Leadership

Lieutenant General Thomas S. Vandal
Commanding General, Eighth Army

Chief of Staff, United Nations Command,
ROK – US Combined Forces Command,
United States Forces Korea

A native of Rhode Island, Lieutenant General Thomas S. Vandal graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1982 where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery. His military education includes the Field Artillery Officer's Basic and Advance Courses, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff Officer's Course, and the National War College.

Lieutenant General Vandal was awarded a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University in 1986 and a Master of Science in National Security Studies from the National War College in 2003. Lieutenant General Vandal's initial assignment was with the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill Oklahoma, where he served in the 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery as the B Battery Fire Direction Officer, Executive Officer, and Battalion FDO. Upon completion of the Field Artillery Advance Course in 1986, Lieutenant General Vandal was assigned to Baumholder, Germany where he served as the Battalion Plans Officer and B Battery Commander in the 4th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, 8th ID (M). After Command and General Staff College, Lieutenant General Vandal served in the 2nd Battalion 82nd Field Artillery 1st Cavalry Division as the Brigade Fire Support Officer and Battalion S-3. He also served as S-3 and later as the Executive Officer for the 1st Cavalry Division Artillery. Lieutenant General Vandal commanded the 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery, 3rd BCT, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Lewis, Washington, and the 75th Field Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he deployed to Iraq in support of the 1st Cavalry Division from 2004-2005. After Brigade Command, Lieutenant General Vandal served as the Commander of the Operations Group at the Joint Multi-National Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany for three years. From June 2008 to November 2010, he was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division where he served as the Deputy Commanding General (S) for the Marne Division. While assigned to the 3rd ID, Lieutenant General Vandal deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn in Iraq as the DCG for US Division-North. Lieutenant General Vandal served as the HQDA Director of Operations, Mobilization and Readiness (G33) from October 2011 – May 2013. From June 2013 – April 2015 Lieutenant General Vandal served as Commanding General, 2d Infantry Division, Eighth United States Army, Republic of Korea. Lieutenant General Vandal recently completed his duties as the Assistant Chief of Staff, C-3/J-3, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea.

Lieutenant General Vandal's other assignments include: 48th Commandant of the U.S. Army Field Artillery School, Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of New Hampshire, G-3 XO for III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas, G-3 Training Officer for I Corps, Fort Lewis, Washington, and Plans Officer for the J-39, Joint Chiefs of Staff at the National Military Command Center.

Lieutenant General Vandal's badges include the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Army and Joint Staff Badges. His awards include the Distinguished Service Medal (2 OLC), Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), and the Army Achievement Medal (4 OLC).

Lieutenant General Vandal and his wife, Doreen, have been married for over 32 years and have three sons proudly serving in the military: Nicholas (Capt, USMC); Eric (CPT, USA), and Stephen (LTJG, USN).