LIEUTENANT GENERAL THOMAS J. TRASK

Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Trask is Vice Commander, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, Washington, D.C. General Trask is responsible for planning, coordinating and executing actions with the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Services and other government agencies in the National Capital Region on behalf of the Commander USSOCOM.

General Trask entered the Air Force in 1984 as a Reserve Officer Training Corps graduate. He is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, including 51 combat missions supporting operations in Panama, Iraq, Bosnia and Kosovo. He previously commanded the 20th Special Operations Squadron, 347th Rescue Operations Group, 58th Special Operations Wing, Squadron Officer College and 23rd Air Force. His staff assignments have included the Joint Staff; Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command; U.S. Central Command; Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command; and NATO AIRSOUTH.

EDUCATION
1984 Bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Ariz.
1991 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1992 Master's degree in international relations, Troy State University, Ala.
1995 Master's degree in national security and strategic studies, Naval War College, Newport, R.I.
1996 Master's degree in airpower art and science, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2001 NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy
2006 Leadership Development Program, Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, N.C.
2007 Enterprise Leadership Seminar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, Raleigh, N.C.
2007 Leadership for a Democratic Society, Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Va.
2009 Capstone General and Flag Officer Course, National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2011 Joint Flag Officers Warfighting Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. September 1984 - June 1985, Student, undergraduate pilot training (helicopter), 3588th Flying Training Squadron, Fort Rucker, Ala.
2. July 1985 - April 1988, UH-1N Instructor Pilot and Mobility Officer, Detachment 5, 40th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Edwards AFB, Calif.
3. April 1988 - August 1991, MH-53 Instructor Pilot and Plans Officer, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Fld, Fla.
4. August 1991 - January 1993, Executive Officer to the Vice Commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Fld, Fla.
5. January 1993 - July 1994, Flight Examiner and Chief of Standardization and Evaluation, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Fld, Fla.
6. August 1994 - June 1995, Student, College of Naval Command and Staff, Newport, R.I.
7. July 1995 - June 1996, Student, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
8. July 1996 - June 1998, Plans Officer, Plans and Policy Division, Headquarters Allied Air Forces Southern Europe (NATO), Naples, Italy
9. June 1998 - February 2001, Operations Officer and Commander, 20th Special Operations Squadron, Hurlburt Fld, Fla.
10. February 2001 - August 2001, Student, NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy
11. August 2001 - August 2002, Chief, Special Operations Forces Division, Operations Directorate (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
12. August 2002 - February 2004, Commander, 347th Operations Group, Moody AFB, Ga.
13. February 2004 - May 2005, Special Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
14. May 2005 - February 2007, Commander, 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
15. February 2007 - July 2008, Commandant, Squadron Officer College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
16. July 2008 - February 2009, Commander, 23rd Air Force, and the Director of Operations, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Fld, Fla.
17. February 2009 - July 2009, Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements and Assessments, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Fld, Fla.
18. July 2009 - September 2011, Deputy Director, Theater Plans and Synchronization Element, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla.
19. October 2011 – June 2014, Director for Force Structure, Requirements, Resources, and Strategic Assessments, MacDill AFB, Fla.
20. June 2014 – present, Vice Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command Washington Office, Washington, D.C.

SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 1996 – June 1998, plans officer, Plans and Policy Division, Headquarters Allied Air Forces Southern Europe (NATO), Naples, Italy, as a major
2. August 2001 – August 2002, Chief, Special Operations Forces Division (J3), Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant colonel
3. February 2004 – May 2005, special assistant to the Commander, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla, as a colonel
4. July 2009 – September 2011, Deputy Director, Theater Plans and Synchronization Element, Headquarters U.S. Central Command, MacDill AFB, Fla, as a brigadier general
5. October 2011 – June 2014, Director for Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, Fla, as a major general
6. June 2014 – present, Vice Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, Washington Office, Washington, D.C., as a lieutenant general

FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Command pilot
Flight hours: 3,200
Aircraft flown: MH-53, HH-60, UH-1, CV-22, MC-130, HC-130, and other special operations aircraft

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Silver Star
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
1991 Mackay Trophy

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant April 21, 1984
First Lieutenant June 28, 1986
Captain June 28, 1988
Major Nov. 1, 1994
Lieutenant Colonel Sept. 1, 1998
Colonel Sept. 1, 2002
Brigadier General Dec. 3, 2008
Major General Nov. 10, 2011
Lieutenant General June 16, 2014

(Current as of June 2017)