Charles Sparks Thomas[1] (September 28, 1897 – October 17, 1983)[2] was an American politician who served as Secretary of the Navy from 1954 to 1957.

During World War I, he served as a naval aviator.

He joined the Eisenhower Administration in 1953 as Undersecretary of the Navy; later that year, he designated an Assistant Secretary of Defense.

[4] He subsequently was the president of the Irvine Company, which developed sprawling Southern California suburbs, through 1966.

Thomas was director of several large corporations, including Lockheed.