Tom Hatfield

Tom Hatfield was born and raised in Indianapolis, Ind., and graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also received a degree in Industrial Management from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Tom worked in the machine tool industry as a sales executive for 36 years, including 10 years living and working in Belgium and England. He spent another 15 years traveling throughout the industrialized world. He and his wife retired in 1992 and moved to Hilton Head Island, where he became active in the county election process. He served seven years on the Beaufort County Election Commission, including four years as its chairman. In 1997, Tom co-founded the Hilton Head Island 1st Monday Republican lunch group, which continues today as one of the more popular destinations for conservative political discussion. Tom has been its moderator since its inception. He served as vice chairman of the Beaufort County Republican Party for two years. Tom was one of the founding board members of the statewide Public Charter School District, the first in the nation, on which he served for four years. He has been active in the charter school movement for more than 10 years. Currently he is one of the three civilian members of the S.C. Agency Head Salary Review Commission and is treasurer of the Hilton Head Island Republican Club.