OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- As Senior Enlisted Leader of AFOSI Det. 204 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Special Agent Thomas Perkowski fits the mold of an ideal Air Force Office of Special Investigations leader.
Over the past two years, under his mentorship, the team has earned 15 wing-level quarterly awards, six annual wing-level awards, two annual command-level awards, and one annual Department of Defense-level award. Additionally, five team members have been selected for promotion within the last year.
Yet, like anyone else, Perkowski’s life isn’t solely defined by job titles or accomplishments. Behind these professional accolades is a private journey of resiliency and mental health advocacy.
“I believe everyone has a story,” Perkowski said. “It might sound pessimistic, but everyone is going through something, and sometimes all it takes is asking how they're doing.”
His struggles began in Nov. 2019, when a squadron flag football game ended in a fractured hip. While recovering, he was blindsided with a divorce that left him navigating how to be a parent while adjusting to a new reality.
“My divorce was extremely unexpected,” he said. “No progression or escalation led to it. It was very challenging, and I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’”
A few months later, while still figuring out the answer to that question, Perkowski went on a short tour to Poland.
“Things were fine there,” he said. “But then I came back in July 2022, and visited my parents in Tampa, Florida. One month later, my dad passed away.”
Following his father’s death, Perkowski was left to manage the shock and grief while arranging the funeral, all before he returned to work from the short tour. Shortly after, he shouldered the emotional weight of multiple family issues.
“I felt like I was at my lowest point, mentally and physically,” he said.
From his divorce to the death of a parent, he was at a breaking point.
"Mental health resiliency is the ability to handle tough situations, stress, or challenges without giving up," he said. "It means bouncing back when things go wrong, staying positive, and finding ways to cope. Just like how a tree bends in the wind but doesn’t break, mental health resiliency helps you stay strong and keep going, even when life gets hard."
Encouraged by colleagues who went through similar struggles, he got into therapy and began a medication regimen.
“It’s like going to the gym for your brain,” he said. “Mental pain is still pain. You don't let a broken limb, or a deep cut go unnoticed, so you can't just go through all of that and think it's magically going to get better.”
Support from AFOSI leadership was also essential to Perkowski’s recovery, he said. His supervisors provided the space he needed to address personal matters without fearing professional repercussions.
With their support, Perkowski found a balance between his duties as a father and military leader. He has developed a routine that allows him to spend quality time with his daughter while managing the demands of his role at the detachment.
Over time, normalcy returned and what was once overwhelming began to settle. But, Perkowski added, it’s important to seek help early, whether through resources like Military OneSource or chaplain service, and when necessary, take the next step and reach out to professional psychiatric support.
“If your minds not there, it’s really hard to function and balance everything,” he said. “Sooner or later, everything falls like dominoes, and we need to recognize, ‘Hey, what’s your tipping point?’”
Editor’s Note:
While Perkowski’s story does not involve suicidal ideations, it is intended to highlight the importance of mental health during challenging times. This article is part of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month to remind others that seeking help is a critical step toward comprehensive well-being.
For those in need of support, Department of the Air Force civilians can access the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at afpc.af.mil/EAP, contact EAP directly at 866-580-9078, or via email at haf.eap.1@us.af.mil. Servicemembers can get assistance through Military OneSource, calling 800-342-9647, or by contacting the Veteran Crisis Line by dialing 988.