Originally from Delphi, Indiana, Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Indiana University Bloomington, focusing on the Russian Federation with an emphasis on identity and conflict. An officer in the United States Air Force since 2017, Tommy has been studying the Russian language since 2014 at various institutions, including the Defense Language Institute. His regional experience includes studying at St. Petersburg State University in the fall of 2016, learning Russian in Chisinau in early 2020, and working in Romania in the spring of 2022. At CERES, Tommy aspires to work with the U.S. Department of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, with a focus on Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova.