2024 Hall of Fame Recipient CAPT Thomas Hoffmann, USN (Ret.)
“If not for my wife and the Navy, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
When he graduated from Festus High School in 1978, Hoffmann wasn’t initially considering a military career. He attended college intermittently until he enlisted in the Navy in 1982. He started as an avionics electronics technician working on Naval aircraft weapon systems on shore and at sea. However, the Navy provided him with numerous opportunities to advance, which he seized. By continuing his education, CAPT Hoffmann advanced in the Navy being promoted 10 times and began taking on greater responsibilities with each assignment.
These assignments took him all over the world, helping to apprehend some of the most dangerous individuals threatening the United States. From top-secret missions and NATO exercises to seizing 16 metric tons of cocaine from the Caribbean in a single week, Hoffmann has made a lasting impact on the safety and security we enjoy today.
He has also left a significant mark on the Navy for years to come. He mentored more than one hundred junior military personnel throughout his career, stressing the importance of education and self-improvement with each one. “If opportunities knock, take them,” he advises. The Navy awarded CAPT Hoffmann the Kurt Juengling Award for Leadership and Mentorship in recognition of his outstanding work with others.
During his 37 years in the Navy, CAPT Hoffmann transitioned back and forth between active duty and reserve status multiple times, each time accepting his new role because his country needed him. When not in uniform, Hoffmann worked as an Engineer for Boeing and a Program Manager for Lockheed Martin. It takes a strong family to make it work. Hoffmann credits his wife of 40 years for being the glue that kept the family together. “I attribute my achievements to two major sources: 1) my wife of 40 years and 2) the United States Navy. My wife provided guidance and support, and the Navy provided opportunities. Hard work and perseverance are key.”
Now retired, CAPT Hoffmann views his education as the path to his success. He holds a BS in Engineering, MS in Program Management and an MS in International Affairs. “The years I spent at Festus High School are some of my fondest memories. From my english, history, math teachers, band instructors and coaches, each one had a profound and lasting impact on the paths I needed to take for success. I set goals, both life and career, and worked to achieve them. Some of the best advice I ever received was from a former Executive Officer: ‘Always take the hard jobs.’ By taking on challenging tasks, you learn your capabilities and stretch your limits.”
CAPT Hoffmann has received numerous awards from the Navy, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (three times), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Commendation Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal (five times), the Navy Achievement Medal (three times), and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal for Heroics. Now, he can add another accolade to his mantel: being the 31st member of the Festus R-VI Hall of Fame. “I’ve been very fortunate. I don’t think you can find these opportunities anywhere else in the world.”