Thomas A. Cropper
Thomas A. Cropper | |
|---|---|
 Rear Admiral Thomas A. Cropper, USN | |
| Born | June 20, 1959 Leonardtown, Maryland[1] |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ | United States Navy United States Maritime Service |
| Years of service | 1981–2012 (USN) 2012–present (USMS) |
| Rank | Rear Admiral (USN) Rear Admiral (USMS) |
| Commands held | Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific (2010–2012) California Maritime Academy (2012–present) |
| Battles/wars | Operation Desert Storm |
| Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal |
| Alma mater | Iowa State University (BA) University of Tennessee (MA) Catholic University of America (MA) Naval War College (MA) |
Thomas Albert Cropper[2] (born June 20, 1959[3]) is an American retired United States Navy rear admiral and academic administrator serving as president of the California State University Maritime Academy. Cropper was appointed on July 1, 2012 with the rank of honorary rear admiral in the U.S. Maritime Service.[4]
Early life and education[edit]
Born in Maryland, Cropper earned a Bachelor of Arts in engineering operations from Iowa State University in 1981. He also earned a Master of Arts in aviations systems from the University of Tennessee and Master of Arts in world politics from the Catholic University of America. He is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College, earning a third Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies.[5][6]
[edit]
Operational assignments[edit]
Upon his graduation from Iowa State University, Cropper entered the navy as an ensign. During his thirty-one-year navy career, he served in a variety of command and staff positions. He was designated a naval aviator in 1982, followed by operational assignments with three aircraft carrier-based jet squadrons. He went on to serve as the commanding officer of an F/A-18 strikefighter squadron and as commander of the air wing aboard USS Nimitz. Cropper has embarked on eight extended deployments, on USS America (CV-66), USS Forrestal (CV-59), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Eisenhower (CVN-69), and USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and flew nearly 5,000 hours in 43 different aircraft while logging over 1200 carrier arrested landings.[5]
The PBS television series Carrier was filmed while Cropper commanded the air wing aboard the USS Nimitz, and he appears in several episodes.
Ashore[edit]
Thomas Cropper attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, served as a military assistant in the Office of Secretary of Defense William Cohen, and as the Navy Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He also led "Strike University" at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, served as chief of staff, U.S. Third Fleet, and headed the Joint Chiefs of Staff Working Group chartered with the development of national level security strategy.[5]
Flag officer assignments[edit]
As a flag officer, Cropper served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, leading and managing over 24,000 people in combat operations as deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command. as well as Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific, where he directed education and at-sea training for navy ships and aviation squadrons deploying to the Western Pacific and the Middle East.[5]
Retirement[edit]
He retired from the navy at the rank of rear admiral - lower half in 2012 and soon after assumed the duties as the CMA president.[7]
Military awards[edit]
Rear Admiral Cropper's personal decorations include:
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Dates of rank[edit]
[edit]
Ensign: 1981
Lieutenant Junior Grade: 1983
Lieutenant: 1985
Lieutenant Commander: 1990
Commander: 1996
Captain: 2002
Rear Admiral: 2007
Maritime Service[edit]
Rear Admiral: July 1, 2012
References[edit]
- ^ "Meet Cal Maritime's 14th President". Cal Maritime. Vallejo, California: The California State University. Winter 2012. p. 14. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Membership" (PDF). Naval Order of the United States. Vol. XXVII, no. 2. Spring 2017. p. 24. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Reserve Officers on the Active-Duty List. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1984. p. 126. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ Rohrs, Sarah (30 May 2012). "Retiring rear admiral named new California Maritime Academy president". Times-Herald News. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d Dan Petty. "Navy.mil Leadership Biographies". navy.mil.
- ^ "Rear Admiral Thomas A. Cropper | CSU". www2.calstate.edu. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
- ^ "CSUM". csum.edu.
External links[edit]
- A Message from President Cropper: Cal Maritime, Office of the President
- 1959 births
- Living people
- Iowa State University alumni
- United States Naval Aviators
- University of Tennessee alumni
- Catholic University of America alumni
- Naval War College alumni
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- United States Navy rear admirals (lower half)
- Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
- California State University faculty