Rear Adm. Thomas R. “TR” Buchanan grew up in a Navy family. He is a native of Vallejo, California and a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Systems Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Information Technology Management from George Washington University.

RADM Buchanan is currently the Director of Plans and Policy at U.S. Strategic Command. Prior, he served as the Commander of Submarine Group TEN. His operational assignments included command of Submarine Squadron 20, in Kings Bay, Georgia and USS Albany (SSN 753) in Norfolk, Virginia. He also served aboard the USS Asheville (SSN 758) as a division officer; USS Florida (SSBN 728) (GOLD) as engineer officer; and USS Norfolk (SSN 714) as executive officer.

His staff assignments included duty as commandant of midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy; executive assistant to the Director of the Joint Staff; lead shipbuilding program analyst (OPNAV N80); officer-in-charge and operations officer, Commander, Task Force 54 Detachment Bahrain; special assistant to Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command; aide to the Director, Naval Reactors; action officer (OPNAV N513) and an intern on the Joint Staff (J5); and recently as deputy director, Strategy, Plans, and Policy, U.S. Central Command (CCJ5). In 2005 and 2009, he completed the Submarine Command Course.

His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (three awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), as well as many unit and campaign awards. He is a recipient of the 2002 Naval Submarine League VADM Lockwood award for submarine professional excellence.