Major General (Vermont) Thomas E. Drew (born August 8, 1950) was the adjutant general of the State of Vermont. In this post he served as the senior uniformed military officer in the state, and was responsible for the organization, training and equipping of the 4,000 members of the Vermont Army and Air National Guard. As adjutant general, he also served as inspector general, quartermaster general and head of the State Military Department, including veterans affairs.
Biography Thomas Edwin Drew was born in Proctor, Vermont, on August 8, 1950.Vermont Birth Records, 1909-2008, entry for Thomas Edwin Drew, accessed August 3, 2012 He was raised in Florence, attended school in Florence, Pittsford and Brandon and graduated from the University of Vermont in 1972.Vermont Secretary of State, Vermont Legislative Directory , 2009, page 364
Military career Drew received his commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army through UVM's Reserve Officers' Training Corps. After serving on active duty with the 9th Infantry Division until 1977, he joined the Vermont National Guard and became a member of the Active Guard and Reserve Program. He retired as a colonel in 2001. Drew's service included command of: Company A, 2nd Battalion, 172nd Armor (1983 to 1985); 1st Battalion, 172nd Armor (1992 to 1995); and the 86th Armored Brigade (1997 to 2000).Vermont National Guard, Biographical sketch, Thomas E. Drew, accessed August 3, 2012
Civilian career Upon retirement, Drew served as executive director of Old Homestead Community Center, a Castleton, Vermont nonprofit that provides essential services to seniors and children. After four years in this role, he became executive director of the Addison County branch of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).Vermont Secretary of State, Legislative Directory , 2011, page 338
Subsequent military career In 2006, Drew returned to military service as deputy adjutant general with a state commission as a brigadier general.Vermont National Guard Public Affairs, From the Deputy Adjutant General, Green Mountain Guard magazine, August, 2006, page 2 Drew served as deputy adjutant general until 2009, when he was voluntarily recalled to active duty as a colonel.Vermont National Guard Public Affairs, From the Deputy Adjutant General, Green Mountain Guard magazine, October, 2009, page 2Keith McGilvery, Meet the New Man in Charge of the Vt National Guard , WCAX-TV, August 3, 2012 He deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom as deputy commander of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain).Joanna Fox, Daily Afghan-Iraq Update/11-27, Troop Scoop blog, November 27, 2010C. MacGibbon, New Zealand Defence Force, Tribute to Lieutenant Tim O’Donnell, DSD , The Bugle deployment newsletter, October, 2010, page 10 During the deployment Drew reached age 60, the mandatory age for retirement from the military, but remained in Afghanistan and continued to serve.Vermont National Guard, Biographical sketch Upon redeploying from Afghanistan Drew returned to the military's Retired Reserve and resumed his state duties as deputy adjutant general.Vermont National Guard, Biographical sketch
In 2012 Michael Dubie was appointed as deputy commander of United States Northern Command.Matt Sutkoski, , Burlington Free Press, August 3, 2012 Upon Dubie's August 3, 2012, resignation as Vermont's adjutant general to assume his new duties, Drew succeeded him as adjutant general.Chittenden Community Television, New Vermont Adjutant General, Thomas E. Drew, August 3, 2012 Drew was subsequently promoted to major general (Vermont), and served out the remainder of Dubie's term.
Drew was not a candidate for a full term in 2013. On February 21, 2013, the Vermont General Assembly elected Steven A. Cray as Drew's successor.Kirk Carapezza, Vermont Public Radio, Longtime General Elected to Lead Vermont National Guard, February 21, 2013 (In Vermont, the adjutant general is elected for a two-year term in secret balloting by a combined meeting of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont State Senate. At the time, elections took place in February of each odd-numbered year.)Vermont Emergency Management Agency, Annex O, Vermont Emergency Management Plan, 2011, page 1 Cray took over from Drew in a ceremony on March 1, 2013, and Drew retired.Sam Hemingway, Burlington Free Press, Cray takes helm of Vermont Guard in ceremony at Camp Johnson , March 1, 2013
Education University of Vermont, Bachelor of Science in History, 1972, Burlington, Vermont U.S. Army Intelligence Center and School, Intelligence Officer Basic Course, 1973, Fort Huachuca, Arizona United States Army Armor School, Armor Officer Advanced Course, 1984, Fort Knox, Kentucky United States Army Command and General Staff College, Command and General Staff Officer Course, 1988, Fort Leavenworth, KansasVermont National Guard, Biographical sketch
Awards and decorations Expert Marksmanship Badge with Rifle and Pistol bars 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Combat Service Identification Badge 172nd Cavalry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia Legion of MeritBronze Star MedalMeritorious Service Medal (5)Army Commendation Medal (2)Army Achievement MedalArmy Reserve Component Achievement Medal (5)National Defense Service Medal (3)Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one campaign starGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalArmed Forces Reserve Medal with M device for MobilizationArmy Service RibbonArmy Overseas Service RibbonArmy Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (2)NATO MedalVermont Distinguished Service MedalVermont Medal of MeritVermont Commendation MedalVermont Outstanding Unit AwardVermont Service Ribbon (3)Vermont Duty Ribbon (5)Vermont State Special Duty RibbonAuthor's review of Drew's uniform in photos and video of Transfer of Authority ceremony, August 3, 2012
Effective Dates of Promotions + Promotions Insignia Rank DateMajor General (Vermont)August 13, 2012Brigadier General (Vermont)April 2, 2006ColonelSeptember 14, 1998 Lieutenant ColonelAugust 18, 1992MajorOctober 23, 1985 CaptainMay 28, 1977 First LieutenantMay 28, 1975 Second LieutenantJanuary 26, 1973Vermont National Guard, Biographical sketch
Other achievements Order of St. George Bronze Medallion, U.S. Cavalry & Armor Association, 1995 Order of St. George Silver Medallion, 2000Vermont National Guard, Biographical sketch
References