My name is Thomas Goodman and most of my childhood was spent in Norfolk, VA. My father was a career Naval Officer. My dad retired after 26 years, 22 of which were on sea duty. My mother was a stay-at-home mom. During my youth, I played organized basketball, baseball and football.
Upon graduation from high school, in 1970, I started community college but quickly realized that I could not afford it. My draft number was 91, and I understood I would soon be drafted. Vietnam was going strong, so I joined the US Air Force in March 1971 going to basic training at Lackland Air Force base in Texas.
I was selected for the Accounting and Finance school at Sheppard AFB. I was immediately transferred to Ching Chong Kong (CCK) air base in Taiwan, a B52 base that flew missions in Vietnam. While stationed in Taiwan, my foot was injured and I was medevac’d to Clark AFB in the Philippines. After seven weeks in the hospital, I received an Honorable medical discharge.
Once back in Norfolk, and with assistance from the GI bill, I attended Old Dominion University. I worked my way through college as a night auditor for a hotel chain. My senior year I joined the Norfolk Police Department where I spent six years. I was president of my Academy class and was number one in my class academically.
After one year with the Uniform Division, I went to the Detective Bureau where I worked until I was selected as a Special Agent with NIS, later to become NCIS, where I spent the next 31 years. My career took me all over the world. I spent tours in Norfolk, VA, Manila, RP, Iceland, Italy, Jacksonville, FL, and Camp Lejeune, NC. I did two tours as the Special Agent Afloat aboard the USS Eisenhower (CVN 69).
I have conducted espionage, counter terrorism and major criminal investigations from Tokyo to Tel Aviv. I retired in 2008 as the ASAC at the NCIS Carolina Field office at Camp Lejeune, NC. A podcast of my career can be accessed on Spotify or Google under Reports from the Field, NCIS, Special Agent Thomas Goodman.
I am most proud of my family. I have been married to the love of my life for 38 years and have two wonderful daughters and four grandchildren. Currently we are living on a 34-acre hobby farm outside of Charlotte, NC. We have horses, sheep, chickens, pigs, and two livestock guardian dogs. I will continue this lifestyle, raising organic vegetables and organic meat for family and friends for as long as the good Lord allows me.
My journey with kidney disease began around 2004 when doctors noticed protein in my urine samples. Over the years, it has continually gotten worse. In 2017, my regular doctor referred me to a kidney specialist whose has been treating me for the past 8 years. Currently, my GFR has dropped, and I will be beginning dialysis in the near future.
For medically cleared donors, giving the gift of life through living kidney donation has been proven to be very safe. DOVE will assist all prospective donors throughout the process and make sure they do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses related to the evaluation or surgery. A healthy person can live a normal life with one kidney and save Thomas‘s life with the other!
Your support, whether through spreading the word on social media or considering becoming a donor, can make a profound impact on his life and the life of his family!
Please click on the link below if you would like to learn more OR call (551) 233-1611