Born and raised in blue‑collar Brooklyn, Tommy is a former combat Marine, a highly decorated FDNY firefighter, and now an author. He is currently finishing his memoir, A Fine Gray Dust, which chronicles his struggle with PTSD in the aftermath of 9/11.

After returning from Desert Storm in 1991, Tommy turned down both a scholarship to the School of Visual Arts and an apprenticeship with Abstract Expressionist pioneer Fred Mitchell to join the FDNY.

He fought in a war and served in some of New York City’s busiest firehouses, yet says that sharing his visual art is the most frightening challenge he has ever faced.