Major Tommy Simonds is from California. He completed one year at San Diego State University before he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2004 through RSS Temecula. He served as a combat engineer with several units, deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2006 and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2008. 

As a Sergeant, he was selected for the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program and reported to the University of Idaho Naval ROTC unit in 2009. He graduated and commissioned in 2012, subsequently completing The Basic Officer Course and Infantry Officers Course.

From 2013 to 2016, he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander with First Platoon, India Company, and then as a Combined Anti-Armor Team (CAAT-1) Platoon Commander with Weapons Company, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, the “Blue Diamond,” deploying twice.

From 2016 to 2019 he served as the Marine Officer Instructor at University of Wisconsin Naval ROTC in Madison. In the summer of 2017, he augmented Officer Candidates School as Platoon Commander, 5th Platoon, Company L.

In 2020 he was a distinguished graduate of resident Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Virginia. He reported to the Blue Diamond again, this time with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. As Commanding Officer of Company A, he graduated Light Armored Reconnaissance Leaders Course. In October he was reassigned to Company C, the “Charlie Warpigs,” with whom he deployed in 2021 as part of Battalion Landing Team 1/1 on the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

In 2022 he attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, earning a Master’s in Operational Studies.

His service is made possible by his wife Julie, daughter Ryan, and son Becker.

Major Simonds assumed command of Recruiting Station Albany, New York in June 2023.