Thomas F. Hall
Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs
Former Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness
Retired Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy
The Honorable Thomas F. Hall, a native of Barnsdall, Oklahoma, was sworn
in as the fourth Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs on October 9
, 2002. A President George W. Bush appointee confirmed by the Senate, he served
as the principal staff assistant to the Secretary of Defense on all matters involving
the 1.2 million members of the Reserve Components of the United States Armed Forces.
He was responsible for overall supervision of Reserve Component affairs of the
Department of Defense. Upon his retirement from Federal Service in April 2009,
he was the longest serving Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs
in the history of the position. He also served for a period of time in President
Obama’s administration as the Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.
Mr. Hall is a retired two-star Rear Admiral having served almost 34 years of
continuous active duty in the United States Navy. He is a distinguished and
decorated Naval Aviator, who served a combat tour in Vietnam. He performed in
numerous high level staff, command, and NATO positions during his career. He
commanded Patrol Squadron EIGHT, Naval Air Station Bermuda, and the Iceland Defense
Force. His final military assignment was as the Commander/Director/Chief of Naval
Reserve. His military awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior
Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, and various other personal and unit decorations.
He was awarded the Order of the Falcon, with Commander’s Cross, by the President of
Iceland in recognition of his accomplishments and service as Commander Iceland Defense
Force. He has been inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame.
In 2000, he was given the International Partnership Award for his service to the
United States and Iceland. In 2003, he received the Naval Reserve Association’s National
Distinguished Service Award. Also in 2003, he was given the National Service Award for
Leadership by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. In 2004, he was given the National
Citizenship Award by the Military Chaplains Association of the United States. In 2005,
he was given the Admiral Jackson Award by the Reserve Officers Association. In 2006,
he was inducted into the Reserve Officers Association’s Minuteman Hall of Fame. Also
in 2006, he was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service
for his outstanding performance as the Chief Negotiator heading an interagency team involved
in delicate bilateral discussions. Upon his retirement in 2009, he was awarded: his second
Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service; the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff’s Distinguished Civilian Service Award; the Commandant of the Coast Guard’s
Distinguished Public Service Award; Chief of the National Guard Bureau’s Distinguished
Service Award; and the second award of the Naval Reserve Association National President’s
Distinguished Service Award.
Mr. Hall attended Oklahoma State University for one year before entering the United States Naval
Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. In 1963, he graduated from the Academy with a bachelor’s degree in
Engineering and was named as one of the top 25 leaders in his class, having commanded both the top
Battalion and Company. In 1971, he received a master’s degree in Public Personnel Management from
George Washington University. He graduated with highest distinction from the Naval War College;
with distinction, from the National War College; and from the National Security Course at Harvard
University. He was selected as a Fellow and served on the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group.
Mr. Hall has served on the Boards of Directors of numerous nonprofit organizations that supported
the needs of our veterans and citizens in general. He served as the Executive Director of the Naval
Reserve Association for six years. The Naval Reserve Association is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit veterans’
organization that represents over 23,000 Naval Reserve officers, members, and their families. Currently,
he is serving as a Senior Advisor to and on the Boards of Directors of a number of corporations.
Mr. Hall is married to the former Barbara Norman of Jacksonville, Florida. They have one son, Thomas David Hall.