Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Thomas B. Corbett is a 30-year U.S. Army Special Forces veteran with service in the 1st, 5th, 7th and 10th Special Forces Groups and 19 years with Special Mission Units. Throughout his military career, he was involved in the planning and conduct of special operations, working closely with allies, the Intelligence Community and Interagency partners.
As a Special Forces noncommissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Corbett served tours with MACV SOG in the Republic of Vietnam, serving as a Recon team member and team leader, and with the 1st, 7th, and 10th Special Forces Groups (Airborne) as a Communications Sergeant. He served in leadership positions at the team, troop, squadron/battalion and brigade levels and culminated his military career as the Command Sergeant Major of 3rd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (A) and of an Army SMU. Staff assignments included duty as a Senior Intelligence Analyst, Operations Sergeant Major, and the Sergeant Major for a directorate responsible for training evaluations, doctrine development, operations research, and Research Development Test & Evaluation of equipment and technology in support of sensitive mission requirements. Additionally, Command Sgt. Maj. Corbett served as a senior instructor, responsible for training students during a unique six-month, high-risk training program.
In addition to his Vietnam service, Command Sgt. Maj. Corbett deployed to multiple high threat areas in support of national objectives and participated in Operations Eagle Claw, Urgent Fury, Just Cause, Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Gothic Serpent.
Following his retirement from active duty, Command Sgt. Maj. Corbett supported the special operations community as a defense contractor, supporting organizations that included the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the U.S. Special Operations Command and its Joint Service and Theater Components, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with “V” device (2nd award), Purple Heart Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Meritorious Service Medal (2nd award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2nd award), Army Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Pathfinder Badge, SCUBA Diver Badge, Special Forces Tab and Ranger Tab.
Command Sgt. Maj. Corbett attended Campbell University and is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy, where he was selected as a Distinguished Graduate. He is the recipient of the National Defense Industrial Association Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Division DeProspero Lifetime Achievement Award. Command Sgt. Maj. Corbett is married to the former Nancy Lanza and they have a son, Michael, who is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Western Ontario.