A native of Savannah, Ga., and a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, Captain Tom Parker was commissioned an ensign in January 1976 after completing Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) in Pensacola, Fla. After completing VT-10 in Pensacola, he was then assigned to RVAW-120 in Norfolk, Va., to fly the E-2C Hawkeye. He was designated a naval flight officer in February 1977. He reported to VAW-123 in July 1977 and served in both maintenance and operations departments while deployed on board USS Saratoga (CV 60).

After completing an instructor tour at RVAW-120 in Norfolk, he was assigned to the staff of Cruiser Destroyer Squadron 8 in Norfolk as the AAW officer and force tactical action officer (TAO) in June 1983, taking part in the liberation of Grenada and the capture of the Achille Lauro hijackers. In November 1985, Capt. Parker reported to the staff of Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, Va., as the Carrier Combat Information Center (CDC) training officer. During this tour he earned a master's degree in international studies from Old Dominion University.

In August 1988, Capt. Parker joined the Fightin' Bitin' Steeljaws of VAW-122 in USS Forrestal (CV 59), serving as admin, operations and maintenance officers. In October 1990, he reported as executive officer to the Bear Aces of VAW-124 assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and took part in Operation Desert Storm, assuming duties of commanding officer in April 1992. Selected for a Federal Executive Fellowship, Capt. Parker was assigned to the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif., from July 1993 to August 1994.

Captain Parker returned to Norfolk to serve as the operations officer on board USS America (CV 66) until October 1995, taking part in combat operations in the Balkans. He reported next to Washington, D.C., serving as the tactical aircraft analyst in the Secretary of the Navy's Office of Program Appraisal (OPA) until selected for major command. Reporting to USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) in Sasebo, Japan, as executive officer in August 1998, he assumed command of Belleau Wood in April 1999. Belleau Wood was awarded the Marjorie Sterritt Trophy as the best ship in the Pacific Fleet during his tenure in command. After successful completion of the Navy's largest and most successful hull swap to date, Capt. Parker assumed command of USS Essex (LHD 2) in Sasebo, Japan, in July 2000.

Next assigned to United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) in Colorado Springs, Colo., Capt. Parker served as Delta Crew command director assigned to Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center (CMOC), and as the vice director for plans (J5V) at HQ, USSPACECOM at Peterson AFB.

In February 2003, Capt. Parker reported to USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), operating from Yokosuka, Japan, to assume duties as Commanding Officer. Under his tenure, Kitty Hawk received a new and well-received nickname – the "Battle Cat." The ship served with honors during Operation Iraqi Freedom, completed an extensive dry-dock period, and successfully completed a series of under way periods and inspections with superb results, including INSURV. The Battle Cat's crew morale and ship reputation in Japan skyrocketed with Capt. Parker.

Captain Parker detached Kitty Hawk in June 2005 en route to his new assignment at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado. His length of tenure makes him the ship's second longest serving Kitty Hawk CO.

Captain Parker has logged more than 3,500 hours and 650 arrested landings in the E-2C Hawkeye. Capt. Parker's decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Strike/Flight Air Medal (two Awards), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards, one with combat "V"), and various unit citations, campaign medals and service ribbons.