Thomas Willard Wood was a Colonel, USAF (retired), Healthcare Industry Executive (retired). Awarded Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Medal (w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal (w/1 Silver plus 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Air Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (w/1 Silver and 3 Bronze Stars. Presented honorary Royal New Zealand Air Force Navigator wings, 1988.
Background
Thomas Willard Wood was born on January 21, 1939, in Logan, Utah, United States. Son of Elmer Raymond and Leola (Pitkin) Wood of Amalga, Utah. Attended North Cache High School and graduated from Utah State University and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant through AFROTC in 1961. Served on active duty from May 25, 1962, to July 31, 1989. Retired as Colonel.
Education
Bachelor, Utah State University, 1962. Master of Science, Center at Michigan University, 1975. Postgraduate, Industrial College Armed Forces, 1975. Postgraduate, Armed Forces Staff College, 1976.
Career
Commissioned Second lieutenant the United States Air Force, 1962, advanced through grades to colonel, 1983. Chief protocol Headquarters Air Force Logistics Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1972-1975. Chief special project division Headquarters 21st Air Force, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, 1977-1978.
Chief inquiries branch Office Legislation Liaison, The Pentagon, Washington, 1978-1982. Deputy director Directorate Competition Advocacy Ogden Air Logistics Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, 1982-1985. Air attache United States Defense Attache Office, American Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand, 1985-1988.
Dean of New Zealand Military Attache Corps, 1986-1988. Chief protocol, deputy director public, and governmental affairs Headquarters United States Commander-in-Chief Pacific, Camp Smith, Hawaii, 1988-1989. Retired, 1989.
Administrative assistant to vice president marketing Hawaii Medical Service Association, Honolulu, 1989-1991.
Senior account executive client relations Baxter International Inc., San Antonio, 1991-1992. Senior account executive prescription service division Caremark, Inc., 1992-1995. Corporate Account Executive, prescription service division Caremark Inc., 1996-1997.
Senior account executive field operations Caremark Pharmaceutical Services, Medpartners Inc., 1997-1999. Senior accountant manager field operations CaremarkRx Inc., 1999-2000. Senior national accountant manager Caremark Inc., San Antonio, 2000-2002, associate national accountant executive, 2003-2004, strategic accountant executive, 2007-2009, retired.
As a life member of the national Distinguished Flying Cross Society, I was privileged to serve as president of the San Antonio Alamo Chapter (2003-2007). In 2005 the Alamo Chapter had the distinction of being honored as the first chapter in the United States to receive the Al Ciurczak Chapter of the Year Award. That same year our Alamo Chapter was also successful in having Texas become the first State in the Union to issue a special license plate honoring those aviators who have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. As President of the Chapter, I was honored to receive the very first license plate with the number “DFC-1”.
Year Unit
1958-1961 AFROTC Det 860 Utah State University, Logan, Utah
1962-1963 3565th Navigator Training Wing, James Connally AFB, Waco, Texas
1963-1965 86th Air Transport Squadron, Travis AFB< California
1965-1965 Squadron Officer College/Squadron Officer School (SOS), Maxwell AFB, Alabama
1965-1968 60th Military Airlift Wing, Travis AFB, California
1966-1968 86th Military Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, California
1968-1968 4413th Combat Crew Training Squadron,
1968-1969 71st Special Operations Squadron, Na Trang, Vietnam
1969-1970 17th Special Operations Squadron, Tuy Hoa, Vietnam
1970-1971 2849th Air Base Group, Hill AFB, Utah
1971-1973 Sacramento Air Logistics Center (SM-ALC), McClellan,AFB, Sacramento, California
1973-1975 HQ Air Force Logistics Command (HQAFLC), Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio
1975-1976 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Virginia
1976-1978 21st Air Force Headquarters, McGuire, AFB, New Jersey
1976-1978 18th Military Airlift Squadron, McGuire, AFB, New Jersey
1978-1982 Secretary of The Air Force/Legislative Liaison (SAF/LL), The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
1982-1984 Ogden Air Logistics Center (OO-ALC), Hill AFB, Utah
1984-1984 Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Washington, D.C.
1985-1988 US Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand - Defense Attaché Office (DAO),
1985-1988 Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), New Zealand
1986-1988 Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)/No. 40 Squadron, New Zealand
1988-1989 United States Pacific Command (USPACOM)/Commander in Chief of Pacific (CinC Pac)
Aiea, Hawaii
August 1, 1989, Retired from the United States Air Force at Camp Smith, Aiea, Hawaii.
Membership
High Priest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also church organist, pianist, teacher. Music Chairman, High Councilman, Bishopric 1st Counselor and Ward Clerk in the San Antonio 8th, St. Cloud and Castle Hills Wards in the San Antonio Texas North Stake. Member groundbreaking and dedication committee San Antonio Texas Temple, 2002-2005. Organist for the first dedicatory session.
Member Distinguished Flying Cross Society (president Alamo chapter 2003-2008).
Connections
Married Blanche Loila Dowdle, September 11, 1959 (divorced 1970). Children: Dianna Wood Perry, Jeffery Thomas (deceased).
Married Charlene Taulbee, October 5, 1974. Children: Douglas Winston Remington, Angela Christine, Thomas Willard II, Michael Joseph and Matthew David. As of June 1, 2019 they have 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren (expecting another great-grandson in August 2019.