Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, USN (ret.), is a winner of the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Naval Literature. , Thomas J. Cutler is author of The Bluejacket's Manual; A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy; Dutton's Nautical Navigation; The Battle of Leyte Gulf: 23-26 October 1944; Brown Water, Black Berets: Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam; and, NavCivGuide: A Handbook for Civilians in the United States Navy.  He is also the co-author of Dictionary Of Naval Abbreviations and The U.S. Naval Academy: An Illustrated History.

According to the book description of A Sailor's History of the U.S. Navy, “Adopted by the U.S. Navy for issue to all new Sailors, A Sailor’s History of the U.S. Navy brings to life the events that have shaped and inspired the Navy of today while highlighting the roles of all Sailors—from seaman to admiral. Rather than focus entirely upon such naval icons as Stephen Decatur and Chester Nimitz, as most histories do, author Thomas J. Cutler, a retired lieutenant commander and former second class petty officer, brings to the forefront the contributions of enlisted people. You’ll read about Quartermaster Peter Williams, who steered the ironclad Monitor into history, and Hospital Corpsman Tayinikia Campbell, who saved lives in USS Cole after she was struck by terrorists in Yemen.

Unlike most histories, A Sailor’s History is arranged thematically rather than chronologically. Chapters are built around the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment, its traditions of "Don’t Tread on Me" and "Don’t Give Up the Ship," and other significant aspects of the Navy.

As Cutler states in his preface, the book is not a whitewash. He includes mistakes and defeats along with the achievements and victories as he draws a portrait of a Navy growing stronger and smarter while turning tragedy into triumph. The result is a unique account that captures the Navy’s heritage as much as its history and provides inspiration as well as information while emphasizing that most essential element of naval history: the Sailor.”

According to the book description of The Bluejacket's Manual, “In 1902 when Lt. Ridley McLean first wrote this "sailor's bible," he described it as a manual for every person in the naval service. One hundred years later, it continues to serve as a primer for newly enlisted sailors and as a basic reference for all naval personnel--from seaman to admiral. New technology is artfully blended with ancient heritage, facts and figures are augmented by helpful advice, and the mysterious language of the sea is preserved and deciphered in a volume that has served the United States Navy for an entire century. Updated throughout, the book provides the latest Navy ratings, uniforms, ships, aircraft, and weapons as well as current Navy policies on hazing, fraternization, education, and physical fitness, and a completely new chapter explaining the Navy's mission in terms of its rich heritage.

The author, winner of the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Naval Literature, has served the Navy in many capacities, both as an enlisted man and officer, and he brings that experience and his devotion to the service to these pages. He explains new terms and such concepts as leadership and core values in both inspiring and pragmatic terms. Relevant photographs, diagrams, and tables enhance the presentation, and accompanying appendixes include a glossary and a wealth of reference material that every sailor will want to keep at hand.”

Of The Battle of Leyte Gulf: 23-26 October 1944, Publisher’s Weekly said, “Cutler, professor of strategy at the U.S. Naval War College, relates the epic WW II engagement in the Philippines in which the Japanese Navy nearly prevented Gen. Douglas MacArthur from fulfilling his "I shall return" vow. We're shown the Battle of Leyte Gulf as a series of hard tactical choices by admirals on both sides and their terrifying sea combat. Woven into the suspenseful narrative are survival stories and accounts of extraordinary individual exploits.

Cutler describes how a decoy fleet under Adm. Jisaburo Ozawa lured Adm. William Halsey's task force away from the focus of battle, leaving unprotected the troops covering MacArthur's beachhead. The Japanese couldn't capitalize on this opportunity, however, partly because the beachhead ships put up a terrific fight. Cutler also takes a close look at Halsey's questionable tactical moves during the battle and his postwar attempts to deny his poor judgment.”

Of Brown Water, Black Berets: Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam, Publisher’s Weekly said, “Cutler reminds us that 1.8 million Navy and Coast Guard troops served in Vietnam (2670 killed in action), with most of the casualties sustained in coastal or riverine operations. Himself a veteran of brownwater action, the author presents a stirring collection of unit histories that starts with the arrival of the first U.S. naval adviser in Saigon in 1964 and ends in 1972 when the last American naval bases were turned over to the South Vietnamese. He chronicles the genesis and operations of Task Forces 115, 116, 117i.e., the Coastal Surveillance Force, the River Patrol Force and the Mobile Riverine Force. Most of the action consisted of small-craft interdiction patrols. Readers will find that, with one or two exceptions, the action reported here is low-keyed in comparison to most infantry-oriented books about the Vietnam war, but Cutler, who teaches at the Naval Academy, is primarily interested in publicizing the overall contribution of these special task forces, which was considerable.”