Today's Featured Biography

 
Col. Thomas Moe

Colonel Tom Moe (USAF retired) graduated from Capital University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and German. While in college, Moe served an enlisted tour in the Naval Reserve. A distinguished AFROTC graduate, he was commissioned in the regular Air Force. In 1967, he entered advanced training in the F-4 aircraft being assigned to combat duty in Danang, Vietnam in the 366th Fighter Wing. He flew 85 combat missions including 60 over North Vietnam.
In 1968 Moe's F-4 Phantom was forced down by a weapon malfunction deep in enemy territory. After evading capture for three days, he was eventually captured and held as a POW for over five years until his release during Operation Homecoming in 1973.
Following his repatriation, Moe attended the University of Notre Dame earning a Master of Arts Degree in Government and a Soviet and East European Area Studies Certificate. He then returned to flying fighters including the F-4, F-16 and checked out in the Navy�s F/A-18. His last assignment was as professor and Department Chair of the Aerospace Studies Department at the University of Notre Dame. In 1995 he retired after 30 years in the Air Force having served in various command positions.
After retirement, Moe was appointed Military Studies Fellow at the Kroc Peace Institute at the University of Notre Dame and later served as director of the Ohio Troops to Teachers program for the Ohio Department of Education. In 2001 he was awarded the Rev. William Corby Award by the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association for distinguished military service and also inducted into the AFROTC Detachment 225 Hall of Fame at Notre Dame. Moe has been an active member in the community in Lancaster, Ohio, serving as director of the Fairfield County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and volunteering for numerous service organizations. He is a life member of the VFW (Lancaster Post 1380), AMVETS (Lancaster Post 1985) and the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. He is also a Master Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite. Moe was chosen by Senator John McCain to chair "Ohio Veterans for McCain" during the 2008 presidential race. In recognition of his years of community service, he was inducted on November 6, 2009 by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. In April, 2010 Moe was awarded the DAR Medal of Honor by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and also Capital University�s Alumni Distinguished Service Award. He was also inducted into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame for Valor. In August, 2010 Tom had the opportunity to donate a kidney to his daughter who had been suffering from polycystic kidney disease. In January 2011 Tom was appointed to the cabinet of Ohio Governor John Kasich as Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. He was later appointed by House Speaker John Boehner as a Commissioner to the WWI Centennial Commission. In 2015 Tom was inducted into the Wakefield Hall of Fame and in 2017 was made a 33 degree Mason. In 2024 he received the Scottish Rite "Gourgas Medal" for his years of public service. He is currently a spokesman for the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio. Tom is married to the former Chris Hayes of Alexandria VA. This year, 2025, they celebrate their 60th anniversary. Tom and Chris have three wonderful children and six great grandchildren. Tom's hobbies include genealogy and restoring old toy trains.

VIEW ALL BIOGRAPHIES