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Albert Michael “Al” Thomas Jr., 76, of Ocean View, Del., passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on July 1, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. Born in Kingston, Pa., to Albert and Mary Thomas, he graduated in 1966 from Wyoming High School in Pennsylvania. He attended Penn State University before transferring to Wilkes College, from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history and dual minors in political science and education.
Thomas was drafted upon graduation, during the Vietnam War, and joined the U.S. Air Force. After completing language training, he became an interpreter while finishing his four years of service with the National Security Agency.
He was hired as a civilian and became a member of the adjunct faculty, teaching courses in basic and executive leadership, terrorism and crisis management. He became part of a joint law enforcement and intelligence task force on international counter narcotics.
He directed the initial NSA team deployed to the Department of State to provide time-sensitive actionable intelligence. He headed the international terrorism division and chaired an 11-nation counterterrorism senior executive group. Thomas retired from work as a defense intelligence senior executive appointed by Lt. Gen. Michael Hayden and the U.S. Secretary of State.