Thomas Waskow was born on November 24, 1947, in Virginia. He entered the U.S. Air Force Academy in June 1966, and was commissioned a 2d Lt in the U.S. Air Force on June 3, 1970. Lt Waskow attended Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, from July 1970 to November 1971, and he then served as an O-2 pilot and Forward Air Controller with the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron at Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, from November 1971 to December 1972. His next assignment was as an Instructor Pilot with the 52nd Flying Training Squadron at Craig AFB, Alabama, from December 1972 to March 1974, followed by service as Class Commander and Academic Instructor with the 29th Student Squadron at Craig AFB from March 1974 to September 1976. Capt Waskow served as Chief of Social Actions with the 29th Flying Training Wing at Craig AFB from September 1976 to July 1977, and he then served as an Air Staff Training Program Officer with the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, in the Pentagon from July 1977 to April 1979. His next assignment was as an F-15 Eagle Instructor Pilot, Executive Officer, Flight Commander, and Assistant Operations Officer for the 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Bitburg AB, West Germany, from April 1979 to July 1982, followed by service as Operations Officer for the 22nd Tactical Fighter Squadron at Bitbug AB from July 1982 to June 1983. Lt Col Waskow served as an F-15 Instructor Pilot with the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, from June to November 1983, and then as Operations Officer for the 426th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB from November 1983 to June 1984. His next assignment was as Commander of the 550th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB from June 1984 to July 1986. Col Waskow attended National War College at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C., from July 1986 to June 1987, and then served as Chief, Long-Range Strategic Plans Branch in the Officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon from June 1987 to July 1989. His next assignment was as Vice Commander of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena AB, Okinawa, from July 1989 to July 1990, followed by service as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations with Headquarters 5th Air Force at Yokota AB, Japan, from July 1990 to June 1992. Col Waskow served as Special Assistant to the Commander, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium from June 1992 to December 1993, and then as Chief of Staff, Partnership for Peace Coordination Cell in Mons, Belgium, from January to August 1994. During this time he was promoted to Brigadier General on July 15, 1994. His next assignment was as Commander of the 42nd Air Base Wing at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, from August 1994 to May 1996, followed by service as Chief of Staff with Headquarters Allied Air Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy, from May 1996 to August 1998. Maj Gen Waskow served as Commander of 13th Air Force at Andersen AFB, Guam, from August 1998 to May 1999, and then as Director of Air and Space Operations with Headquarters Pacific Air Forces at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, from May 1999 to November 2001. Lt Gen Waskow's final assignment was as Commander of U.S. Forces Japan and as Commander of 5th Air Force at Yokota AB, Japan, from November 2001 until his retirement from the Air Force on April 1, 2005.

His 1st (of 3) Distinguished Flying Cross for Valor Citation reads:

First Lieutenant Thomas C. Waskow distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight in Southeast Asia, on 2 May 1972. On that date, Lieutenant Waskow was flying in support of friendly forces that were surrounded by a numerically superior hostile force. While attempting to locate an enemy artillery weapon, he heard a distress call from a fixed wing gunship in the area. Lieutenant Waskow immediately followed the crippled aircraft to determine the expected ground locations of the crew members who were bailing out. Upon locating their positions, Lieutenant Waskow flew in low level amidst heavy ground fire to direct helicopters in the area to an exact location effecting the pickup of the first crew member. He then expended the ordnance of two fighter aircraft with exact precision, suppressing the enemy advance and allowing the pickup of the remaining survivors. The outstanding heroism and selfless devotion to duty displayed by Lieutenant Waskow reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.