Dr. Thomas J. Ward is an Associate Professor and Director of the Criminal Justice Program at St. John's University, where he founded the graduate program in 'Criminal Justice Leadership' Before joining the faculty at St. John's University, he served as Assistant Commissioner for Training and Organizational Development at the New York City Department of Correction.

Dr. Thomas J. Ward began his criminal justice career as a member of the New York Police Department, where he served in the elite Tactical Patrol Force and in the Detective Division as both an undercover operative and as an investigator.  He holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a doctorate in Public Administration (D.P.A.) from Nova Southeastern University.

Dr. Thomas J. Ward is the author of War Stories: Behind the Silver and Gold Shields.  According to the book description, “Belly up, kick back and let the choir practice begin! Tom Ward made the impressive yet rocky climb from bright-eyed rookie street cop to seasoned DOC Asst. Commissioner. Along the way he saw-and learned-a lot! Raw, uproarious, insightful and profound, this highly entertaining, often gripping page-turner is hard to put down. Whether you're a rookie, retiree or just thinking about joining the ranks, this is a sure bet for a good read!”