Command Senior Chief Larry “Mizell” Thomas is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He graduated from Edison High School in June 2001 and enlisted in the United States Navy, attending basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, in December 2001.
He completed Master-at-Arms “A” School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in February 2002 and reported to his first duty station at Naval Air Station Sigonella Security Detachment, Sicily, Italy, in May 2002. Over the course of his career, he has served in a wide array of challenging assignments, including Naval Support Activity Bahrain Security Detachment, Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion, Guantanamo Bay, Naval Station Mayport Security Detachment, USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), Afloat Training Group Western Pacific, Naval Air Station Lemoore Security Detachment, and Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa Security Detachment.
His operational experience spans the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility, supporting multiple global missions.
In 2025, he was selected for lateral conversion to the Command Senior Chief/Master Chief program. His first Command Senior Enlisted Leader assignment is 3rd Dental Battalion in Okinawa, Japan.
Command Senior Chief Thomas is a graduate of the Navy Senior Enlisted Academy (Class 247, Gray Group) and CMC/COB Course Class 25080. His civilian education includes an Associate of Arts in Homeland Security from Coastline Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science, and a Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University.
His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), and various unit and campaign awards. He is qualified to wear both the Enlisted Aviation Warfare (AW) Specialist and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (SW) insignias and holds Master Training Specialist and Afloat Training Specialist designations.