Thomas P. Maguire

Thomas P. Maguire
2001 color head and shoulders photo of Major General Thomas P. Maguire in dress uniform
Maguire as adjutant general, c. 2001
Born(1947-06-08)8 June 1947
Mount Vernon, New York, US
Died20 July 2024(2024-07-20) (aged 77)
Sun City Center, Florida, US
Buried
Sarasota National Cemetery
Service
United States Air Force
Service years
1969–2005
Rank
Major General
UnitNew York Air National Guard
Commands137th Military Airlift Squadron
Adjutant General of New York
Wars
Vietnam War
Gulf War
Global War On Terrorism
AwardsAir Force Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross (3)
Complete List
EducationCollege of the Holy Cross
Air Command and Staff College
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Spouse
Deborah Georginne Combs
​
​
(m. 1976⁠–⁠2024)​
Children3

Thomas P. Maguire (8 June 1947 – 20 July 2024) was a career officer in the United States Air Force. A veteran of the Vietnam War and the Gulf War, he served from 1969 to 2005 and attained the rank of major general. A longtime member of the New York Air National Guard, Maguire's commands included the 137th Military Airlift Squadron and the 105th Airlift Wing and his awards included the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and three awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross. From 2001 until his retirement, Maguire served as Adjutant General of New York.

Early life

Thomas Patrick Maguire Jr. was born in Mount Vernon, New York on 8 June 1947, a son of World War II veteran Thomas P. Maguire Sr. (1918–1990) and Florence (Martin) Maguire.[1][2][3] He was raised in Brewster, New York and graduated from St. James the Apostle School in Carmel, New York.[4] Maguire was a 1965 graduate of Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx.[5]

Maguire attended the College of the Holy Cross from 1965 to 1969 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.[6] While in college, Maguire participated in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC).[7] Maguire was a standout cadet and received several scholarships and awards, including the Sons of the American Revolution Medal for exemplary excellence in the AFROTC program.[8][9] At the end of his college career, he was designated a distinguished ROTC graduate and received his commission as a second lieutenant.[10]

Start of career

After receiving his commission, Maguire was an undergraduate pilot training student at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas from July 1969 to July 1970.[11] From July 1970 to August 1970 he was a student in the Survival Training Course at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.[11] Maguire was a student in the Air Liaison Officer/Forward Air Controller Fighter Training Course at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico from August 1970 to November 1970.[11] In November 1970, he attended the Tactical Air Control Support Systems School at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida.[11] From November 1970 to February 1971 he was a student in the Special Operations Training Course for O-2A forward air controller pilots at Hurlburt Field, Florida.[11] He was promoted to first lieutenant in December 1970.[11]

In February 1971, Maguire was a student at the Pacific Air Force Jungle Survival School, which was held at Clark Air Base, Philippines.[11] From February to May 1971, he was assigned as a forward air controller O-2A pilot based at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam.[11] From May to September 1971, he was an O-2A pilot performing forward air controller duty at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam.[11] Maguire served as a forward air controller O2A pilot at Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam from September 1971 to January 1972.[11] From January 1972 to June 1973, Maguire was a squadron T-37 aircraft instructor pilot at Laredo Air Force Base, Texas.[11] He was promoted to captain in June 1972.[11]

Pilot qualifications

Maguire was rated a command pilot and logged more than 5,000 flight hours.[11] The aircraft to which he was assigned during his career included the T-33A, T37-B, O-2A, C131D, and C-5A.[11]

Continued career

From June 1973 to July 1974, Maguire was a reserve officer assigned to Headquarters, Air Reserve Personnel Center in Colorado.[11] In July 1974, he joined the New York Air National Guard as an O2A forward air control/tactical air control fighter qualifier with the 137th Tactical Air Support Squadron in White Plains.[11] From December 1976 to October 1977, he was a tactical air control air liaison officer with the 137th Tactical Air Support Squadron.[11] From October 1977 to September 1978, he was a forward air controller/tactical air control fighter qualifier with the 137th Tactical Air Support Squadron.[11] In 1978, he graduated from the Air Command and Staff College.[11] In March 1978, Maguire was promoted to major.[11] In September 1978, he was assigned as an O2A forward air controller with the 105th Tactical Air Control Support Wing, where he served until July 1979.[11]

