Rear Admiral Thomas Charles Lynch, USN (Ret.)
The Naval Order of the United States has announced that the Admiral of the Navy Thomas Dewey Award recipient for 2025 is Rear Admiral Thomas Charles Lynch, USN (Ret.). Born in Lima, Ohio, he is the son of Rodney and Marie Lynch. He was Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland from 15 June 1991, to 1 August 1994.
RADM Lynch is Executive Chairman of the NewDay USA Foundation. NewDay USA has been a leader in Veteran mortgage lending for more than twenty years. NewDay USA gives servicemen and women across America a different kind of financial experience by understanding their clients and their objectives to help them achieve their goals and not give up. NewDay USA guides clients that enables them to approve loans to Veterans when other lenders say no. Accordingly, NewDay USA was granted automatic authority by the Veterans Administration to make its own credit approvals. NewDay USA has helped more than 100,000 Veteran families secure cash, purchase a home, or lower their mortgage payments.
RADM Lynch graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (B.S.) in 1964 and earned an M.S. from George Washington University in 1971. As a midshipman, he captained the 1963 Navy Cotton Bowl team with teammate Roger Staubach, its Heisman winning Quarterback. He lettered three times and captained the 1963 team. He also participated in boxing. He earned the title of Brigade Heavyweight Boxing Champion in 1962 and 1963 and returned in 1969 to referee as a Lieutenant. He graduated with distinction and received the NAAA Sword and the Cooke Memorial Fund Award. Lynch went on to serve three tours at the Academy from ensign to admiral. He was recognized as a U.S. Naval Academy Distinguished Graduate in 2010.
His decorated 32-year career included Commanding Officer of USS Truet (FF-1089) from 1977 to 1980 and Commander of Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-SIX from 1985 to 1987, as well as Commander of Cruise Destroyer Group TWELVE from 1989 to 1991. He was Commander of the Eisenhower Battle Group during Operation Desert Shield. He was Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from 1991 to 1994 and Director of the Navy Staff at the Pentagon from 1994 until he retired in 1995.
Following that, Lynch became a Senior Vice President for Staubach Company. Lynch has continued to serve as a board member for public, private, and non-profit organizations, including as a Trustee of the Naval Academy Foundation, Chair of the Athletic and Scholarship division of the Foundation. RADM Lynch has played an integral role in the Army-Navy Games on their Committee and as vice chairman of the Philadelphia Sports Congress.
In 2010 he served as a Senior Vice President for Safeguard Scientifics, responsible for operations, mergers and acquisitions and oversight of emerging partnership companies including CompuCom Systems where he became President and COO. Currently, RADM Lynch is Executive Chairman of NewDay USA, a VA home mortgage company serving active service members and military veterans.
In 2012, Lynch was named to the board of directors of Premier Holdings Corporation, an energy services holding company. He is also a member of many boards of private and public corporations, including Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., The Musser Group, Livingston Group, Chrysalis Holdings, and The Staubach Company. He is a trustee of the Naval Academy Foundation, member of the Army-Navy Game Committee, Philadelphia Sports Congress. He was married to the late Kathleen Quinn and has three children.
RADM Lynch was named Co-Chairman of the NewDay USA Foundation upon its creation in 2013.
RADM Lynch announced in November 2022 he would be stepping down as Chairman of the Naval Academy's Athletic & Scholarship Programs following the April meeting. Lynch’s tenure as chairman spanned 20 years and impacted thousands of midshipmen who received an additional year of preparation for the Naval Academy as part of a network of prestigious prep schools. A&SP also raises resources for the Fund for Athletic Excellence, which provides needed operating dollars in support of the Naval Academy’s physical mission for varsity, club, and intramural sports, as well as athletic programs at the Naval Academy Preparatory School. The A&SP Suite in the new Alumni Association and Foundation Center was named in Lynch’s honor. Lynch and A&SP trustees played critical roles in the success of the Called to Serve, Daring to Lead: The Naval Academy Campaigns that raised more than $110 million for Navy athletics.