Born in Chicago, Illinois,^[1] Wheeler received a Bachelor of Arts from Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1970, and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1973.^[2] From 1973 to 2005, Wheeler was in private practice in Washington, D.C. He was an associate and partner in the law firm of Pettit & Martin until 1995, and then moved as a partner to the law firm of Piper & Marbury (later Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe, and then DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary).^[1] During his years in private practice, Wheeler specialized in Government Contract claims, litigation, and counseling, representing a wide variety of large and small business clients. He appeared before many agency boards of contract appeals, the United States Court of Federal Claims and its predecessors, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a number of United States District Courts, and the Government Accountability Office (formerly the General Accounting Office).^[2]

Wheeler was appointed to the United States Court of Federal Claims on October 24, 2005. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, and of the American Bar Association's Public Contracts and Litigation Sections.^[2] He retired on October 23, 2020.

Wheeler is married, and has two grown children.^[1] He is active in his Church and community, and he previously served for many years as a youth soccer coach and referee. His outside interests include skiing, photography, writing, softball, and hiking.^[2]

• Thomas C. Wheeler at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
• United States Court of Federal Claims page on Thomas C. Wheeler
• Presidential Nomination: Thomas Craig Wheeler