Commanding Officer

Colonel Thomas Abel USMC

Colonel Thomas Abel is the Professor of Naval Sciences and Commanding Officer, Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Arizona. He attended college at the University of Washington and was commissioned in 1983 through the Naval ROTC program. Following The Basic School and Flight School he was designated as an AH-1 Cobra pilot.

Colonel Abel’s initial fleet assignment was to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167, New River, North Carolina, where he completed Mediterranean deployments in 1987 and 1989. Upon completion of this tour he attended Amphibious Warfare School and in 1990 transferred to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 303 at Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as AH-1 Flight Instructor. While assigned as a Cobra flight instructor he completed a deployment as a United Nations Observer, Western Sahara, Africa.

In 1992 Colonel Abel was transferred to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169. While serving with the “Vipers’ he completed a deployment to Okinawa, Japan. He was subsequently reassigned to United States Marine Forces, Korea, where he served as the Air Officer in Seoul, Korea, from 1995 through1997.

Upon completion of his assignment in Korea, Colonel Abel reported to the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia, and then in 1998 he reported to Marine Aircraft Group 39 at Camp Pendleton, California. He served briefly on the MAG-39 staff before reporting to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367. Serving as the squadron Executive Officer, Colonel Abel accompanied “Scarface” on a deployment to Okinawa, Japan.

Colonel Abel then assumed command of Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Iwakuni Japan in 2001. Following this two year command tour, he reported to the Marine Corps War College, Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation of the course, Colonel Abel served as an instructor at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

After instructing at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College for one year he reported to the First Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California, for duty as the First Marine Division Air Officer. He was subsequently assigned to the First Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) where he served as the Force Fires Coordinator for Multi National Forces West, Al Anbar, Iraq, during 2006. He assumed his current duties in July, 2007.

Colonel Abel is a graduate of the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Marine Corps War College. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal.