Thomas Lanier

Served in roles of increasing responsibility to include Force Reconnaissance Team Leader, Chief Instructor for the Marine Corps Combatant Dive Detachment, and Operations Chief for a 135-person Force Recon Company. Across these assignments, I led complex training and operational programs, mentored elite personnel, integrated advanced technologies, and supported mission-critical operations across joint-service and interagency environments. I directed long-range reconnaissance, urban surveillance, precision fires integration, and military freefall and dive operations during multiple deployments, leading teams in dynamic and high-pressure environments. As Chief Instructor for the Marine Corps Combatant Dive Detachment, I managed all aspects of specialized dive training and oversaw the qualification of more than 200 divers across the Marine Corps, Navy, and AFSOC. In this role, I shaped curriculum, enforced stringent safety standards, and advised senior leadership on modernization and capability development for future dive operations. As Operations Chief for 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company, I oversaw operational readiness, training plans, and deployment preparation for a Force Recon unit consisting of 60 Reconnaissance Marines and more than 135 total personnel. I served as the senior enlisted advisor to the Commanding Officer, guiding organizational priorities, risk management, and resource allocation to maintain a high-performing operational culture. This body of work reflects more than two decades of leadership, operational excellence, and technical proficiency, built in some of the most demanding environments in the U.S. Armed Forces.

I led regional security and intelligence-support operations with a focus on national-level missions in dynamic and high-threat environments. My work centered on low-profile operations including TST, CTR, TTL, and multi-agency surveillance and collection. I collaborated directly with analytical teams, JSOC components, TOPIs, and HUMINT-enabled Technical Operations to ensure seamless planning, execution, and integration across operational and analytical elements. As team medic (EMT), I provided advanced medical support, whole blood transfusions, and austere-environment trauma care during critical missions. Key contributions include: • Planning and executing sensitive, low-visibility operations • Integrating multi-agency intelligence and operational elements • Enhancing data collection, aggregation, and mission support • Providing advanced trauma care in austere environments