Charles Thomas (Secretary of the Navy)

Charles Thomas (born December 29, 1903, Independence, Missouri; died February 15, 1982, Los Angeles, California) served as the 48th United States Secretary of the Navy from 1954 to 1957 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Thomas received a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1924. Prior to his government service, he had a successful business career in finance. He was a vice president and director of the Foreman & Clark Manufacturing Company and later became president of the Irvine Company, a large land development firm in California.

Thomas was appointed Assistant Secretary of Defense (Supply and Logistics) in 1953 before being nominated as Secretary of the Navy in 1954. As Secretary of the Navy, he oversaw a period of modernization and technological advancement within the Navy, including the development of nuclear-powered submarines. He also faced challenges related to budget constraints and maintaining naval readiness during the Cold War.

After leaving office in 1957, Thomas returned to the private sector. He remained active in business and philanthropic endeavors until his death in 1982.