Sergeant Major Alan E. Thomas, Jr. is the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Transatlantic Expeditionary District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is a native of Fishers, Indiana. He joined the U.S. Army in June of 2001 receiving his one station unit training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to become and Army Combat Engineer.
Thomas attended both the 138th Regional Training Institute (2007) to become an Army Infantryman and the 147th Regional Training Institute (2012) to become an Army Horizontal
Construction Engineer.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude (4.0 GPA) and was elected to five academic honor societies.
Some of SGM Thomas’ previous assignments include: Command Sgt. Maj. 81st Troop Command (Direct Reporting Units Battalion and Military Police Battalion and G3 Operations SGM); Regimental Operations NCO 138th Regiment; First Sergeant, HHC 113th EN BN; Task Force Senior Operations NCO, Task Force Ironman C2CRE-B; Battalion Operations NCOIC, Slovak Shield 2016, Bratislava; Battalion Operations NCO, HHC 113th EN BN.
He's also held several assignments in the CENTCOM area of responsibility to include; Battalion Operations NCO, 528 EN BN, Kuwait; Readiness NCO, 1313th EN CO, Kuwait; Platoon Sergeant 1st PLT, A Co 2-151 INF, Afghanistan; Squad Leader IED Security Team, Iraq; Q-West Airfield Detention Center NCOIC and Iraqi Drill Sergeant for Basic Training and PLDC, 113th Engineer BN, Iraq.
Highlights of his military education include Sergeants Major Academy; Maneuver Tactics Foundation Course; Anti-Terrorism Officer Basic Couse; DoD Defense Support of Civil Authorities Level II/III; Physical Security Officer; Battle Staff NCO Course; Environmental Officer Course; Operations Security Level II Course.
SGM Thomas was recognized by Stars and Stripes as the 2024 National Black Engineer of the Year (Senior Enlisted) and in 2017 was named the American Legion Department Indiana Military Person of the Year (State Winner).
Some of his career awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal (1 Silver Loop), Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (1 OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/ 2 Campaign Stars), Iraqi Campaign Medal (w/ 2 Campaign Stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, GWOT Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (W/ “M” Device & Silver Hour Glass), NCO Professional Development Ribbon (5), Valorous Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Action Badge, 2016 Bronze de Fleury Medal.