Rear Admiral Cari B. Thomas
Director of Response Policy
United States Coast Guard
Download 
Rear Admiral Thomas assumed her current position as Director of Response Policy (CG-53) in July 2010, where she oversees the development of strategic response doctrine and policy guidance for all Coast Guard forces. These policies encompass seven of the eleven operational maritime missions in the areas of law enforcement, search and rescue, counterterrorism and defense operations, oil spill response, incident management and preparedness, and contingency exercise programs.
A 1984 graduate of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy, Rear Admiral Thomas served in cutters VIGOROUS, VALIANT, and commanded MANITOU. Additionally, other operational assignments included Group-Air Station Atlantic City and as plankowner and Commander, Sector Miami, Response Operations. Highlights of these assignments included Operation Wagonwheel, T/S MEGA BORG fire and oil spill, Operations Able Vigil and Uphold Democracy, Operation Safe Catch, CHALK's aircraft crash, and numerous hurricane responses and national security special events; she earned certification as a Type II Incident Commander in 2006. Rear Admiral Thomas also served in the Enlisted Personnel Division of the Personnel Command, as a Program Reviewer at Headquarters, the Executive Assistant to the Atlantic Area, Fifth District and Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic Commanders and the Atlantic Area Resource Director. Most recently, she was the Commanding Officer, Training Center Cape May, the only enlisted accession source for the Coast Guard. Extending her expertise in leading new Department of Homeland Security response regimes, she served two years as the Chief of Staff to Principal Federal Official (PFO), Northeast Region and as the predesignated Deputy PFO, Florida. Rear Admiral Thomas is a member of Capstone 2010-02, and Joint Maritime Component Commander Course 2011-01.
Rear Admiral Thomas graduated with distinction from the Naval War College with a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies. She also holds a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Troy State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Coast Guard Academy. She served on the Board of Directors for the Academy Alumni Association, and participated in various Coast Guard studies, including Project Kimball, Academy Task Force and as co-lead for the Force Readiness Command design team.
Her awards include five Meritorious Service Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, and four Coast Guard Commendation Medals among many other personal, unit and campaign awards. She earned permanent cutterman status in 1994.
Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)