Thomas Albert Cropper[2] (born June 20, 1959[3]) is an American retired United States Navy rear admiral and academic administrator serving as president of the California State University Maritime Academy. Cropper was appointed on July 1, 2012 with the rank of honorary rear admiral in the U.S. Maritime Service.[4]
Thomas A. Cropper | |
|---|---|
 Rear Admiral Thomas A. Cropper, USN | |
| Born | June 20, 1959 Leonardtown, Maryland[1] |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service | United States Navy United States Maritime Service |
| Years of service | 1981–2012 (USN) 2012–present (USMS) |
| Rank | Rear Admiral (USN) Rear Admiral (USMS) |
| Commands | Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific (2010–2012) California State University, Maritime Academy (2012–2023) |
| Battles / wars | Operation Desert Storm |
| Awards | Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal |
| Alma mater | Iowa State University (BA) University of Tennessee (MA) Catholic University of America (MA) Naval War College (MA) |
Early life and education
editBorn in Maryland, Cropper earned a Bachelor of Arts in engineering operations from Iowa State University in 1981. He also earned a Master of Arts in aviations systems from the University of Tennessee and Master of Arts in world politics from the Catholic University of America. He is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College, earning a third Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies.[5][6]
Navy career
editOperational assignments
editUpon his graduation from Iowa State University, Cropper entered the navy as an ensign. During his thirty-one-year navy career, he served in a variety of command and staff positions. He was designated a naval aviator in 1982, followed by operational assignments with three aircraft carrier-based jet squadrons. He went on to serve as the commanding officer of an F/A-18 strikefighter squadron and as commander of the air wing aboard USS Nimitz. Cropper has embarked on eight extended deployments, on USS America (CV-66), USS Forrestal (CV-59), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Eisenhower (CVN-69), and USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and flew nearly 5,000 hours in 43 different aircraft while logging over 1200 carrier arrested landings.[5]
The PBS television series Carrier was filmed while Cropper commanded the air wing aboard the USS Nimitz, and he appears in several episodes.
Ashore
editThomas Cropper attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, served as a military assistant in the Office of Secretary of Defense William Cohen, and as the Navy Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He also led "Strike University" at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, served as chief of staff, U.S. Third Fleet, and headed the Joint Chiefs of Staff Working Group chartered with the development of national level security strategy.[5]
Flag officer assignments
editAs a flag officer, Cropper served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, leading and managing over 24,000 people in combat operations as deputy commander, U.S. Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command. as well as Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific, where he directed education and at-sea training for navy ships and aviation squadrons deploying to the Western Pacific and the Middle East.[5]
Retirement
editHe retired from the navy at the rank of rear admiral - lower half in 2012 and soon after assumed the duties as the president of the California Maritime Academy (CMA) (which over his tenure, was renamed to California State University, Maritime Academy). He retired from the position on August 1, 2023.[7] At the end of his tenure CMA was bankrupt due to overspending and declining enrollment. In November 2024, the California State University Board of Trustees voted to integrate the university with California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, citing significant financial challenges and a 31% decline in enrollment over the past seven years at Cal Maritime.[8]
Military awards
editRear Admiral Cropper's personal decorations include:
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Dates of rank
editNavy
edit
Ensign: 1981
Lieutenant Junior Grade: 1983
Lieutenant: 1985
Lieutenant Commander: 1990
Commander: 1996
Captain: 2002
Rear Admiral: 2007
Maritime Service
edit
Rear Admiral: July 1, 2012
References
edit- ^ "Meet Cal Maritime's 14th President". Cal Maritime. Vallejo, California: The California State University. Winter 2012. p. 14. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ "Membership" (PDF). Naval Order of the United States. Vol. XXVII, no. 2. Spring 2017. p. 24. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Reserve Officers on the Active-Duty List. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1984. p. 126. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- ^ Rohrs, Sarah (30 May 2012). "Retiring rear admiral named new California Maritime Academy president". Times-Herald News. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d Dan Petty. "Navy.mil Leadership Biographies". navy.mil.
- ^ "Rear Admiral Thomas A. Cropper | CSU". www2.calstate.edu. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
- ^ "Statement on Pending Retirement of Cal Maritime President Thomas A. Cropper". www.csum.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
- ^ "CSUM". csum.edu.
External links
edit
- A Message from President Cropper: Cal Maritime, Office of the President