took 20 months of preparation and training, and demonstrated technical and tactical capabilities of the Missile Defense Agency. Thomas and his crew were flown to Washington D.C., were they received national recognition and the ‘Air Force Crew of the Year Award.?
The ceremony was attended by the United States Air Force Chief of Staff, Secretary of the Air Force, several hundred high ranking Air Force officers representing 88 countries, and by Thomas? parents Dennis and Janet Thomas and sister Kalin, of Springfield Township.
Why did Ryan Thomas join the Air Force?
‘It was probably in high school where I became interested in joining,? he said. ‘I knew I always wanted to do something different that would test myself and push myself and to serve the country, so it seemed like a great fit.?
Earlier in the year, Thomas was nominated for Outstanding Officer not only in his squadron but the entire Vandenberg base. He also received the Air Force Association’s Robert H. Goddard Outstanding Space and Missile Operations Award and Colonel James Jabara Award, named in honor of the Air Force Academy graduate who was the second leading ace in the Korean War. Its is awarded every year to the Air Force Academy graduate ‘whose contributions set them apart from their contemporaries.?
Thomas chose missile and satellite launches for the challenge.
‘It’s and up and coming part of the military and technology in general,? he said. ‘I found it very interesting and I’m just lucky enough to be part of it.?
In addition to his duties as a first lieutenant, Thomas found tme to challenge himself athletically, running Los Angeles marathons and several sprint triathlons before going to Brazil to compete in an ‘Iron Man Triathlon.?
‘It’s kind of funny, my friend called me up on the phone and asked if I wanted to do an ‘Iron Man,? and without really knowing what it was, I said ‘sure.? So, I signed up and went out and did it with no experience.?
The Iron Man Triathlon includes a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-miles on a bike, and a 26.2-mile run.
‘After my friend told me what it was, I said ‘what did I get myself into? What did I just sign up for,?? said Thomas with a laugh. ‘That race is so long and grueling. You can’t really just gut that out, you have to put in the hours to prepare for it, and you have to put in the miles.?
Thomas, who was accustomed to athletic training as a football, basketball, and track star at Clarkston, said he put in between 15-20 hours weekly, leading up to the Iron Man. Thomas crossed the finish line in 11 hours, 30 minutes.
‘It was one of the longest days of my life,? he said. ‘It was just a great feeling though, crossing that finish line.?
Thomas said he has no plans to leave the military anytime soon, though being away from home gets a little hard sometimes.
‘My career has gone really well up to this point, so I am just going to keep going and see how it goes,? he said. ‘I love California. It’s got a little bit of everything to offer, it’s beautiful, great out doors, big cities, mountains, oceans, it’s got a little bit of everything, but the toughest part definitely is being away from family and friends.?