Colonel (Retired) Tom Plunkett has served as the Chief Deputy, Clerk of Court for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit since September 27, 2010. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Louisiana State University and later was awarded a Master of Science in Health Care Administration and a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies. Prior to joining the judiciary, Tom served for thirty years in the United States Army, including combat tours in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.