From July to December 1979, Maguire was a forward air controller/tactical air controller with the 137th Tactical Air Support Group.[11] He was then posted to duty as a forward air controller with the 137th Tactical Air Support Squadron, where he served until June 1982.[11] From June 1982 to December 1983, Maguire was assigned as air operations officer for special operations and tactical air controller/air liaison officer with the 137th Tactical Air Support Squadron.[11] In August 1982, Maguire received promotion to lieutenant colonel.[11] In December 1983, he was assigned to command the 137th Military Airlift Squadron, and he served in this position until August 1987.[11] From August 1987 to May 1988, he was director of operations for the 105th Military Airlift Group.[11] From May 1988 to September 1991, he again served as commander of the 137th Military Airlift Squadron.[11] Maguire served during the 1990–1991 Gulf War, during which he flew support missions to Southwest Asia.[11] In 1991, he completed the National Security Management Course at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.[11]

Later career

From September 1991 to October 1992, Maguire served as deputy commander for operations with the 105th Military Airlift Group.[11] He was vice commander of the 105th Airlift Group from October 1992 to January 1994.[11] In December 1992, he was promoted to colonel.[11] Maguire commanded the 105th Airlift Wing from January 1994 to August 2001.[11] He was promoted to brigadier general in March 1998.[11] In August 2001, he was appointed to succeed John H. Fenimore V as Adjutant General of New York, and he was promoted to major general in April 2002.[11] He served in this post until October 2005, when he retired and was succeeded by Joseph J. Taluto.[11] Maguire's tenure was marked by the September 11 attacks of 2001, which led to the activation of more than 14,000 New York soldiers and airmen for security and recovery operations.[12] He also oversaw New York's participation in the early years of the Global War on Terrorism, including the mobilization of thousands of military members for the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.[12]

A longtime resident of Walden, New York, in 2010, Maguire moved to Sun City Center, Florida.[12] In 2012, he joined The Roosevelt Group, a strategic consulting and communications firm, as a senior advisor.[13] Maguire died in Sun City Center on 20 July 2024.[12] He was buried at Sarasota National Cemetery.[14] He was survived by his wife Deborah Georginne Combs, to whom he had been married since 1976, and their three children.[12]

Awards and decorations

Among Maguire's awards and decorations were:[11][a]

Dates of rank

Maguire's dates of rank were:[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Maguire–Martin Betrothal Told". The Daily Argus. Mount Vernon, New York. 14 February 1946. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Mr. Stork Presents Today". The Daily Argus. Mount Vernon, New York. 11 June 1947. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Obituaries – Thomas Maguire: retired construction worker". The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. 3 December 1990. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Outstanding Cadet – Brewster". The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. 3 May 1967. p. 31 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Regents Scholarships Go To 40 Putnam Students". The Reporter Dispatch. White Plains, New York. 24 February 1965. pp. 1, 29 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Purple Patcher: The Yearbook of College of the Holy Cross. Worcester, Massachusetts: College of the Holy Cross. 1969. p. 459 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ↑ "Putnam Briefs: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Maguire". The News-Times. Danbury, Connecticut. 5 May 1967. p. 14 – via GenealogyBank.com.
  8. ↑ "AF Study Grant For Maguire". The News-Times. Danbury, Connecticut. 6 July 1967. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Cadets, Midshipmen Feted In Holy Cross Review". Worcester Telegram. Worcester, Massachusetts. 15 May 1969. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Kutschera, P.C. "Pete" (November–December 2001). "From the Flight Deck: Maj. Gen. Thomas P. "Tommy" Maguire Jr". Guard Times. Latham, New York: New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 General Officer Management Office (2007). "Biography, Major General Thomas P. Maguire, Jr". National Guard.mil. Arlington, Virginia: National Guard Bureau. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Obituary, Major General (retired) Thomas P. Maguire Jr". Millspaugh Funeral Home.com. Walden, New York: Millspaugh Funeral Home. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Former New York State Adjutant General Thomas P. Maguire Joins The Roosevelt Group". Roosevelt DC.com. Washington, DC: The Roosevelt Group. 25 April 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Sun City Center Funeral Home (24 July 2024). "Obituary, Thomas P. Maguire Jr". Al Together Funeral.com. Sun City Center, Florida: FPG Intermediate Holdco, LLC. Retrieved 18 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Global War on Terrorism Service Medal". afpc.af.mil. Randolph Air Force Base, Texas: Air Force Personnel Center. 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "National Defense Service Medal". afpc.af.mil. Randolph Air Force Base, Texas: Air Force Personnel Center. 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2026.

Notes

  1. ↑ Maguire's service after the September 11 attacks likely qualified him for additional awards not included in his official biography, including the Global War On Terrorism Service Medal[15] and a third award of the National Defense Service Medal.[16]
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