CPT Thomas O'Connell

CPT Tom O'Connell is an instructor in the Department of Physics & Nuclear Engineering at the United States Military Academy (USMA). He serves in the Core Physics program, serving as the assistant course director for PH202. He is a faculty advisor for multiple cadet research groups and serves as an officer in charge for the USMA Combatives/Grappling team.

O'Connell graduated from USMA and commissioned as an engineer officer in 2018. He was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and served in the 326th Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB), 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault!). At 326th BEB, he served as battalion S1, route clearance platoon leader, battalion plans officer, and company executive officer. Following the completion of Engineer Captain's Career Course at Fort Leonard Wood, CPT O'Connell transitioned to Functional Area 52 and became a nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction officer.

O'Connell holds a bachelor's degree in physics from USMA and a master's degree in nuclear engineering from North Carolina State University. His research focused on probabilistic risk assessment, and his thesis was titled "Risk-Informed Airfield Selection and Transportation of Department of Defense Nuclear Microreactors".

He has been married to Christina O'Connell since 2021, and is originally from Braintree, Massachusetts.