CAPT Thomas J. Uhl
Commanding Officer, USS San Antonio (LPD 17)
05 April 2025
Captain Tom Uhl was raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia and later Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering and was designated a Naval Aviator in January 2004. He holds a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University and is a graduate of Naval Nuclear Power School.
Flying the SH-60B and later the MH-60R, Captain Uhl’s operational assignments began with the “Scorpions” of HSL-49 where he deployed in USS Ingraham (FFG 61) assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group ONE in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and counter-piracy operations; he also deployed in USS Princeton (CG 59) assigned to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He joined the “Wolf Pack” of HSM-75 for his Department Head tour, deploying with Carrier Air Wing ELEVEN (CVW-11) aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Princeton (CG 59) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Syria contingency operations in the Red Sea. He served as Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of the “Saberhawks” of HSM-77, deploying throughout the Indo-Pacific with Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW-5) as part of the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and Forward Deployed Naval Forces Japan. HSM-77 earned the 2020 Battle ‘E’ Award and the 2020 Arnold J. Isbell Trophy, and was selected as a 2021 recipient of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award, earning distinction as the “best of the best” Phoenix Award winner. Most recently, he served as Executive Officer of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) where he completed the ship’s planned incremental availability and a full work-up cycle, and deployed to the U.S. SIXTH Fleet area of responsibility.
His shore assignments include Fleet Replacement Squadron flight instructor duty with the “Seahawks” of HSM-41; Helicopter Junior Officer Assignments Officer at Navy Personnel Command; and Deputy Executive Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium.
Captain Uhl has flown more than 2,800 flight hours. He holds various individual, unit, and campaign awards including multiple Secretary of Defense Maintenance and Battle ‘E’ awards earned by shipmates he is honored to have served alongside.