Brigadier General (R) Thomas Principe graduated from Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in 1965 at the age of 16. He is a graduate of St. John’s University ’69 and of St. John’s University School of Law ’73. His first beloved position as an attorney was as an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the District Attorney of Queens County, where he rose to the position of Deputy Bureau Chief of the Supreme Court Trial Bureau.
He tried many newsworthy and noteworthy homicide and vehicular homicide cases, and loved representing the People of the State of New York. One day, he was recruited right out of the courtroom to join a private law firm. He has been a partner at Kramer, Dillof, Livingston & Moore, since 1989, representing seriously injured parties who suffered from medical malpractice and/or personal injury.
General Principe began his military career at St. John’s University ROTC when he entered law school in 1970. He remained in the National Guard, at the same time pursuing his private law practice, for 33 years. In 2016 he was recommended by the Red Storm Battalion ROTC to be inducted into the Inaugural Class of the US Army ROTC National Hall of Fame, and he proudly represented the Battalion in Ft. Knox, Kentucky for the Induction Ceremony. While in the New York Army National Guard, Principe was Staff Judge Advocate to the 53rd Troop Command, and primarily served with the 42nd Infantry Division (Rainbow), and the 107th Infantry Brigade.
During 9/11 service, he authored memoranda used as personnel guidelines on “Rules of Engagement,” “Excessive Use of Force,” and “Employment Rights” in addition to rendering command support of tactical operations and deployment during Operation World Trade Center. He retired in July, 2006 with the Legion of Merit award given by the United States Army and the Conspicuous Service Medal from the State of New York. His other awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, The Army Achievement Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, and Overseas Training Ribbon. Upon retirement, he also received a brevet promotion to Brigadier General. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the Judge Advocate General’s Corps Basic and Advanced Courses as well as the Adjutant General’s Corps Basic Course. He has been President of the Veterans of the Seventh Regiment, located at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan, since 2007. He is also a member of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Association in Manhattan and the East Side World War I Centennial Committee. He has served as a member of the Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School Board of Directors since 2012, where he is currently also serving as Secretary.
General Principe is also a recipient of the St. John’s University School of Law Distinguished Veteran Alumni Award, St. John’s University Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award, Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School Cor Jesu Award, St. John’s University Alumni Association President’s Award, St. John’s University School of Law Hon. Guy J. Mangano Award, the Catholic Lawyer’s Guild of Queens County Man of the Year Award, and the St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Mother Teresa Xavier Cabrini Award for Exemplary Service by the Columbian Lawyers of Queens County.
General Principe has served on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary since 2013 and the Diocese of Brooklyn Diocesan Review Board since 2013, where he is Vice-Chair of the Board. He is a long-time continuing legal education lecturer for St. John’s University School of Law, Fordham University School of Law, the Queens County Bar Association, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Marino Institute for Continuing Legal Education. He has been a faithful season ticket holder for the St. John’s University Red Storm basketball team for 52 years and counting!
He has been married for 33 years to Irene Miller Principe and has two daughters, Teresa and Catherine. He and Irene received the St. Paul the Apostle Service Award in 2021 and he is currently the Grand Knight of St. Paul the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council #6802 in Brookville, NY.