LT COLONEL THOMAS J VANCE – CLASS OF 1978

LT COLONEL THOMAS J VANCE – CLASS OF 1978

Vance, Thomas J. LTC (Ret) of Portage, Michigan

Experience

Communications Officer – Kalamazoo Community Foundation                                                         

Kalamazoo, Michigan                                        2012 – 2020

Community Relations Manager – Portage Public School District                                

Portage, Michigan                                             2000 - 2012    

Public Relations Account Executive – Biggs Gilmore                                                               Kalamazoo, Michigan                                               1998 – 2000

Senior Public Affairs Specialist – The Upjohn Company                                                            

Kalamazoo, Michigan                                        1989 – 1998

Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Army                1978 – 2000                                                                     

New York, Germany & Fort Knox, KY               1978 – 1988 (Active Duty)  1988 – 2000 (Reserves)

Education

Western Michigan University – M.A.                           Kalamazoo, Michigan                        2005                                      

Major:  U.S. History         Activities and societies: Member of Michigan Academy of Science, Arts & Letters

U.S. Army Staff College – Command and General Staff Officer                            1988                       

Graduate Work in Military Science over three-year period

U.S. Army Defense Information School – Public Affairs Officer                               1984                       

 Graduate work in Public Affairs

Western Michigan University – B.S.                       Kalamazoo, Michigan                        1978                   

Major:  History     Minors:  Journalism and Military Science   

Activities and societies: The Western Herald, Army ROTC

Publications: Frances Bonaparte, A Military Life – An American View of Napoleon II, 2022; Napoleon In America, Essays in Biography & Popular Culture, 2019; Selected Speeches of Elliot Richardson: Political Leadership for Today, 2017; A collection of eight speeches covering three decades. Foreword by Tom Coyne, Vice President for Student Services -- Emeritus, Western Michigan University.  An Oral History of Portage Schools: Cleora Skinner to Pete McFarlane, 2017.