Mr. Tom French has served in or worked as a civilian for the US Navy for 50 years. As a Vietnam War veteran who enlisted in 1968, he has spent most of his career working with the Ship Antisubmarine Warfare Readiness / Effectiveness Measuring (SHAREM) program both in and out of uniform. A SHAREM is an exercise that measures how well surface ships and aircraft can detect and track submarines. Established by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in 1969, SHAREM conducts site-and threat-specific exercises to gather data, identify tactical problems, and produce tactical guidance/recommendations.

Mr. French first started with the SHAREM program as the Assistant Director of SHAREM Logistics while still in uniform in 1983. He provided in-depth knowledge of passive acoustics, Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) operations and procedures, and Mission Planning and Analysis (MPA) at an array of processing centers, MPA shore facilities, and aboard submarines. He maintained, repaired, and installed data collation equipment aboard surface ships.

After his retirement in 1991, Mr. French worked a civilian contractor as Director of Automated Data Collection Equipment (ADCE) for SHAREM Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) exercises. Special equipment and interfaces were required, leading him to design and fabricate these interfaces and housing to fit the equipment used on all types of ships. Mr. French joined the THOR family in 2013 as SHAREM observer / ADCE technician / data collection analyst. He is currently a SHAREM shipboard observer, responsible for training new observers in data collection and the installation and operation of data collection equipment.

When asked about what changes he witnessed during his time at SHAREM, he said, “The biggest change is the advancement of technology. For example, years ago when boarding a ship with data collection equipment, I would drag several heavy suitcases with me. Today all my gear is contained in one backpack.”

Mr. French’s experience and knowledge are a rarity. THOR is proud to have Mr. French training the next generation of professionals and as a THOR family member.