The City of Tacoma's newest councilmember is a 20-year veteran and U.S. Navy Reserve officer who has vowed to be the voice for the military and represent the interests of Servicemembers on Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

"I'm very passionate about JBLM," said Robert Thoms, who is also a member of the South Sound Military and Communities Partnership (SSMCP) - a group of regional government and partners from Lacey to Tacoma that liaison with JBLM. "(Through SSMCP), I hope to increase the breadth of services. I also want to be an accurate voice for the military and continue the dialogue and support its needs. I appreciate JBLM and want Servicemembers to stay here and call Tacoma home when they leave service. It's not an easy life, and we are fortunate to have those who have served above and beyond, including spouses and children. I want Soldiers and Airmen to know we want them here and will work on services, public safety, schools and other services they care about. We need to draw on the talent that comes out of JBLM."

Thoms said his appointment has been a whirlwind and is still sinking in, but that he's "been getting up to speed on the issues," he said. "(To serve) was an easy decision because I've been in public service all my life. When you care about your community, you get involved because the key to a successful community is that those who are willing and able to serve step up and do so. I want to make Tacoma the best place to live and raise a family ... the best run city and best community in the state. I plan on doing so by engaging the community at the highest level."

The new councilmember spent four years on active duty and was deployed during the Persian Gulf War. He's completed several shorter assignments, the most recent being in 2011 as part of a humanitarian and disaster preparedness effort in the South Pacific called Pacific Partnership.

Thoms is a Navy Public Affairs Officer and commander of the Navy Office of Information-West, which has its headquarters in Hollywood. It is an affiliate of the Chief of Naval Information in Washington D.C. and works with Hollywood and the entertainment industry with regard to films about the Navy and Marine Corps such as the television show Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

"I get a great deal of satisfaction serving in the Navy," Thoms said, "and don't plan on retiring. Many others, such as Lakewood's mayor, were able to align their military service with public service. Government is about framing what we're doing and what the future holds. It's about leading, and I'm honored to have been chosen."

A native of New Orleans, Thoms has lived in Tacoma for nine years. He's married and has two children, ages 6 and 9. He said he's looking forward to applying all he's learned from military life to serving and being an advocate for Tacoma and the military.

"I plan on attending council meetings and getting to know people," he said. "I'll listen, take notes, and do what needs to be done to best serve the city."