Tom Deierlein – CEO, ThunderCat Technology
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Tom Deierlein, the CEO, is a former U.S. Army Major and Operation Iraqi Freedom Vet. A Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, he is now medically retired with a 100% permanent disability rating. He has been involved in the sales, marketing and operations of mission critical applications and emerging technologies since 1993.
Graduating from United States Military Academy, West Point in 1989, Tom spent nearly five years in the military first earning his Airborne Ranger qualification and then onto various leadership positions with the Berlin Brigade. Tom gained extensive leadership and operations experience while leading three different organizations and coordinating activities for over 800 personnel from 4 countries. In late 2005, Tom was recalled to active duty serving as a Civil Affairs Officer in East Baghdad. There, he helped manage over $290 million in reconstruction and economic development projects. In September of 2006, he was shot by a sniper and critically wounded. The bullet shattered his pelvis and the base of his spine. After 8 months of intensive care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the VA Polytrauma Rehab Center in Tampa Florida, Tom returned to the business world in June 2007.
Tom’s call sign while serving in Baghdad was “ThunderCat 6” – hence our name: ThunderCat Technology.
Tom first got involved in the technology field in the mid 90’s with Parametric Technology Corporation working with clients such as IBM and United Technologies. He ended up as worldwide Account Lead for electrical connector giant, AMP. In 1996, he joined internet start up NetGravity. During this time he played a key role in the development and sale of the first fully networked version of NetGravity’s original AdServer system. He also played a critical role creating the original storage and hosting relationship between CompuServe and EMC2. In 2000, Tom joined up with Dynamic Logic, a technology-based research firm that tracks and reports on interactive advertising performance for clients like Oracle, Cisco, Intel, DELL, Microsoft, and Symantec. As their Chief Operating Officer he was instrumental in the growth and development of that company from 7-person start up into clear industry leader.
Tom has also earned a Masters of Science in Systems Management from University of Southern California in 1993 and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business in 2000. Tom is a frequent guest lecturer at NYU and has been quoted and featured in The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, MSNBC.com, and PARADE Magazine.
In Fall of 2006 a foundation was started by Tom and others to assist Iraqi Children. The purpose of this organization is to help needy Iraqi families and children with their most basic living needs including medical care. They raise funds in the US and then use them to arrange for medical treatment and/or purchase critical daily items such as clothes, food, water, school supplies, vitamins, as well as toys, etc. They partner with local organizations, institutions, and people to locate and distribute these goods and services to those in need. All participants are volunteers, 100% of donated funds go to those children and families in need.
Additionally, Tom is a mentor with Enable America. He coaches and supports other severely wounded and disabled Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) soldiers and their families to assist in the transition to the civilian world and workforce.
Interview Air Date: August 18, 2012
