On Sunday morning June 8, 2003 at 10:00 am, Colonel Thomas W. Simpson of Hamilton Square, New Jersey will officially assume command of the Army National Guard’s Training & Training Technology Battle Lab (T3BL) at Fort Dix. Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey will officiate at the traditional military ceremony. Colonel Charles Ragucci will relinquish command.

The colonel is a Vietnam combat veteran having served 4 years with the United States Marine Corps. He has been a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard since 1981. Prior to accepting command of the T3BL, Col. Simpson was on a one-year tour at the Pentagon assigned to the Army Operations Center with the Department of the Army.

The T3BL is the only-one-of-its-kind, 122,000 square foot, state-of-the-art, high technology, computer simulation training facility in the country. Originally dedicated in 1987 as the first of 5 Regional Training Centers, the T3BL provides military personnel from National Guard, Reserve, and Active military the highest quality simulated combat training experience possible.

Col. Simpson has received numerous military awards including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry (w/ Frame & Palm), Vietnam Campaign Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation Ribbon (USMC), Army Superior Service Unit Award, Order of Saint Barbara Field Artillery Award, and the US Army Staff Identification badge.

His civilian education includes an Associates degree in accounting from Mercer County Community College, Bachelors Degree in Accounting from The College of New Jersey, and a Masters in Public Administration from Shippensburg University.

He and his wife Susan have two married children: daughter Kimberly and son Thomas.