In his current role, Rear Admiral Thomas Shannon is the commander of Military Sealift Command.

Shannon graduated from Maine Maritime Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science, and was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He attended the Naval War College and received a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies in March 1998.

Shannon served afloat in USS Jack Williams (FFG 24), USS Nicholson (DD 982), and USS Boone (FFG 28). Afloat staff duty includes chief staff officer in Destroyer Squadron 14 and surface operations officer in Cruiser Destroyer Group 12. He was commanding officer of USS De Wert (FFG 45) from September 1999 to April 2001. Shannon served as commanding officer of USS Vicksburg (CG 69) and air defense commander for the John F. Kennedy Battle Group from March 2004 to March 2006. He served as commander of Carrier Strike Group 1 from November 2011 to February 2013.

Ashore, Shannon’s assignments included duty as assistant professor of Naval Science at the University of Texas at Austin; section head in Navy’s Joint and Contingency Matters Branch; section head in Navy’s Surface Fires Branch; executive assistant to the Director, Surface Warfare; Pacific Command division chief in the Joint Staff, J-3 Directorate; service on the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff; and U. S. Pacific Fleet deputy chief of staff for Operations, Training and Readiness.

Shannon’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various service medals and unit awards.