ROCKY HILL, CT (May 21, 2021) - State of Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Thomas J. Saadi, who serves as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserves, was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on Sunday May 17 by Colonel Brian Lowery during a ceremony at the 352nd Civil Affairs Command (CACOM) headquarters at Fort Meade, Maryland.

“I am truly humbled to receive this promotion and thankful to the great mentors I have had throughout my military career and my heartfelt thanks and love goes out to my wife and children, who support me each and every day” said Saadi, who is assigned as Chief International Law Officer for Governance in the Function Specialty Team of the 352nd CACOM. While his wife Valerie and twin children Sabrina and Jacob were not able to attend the ceremony, they celebrated his promotion upon his return home.

"I want to share my sincere congratulations to Commissioner Saadi on his recent promotion to Lieutenant Colonel," said Governor Lamont. "We're incredibly proud to have such a dedicated, and celebrated public servant on our team here at the State of Connecticut, and I look forward to working with him more, and to celebrating his future accomplishments." 

“It is an honor and privilege to congratulate my dear friend, Commissioner Saadi, for his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.” said Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. “He has continuously demonstrated exceptional dedication and service to the U.S. Armed Forces and to the Veterans of our state and country. This promotion is a reflection of Commissioner Saadi’s outstanding work. I offer my gratitude and appreciation for his service to our nation.” 

Saadi, a longtime Danbury resident and former twenty-year member of the Danbury City Council, has served as Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs since October 2017, where he previously served as Chief of Staff and General Counsel under former Veterans Affairs Commissioner Sean Connolly. Prior to his service with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Saadi was a Connecticut Assistant Attorney General and Special Prosecutor. Saadi, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts, is a first-generation Lebanese American, making him the first Arab-American Commissioner of Veterans Affairs and the only currently serving Arab-American State Agency Commissioner in Connecticut.

Before his assignment with the 352nd CACOM, Saadi served as Chief of National Security Law for the 412th Theater Engineer Command, after completing an active-duty mobilization at Watervliet Arsenal in New York. Saadi has also served as the Chief Legal Officer for the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion and with the 4th Legal Operations Detachment.