Colonel Thomas M. Bedell graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1993 with degrees in English Literature and Sociology, and from the University of Manchester, UK in 1994 with a Master’s in Economic and Social Studies. He then spent two years fighting forest fires with the US Forest Service.
Colonel Bedell completed The Basic School and the Infantry Officer Course in 1997, primary flight training in 1998, jet training in 1999, and AV8B training in 2001. From 2002 to 2005 Colonel Bedell served with VMA-214 “The World Famous Blacksheep” as Logistics Officer, Powerline Officer, and Airframes Officer. He deployed to Al Jaber, Kuwait in 2003 in support of Iraqi Freedom, and to Al Asad, Iraq in 2004 as part of the 11th MEU. After attending the Expeditionary Warfare School he joined VMA-211 “The Wake Island Avengers” from 2006 to 2009 where he served as Quality Assurance Officer, Pilot Training Officer, Weapons and Tactics Instructor, and Maintenance Officer. He deployed with the Avengers to Iraq in 2006, and to Japan in 2009 as part of the 31st MEU.
From 2009 to 2011 Colonel Bedell served as Aide de Camp to the Deputy Commandant for Aviation and as Harrier Requirements Officer. He then attended the Naval War College earning an M.A. in National Strategic Studies. He then completed a Joint tour serving as the Operations Officer for the United States Special Operations Command Wargame Center from 2012-2014.
Colonel Bedell commanded VMR-1, “The Roadrunners”, from 2014 to 2016 followed by a year as the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Current Operations Officer. He attended the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies as a CMC Fellow, earning a Master’s of International Public Policy. He was then assigned to Marine Forces Korea where he served as the Liaison to the 7th Air Force at Osan Air Base, South Korea. He previously served as the Director of the CMC Safety Division before taking the command of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Colonel Bedell has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 14, Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and campaign awards.