Thom Kirk

Director, WV Fusion Center

Homeland Security State Administrative Agency

Thomas Lee Kirk was born and raised in Fairmont, West Virginia.  

He is a graduate of the former Beckley College, where he earned a degree in Art; Bluefield State University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice; and the West Virginia University College of Law.  He is also a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute and Northwestern University’s School of Staff and Command.

He spent four years in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam conflict and then enlisted in the West Virginia State Police.  He worked his way up through the ranks obtaining the position of Captain and was placed in charge of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations as its first Bureau Commander.

Thom was appointed as Colonel of the State Police in 1993 and served as Superintendant under Governors Caperton and Underwood until he retired after 24 years of service with the State Police in 1997.  

After his retirement, Thom worked as an attorney with Pullen Knoff Fowler & Flanagan until he accepted the position of Manager of the new Toyota Plant in Buffalo, West Virginia.  Thom left West Virginia in 2000 to become the President and CEO of Audio Intelligence Devices in Coral Springs, Florida but soon returned to his home state to open a private law practice in Winfield.  In 2005, he accepted a position as Assistant Prosecutor in Putnam County and prosecuted narcotics and major felonies until he accepted the position of Director of the West Virginia Fusion Center under Cabinet Secretary James Spears in March of 2008.

Thom is currently admitted to practice law before the United States District Court of both the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, the West Virginia Supreme Court and has practiced and prosecuted cases in numerous West Virginia Circuit Courts.

Thom and his wife Brenda live in Winfield where they enjoy spending time with their son Kris, a Kentucky State Trooper; his wife Amber, and their three children, Makala, Torin, and Kolten.