Thomas J. Buda joined the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in August 2006 to manage the DOD distinguished visitors program and coordinate DOD contacts with the UN. Thomas is currently a Master at Arms (MA) 1st Class specializing in Anti-terrorism and Force Protection and was most recently assigned to Submarine Group 10 Force Protection Detachment 2 (SUBGRU 10 FP Det. 2). SUBGRU 10’s primary mission is to provide security for fleet ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and, most recently, the newly converted guided missile subs (SSGN). Thomas worked as a team leader on missions both here and abroad and has recently served as acting Training Officer before volunteering for active duty and subsequently joining the Mission. Previously, Thomas served with the New York City Police Department as a Detective for more than 20 years.

While assigned to SUBGRU 10, Thomas twice deployed to Bahrain acting as Command Investigator and conducting criminal and counter-terrorism investigations. Thomas also provided training for active duty security detachment personnel, enabling them to sign off on all investigation related job qualification requirements (JQRs), resulting in an ability to expand the short-staffed Command Investigations Unit. In addition, Thomas was stationed in Rota Spain where he worked in Command Investigations and performed surveillance assignments with NCIS. He received a letter of commendation and award from Admiral Eastwood, NAVCENT 5th fleet Commander, for a successful operation involving counter-terrorism. On numerous occasions, Thomas worked as Security Watch Officer OIC on real world SSN, SSBN and SSGN submarine security missions on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as well as Puerto Rico. He deployed several times as Operations Leading Petty Officer (LPO) for Panama Canal transits of US submarines where they are most vulnerable, especially in the post September 11th environment, and has received commendations for those successful operations. Thomas is a qualified expert in small arms and is qualified on most crew-served weapons, including M-60s. One of Thomas many collateral duties is a firearms Range Line Coach assisting other members in becoming as proficient. He is also a qualified small Rhib boat Coxswain.

Thomas achieved the rank of Second Grade Detective before his retirement from the NYPD in 2005. His assignments included serving on the FBI NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), where he worked with National Security, Military, and federal and state law enforcement Agencies, and the FBI New York Office Hazardous Material Response team. Thomas also acted as a lead investigator on the September 11th and Anthrax attacks, responded to Yemen after the USS Cole bombing, and was designated as one of two of the FBI New York Office Special Events Coordinators responsible during UN General assemblies, the Republican National Convention, Special Session of Congress in NYC, and the World Economic Forum. In addition, Thomas was a member of teams investigating Al Qaeda, Hamas, and other domestic and International terrorist groups, assigned to the FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction/Infrastructure Protection group, and appointed to conduct detainee interrogations in Guantanamo Bay. Prior to these assignments, he was part of the FBI NYPD Joint Bank Robbery Task Force for six years, the 75th Precinct Detective Squad, Midtown North Detective Squad and the Organized Crime Control Bureau Narcotics division investigating armed bank robberies, homicides, kidnappings, Asian gang activity (alien smuggling), assaults, armored car robberies, bank burglaries, extortion and organized crime. Among many of his collateral duties at JTTF, Thomas provided training to hundreds of FBI academy graduates in the art of Interview and Interrogation while assigned to the FBI New York Office. In addition to his NYPD career, Thomas is a licensed Private Investigator and security consultant.

Thomas attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice.