Mr. Thomas R. Rary III of Birmingham, Alabama is a retired U.S. Air Force Security Forces Officer. Mr Rary holds an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of the Air Force, a BS in Management Communication of Southern Christian University, and a Masters in Social Science from The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina, and an MBA from Auburn University.
Mr. Rary enlisted in the Air Force after High School and served as a Patrolman in the 28th Security Forces Squadron Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, and as a Corrections Officer at the NAVCON Bring Charleston. In July 2006 Mr. Rary was commissioned through OTS and served as Protocol Officer for AETC at Randolph AFB, Texas. Departing Randolph AFB Mr. Returned to Security Forces and served as Flight Commander for the 824th Ground Base Defense Squadron Moody AFB Georgia. Leaving Georgia Mr. Rary then moved to the 39th Security Forces Squadron Incirlik AB, Turkey where he served as the Chief of Logistics before he transitioned to his final assignment at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs where he was the Operations Officer for the 10th Security Forces and the Chief of Plans and Programs for the 10th Air Base Wing.
Mr. Rary deployed multiple times of the course of his career serving in Saudi Arabia (Prince Sultan AB) in 1999 and 2001 and Kuwait (Ali Al Salem AB) in 2000 as a Physical Security Specialist during Operation Southern Watch and Desert Fox. In 1999 Mr. Rary deployed to Balkeshire Turkey (9th Main Jet Base) again as a Physical Security Specialist in support of operation Nobel Anvil. In 2009 Mr. Rary served as Alpha Company Commander for the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Southern Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, in 2010 Mr. Rary served as a Battle Captain for the 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Umm Qasr Iraq during Operation New Dawn. In 2013 Mr. Rary deployed a final time to Qatar (Al Udied AB) where he served as Charlie Flight Commander for the duration of the deployment.
Mr. Rary’s major decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal, Army and Air Force Commendation Medals, Army and Air Force Achievement Medals, Combat Readiness Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Nuclear Deterrence Operation Service Medal.