About James Thomas
At an early age, James Thomas was taught the value of service to his family, community, and country.
He learned that there is no better cause than service above oneself, fighting for and being the voice for those less fortunate, that the sacred values we cherish in this country are worth fighting for and are not guaranteed to the next generation.
It is this reason that James is running for Delegate, to continue serving his community, assisting all Virginians to ensure a better life. To make sure that Virginia is the best place to live and work for this and the next generation.
James grew up in a working-class family in Laurel, Maryland. His mom, born and raised in rural Kentucky, moved to Maryland after graduating high school, determined to make a better life for herself and her family. His father, raised in a single parent household, worked in retail management after graduating high school. Together, they worked hard, struggling at times to provide the opportunities for James that they themselves did not have.
His parents instilled in James a strong work ethic, sense of duty and pride in our country—that anything is possible, and through adversity we grow stronger together, as a family. He witnessed the struggles that came with a down economy and hard times, the loss of jobs and layoffs, and the financial hardships that followed.
James demonstrated leadership as an Eagle Scout, joining the US Army’s Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, selected to Boys State, and became the first one in his family to attend college right out of high school. James attended and graduated from the University of Dayton in Ohio.
With the horrific attacks on September 11th, James immediately felt a call to action. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, taking the core principles he learned growing up, leaving the comfort of college life to protect and defend our country. James served in Iraq, conducting search and recovery operations throughout western Iraq, ensuring that every service member killed in action, returned home to their family. It was the toughest job he had, but no greater honor. An ethos that he and his Marines lived by every day.
After returning from Iraq in 2006, James moved to Virginia where he began his civilian service in the federal government. From working at the Department of Commerce on international trade issues for Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, working policy issues on Capitol Hill countering IEDs in Afghanistan to improving intelligence sharing and dissemination by cutting through red tape and bureaucracy.
As a result of his vast policy experience and service in the Marines, James was appointed to several policy and advisory roles at the Department of Defense for Secretary Jim Mattis and for the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Air Force. As a senior legislative advisor to the Secretary of Defense, James supported efforts that defeated the ISIS caliphate and restoring much needed resources to our men and women in uniform. James achieved vast experience and knowledge of problem solving in the legislative process and how to work with public officials to achieve success with important pieces of legislation.
Today, James works in the private sector in government affairs, and resides in Fairfax Station with his wife, Caroline, and their family.
As the 10th District and Virginia face challenges related to rising crime and drug use, troubles in our schools, providing affordable housing and overcoming the rising costs of living, James will work hard locally and down in Richmond to serve all voters of the 10th.
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