Colonel Thomas W. Gorman was born on 8 January 1927 in Keene, New Hampshire. In June 1951, he graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He also earned a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force through the ROTC program.
Thomas Gorman first attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) and earned his Air Force pilot wings. Following gunnery and reconnaissance training, he was assigned to the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Kimpo Airfield, Korea, where he flew 52 combat missions in F/RF 80s prior to cessation of hostilities. Upon his return to the States, he flew as an Instructor Pilot in T-28 and T-33 aircraft at Bryan AFB, Texas and Craig AFB, Alabama from 1954-1958.
He was subsequently assigned to the Air Defense Command for the next five years with assignments at Perrin AFB, Texas; 29th Fighter Intercept Squadron (FIS), Great Falls, Montana; 449th FIS, Ladd AFB, Alaska; 317th FIS, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, flying F-86L, F-89J, and F-102 aircraft. In addition, he served as Headquarters Squadron Commander and Director of Administration for the 5070th Air Defense Wing at Elmendorf during 1961.
After combat training at Shaw AFB, South Carolina in RF-4 aircraft, Colonel Gorman was assigned to the 432nd Tactical Fighter Reconnaissance Wing at Udorn, Thailand. He served there as Assistant Deputy Commander for Operations where he flew 124 combat missions in the F-4 and RF-4 aircraft. Upon completion of his Southeast Asia tour in 1972, he was transferred to Lowry AFB, Colorado to the USAF School of Applied Aerospace Sciences (USAFSAAS) as Chief, Photography Department, and had subsequent positions as Chief, Operations Division, Deputy Commander 3400th Technical Training Wing, and Commander 3415 Resource Management Group. In March 1980, he was assigned as Commander, 3400th Technical Training Wing.
Colonel Gorman was a Command Pilot. He accumulated more than 6,000 flying hours, including 400 hours of combat time. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He had an outstanding record as a fighter pilot during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
Colonel Gorman retired from the Air Force in 1981 and settled permanently in Colorado. In that location, he supported his alma mater and served as President of the UNH Colorado Alumni Chapter. In that role, he provided the leadership and management of many alumni activities for local Wildcats.
In 1990, Tom Gorman was inducted into the UNH Football Hall of Fame. He was an outstanding quarterback and defensive back for the Wildcats in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was co-captain of the undefeated and untied 1950 UNH football team who were the Yankee Conference champions that year. In his senior year, he was named to the All-Yankee Conference team and also earned honorable mention All-New England and Little All-American honors. Tom Gorman was named to the All-Yankee Conference Team for three consecutive years.