Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Sears serves as the Deputy Commander of the St Louis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His Army career began in 1996 when he received his commission as an Army Reserve Officer from the ROTC program at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. Over the last 26 years, he has served in multiple positions within the Army Reserve and the active Army to include: HHC Commander and Battalion Operations and Intelligence Officer for the 243rd Quartermaster Battalion, Chief of Operations, for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Engineers, U.S. Army Europe, Battalion Executive Officer for the 5th Engineer Battalion and Battalion S3 for the 94th Engineer Battalion in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Brigade Engineer Officer for the 45th Sustainment Brigade (Afghanistan), Battalion Executive Officer for the 1-310 Brigade Engineer Battalion, Brigade S3 Operations Officer, Brigade Executive Officer for the 181th Infantry Brigade, 1st Army, Fort McCoy, Wis.
Sears has deployed to combat zones on three occasions to Afghanistan and Kuwait. He comes to St. Louis from New Orleans, La., where he most recently served as the Deputy Commander for the New Orleans District, USACE.
Sears holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Health and Safety from Murray State University, and a Master of Science Degree in Geological Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology.
Sears’ awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two campaign stars and the NATO Medal - Afghanistan.
Sears is also a graduate of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course, the Joint Engineer Operations Course, and the U. S. Army Command and General Staff College.
A native of Benton, Illinois, he is happily married to Michelle Sears and has three children: Zachary (24), Austin (21), and Hailey (18)