Ship & Naval

Brigadier General Thomas M. Murray is currently serving as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota Brigadier General Murray graduated from the University of St. Thomas in 1980 with a B.A. in Quantitative Methods. Commissioned through the PLC Program, he completed The Basic School and Naval Flight Training and was designated a naval aviator in April 1982. After training in HMT-301 he was designated a CH-46E pilot.

In February 1983, Brigadier General Murray joined HMM-165 in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii where he completed three Westpac deployments including operations in Beirut, Lebanon. His billet assignments included Flightline OIC, NATOPS Officer, Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Assistant Operations Officer. In August 1986, he attended the Amphibious Warfare School.

In August 1987, Brigadier General Murray reported to Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, California where he served with HMM-161 completing two Westpac deployments and held positions as Assistant Operations Officer, Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Aircraft Maintenance Officer. In August 1990, he reported to the First Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company at Camp Pendleton where he served as the Operations Officer and as a Brigade Platoon Commander during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM.

In February 1992, Brigadier General Murray served as the Operations Officer at the Marine Corps Air Facility for five months and attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College. Upon graduation, he returned to HMM-161 in September 1993, completing two Westpac deployments including the withdrawal of UN forces from Somalia. During this tour, he served as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Operations Officer and Executive Officer.

In August 1996, Brigadier General Murray reported to the Pentagon for assignment to the Navy Staff in Plans, Policies, and Operations. In August 1998, he reported to the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island earning a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Following school, he transferred to Okinawa, Japan where he served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of HMM-262 from August 1999 through December 2001. Reporting to the Pentagon, he next served on the Joint Staff, J8 as the Branch Chief, Combatant Command Liaison Office.
In October 2003, Brigadier General Murray took command of Marine Aircraft Group 26 and deployed the reinforced MAG to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. Following the change of command in August 2005, he remained at Al Asad as the Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff for 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Forward .

Brigadier General Murray’s previous billet was on the Joint Staff, J8 as the Branch Chief for the Joint Requirements Oversight Council Secretariat.

Brigadier General Murray"s decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Reza & Sintha