 Profile
| Having dedicated 25 years of service to the United States Air Force as a reserve chaplain, Father Thomas Maikowski has been consistently recognized for his remarkable accomplishments. In the absence of the usual Catholic chaplain who was deployed to support an operation, Father Thomas Maikowski completely assumed the leadership of the Catholic Chapel community at Kirtland Air Force Base. Overseeing a number of deacons, volunteers, and educational programs, Father Maikowski also led an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service and implemented a new offerings program that raised the revenue to support two key contract positions. For these distinctive feats of leadership, Father Thomas Maikowski was awarded his first Meritorious Service Medal in 2000. Five years later, he received his second Meritorious Service Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster). Having once again shown a propensity for exceptional leadership, Father Thomas Maikowski took responsibility for and guided a Catholic community during an abrupt six-month absence of their active duty priest, mediating the tension within the group and improving circumstances for its 450 parishioners. Father Thomas Maikowski also tactfully reshaped the Catholic council, increasing the chapel community’s communication and aiding Kirtland’s chapel program to the point that it was acknowledged in 2002 for having the best Global Ministry plan in the command. In 2008, Father Thomas Maikowski was awarded his third Meritorious Service Award (Second Oak Leaf Cluster) while serving as Senior IMA to the Wing Chaplain. Overseeing six contractors and almost 200 volunteers, Father Thomas Maikowski provided his base with two weekend worship services, in addition to Holy Day services and daily masses, making full use of his small budget. He was also responsible for founding a Spiritual Wellness initiative, in addition to National Prayer Breakfast programs. Father Thomas Maikowski educated a multitude of cadets about moral leadership and, under his jurisdiction, Kirtland Chapel was acclaimed two years in a row as Best Medium Chapel. In addition to his extraordinary service to the Air Force, Father Thomas Maikowski also demonstrates a strong dedication to academia, having earned eight academic degrees and served as teacher, principal, superintendent, and director of education for multiple secondary schools. Currently, Father Thomas Maikowski serves as a Pastoral Administrator at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.
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