Thomas Eckhart

"I want to do this as little as you, Ellen. But we've tried half-measures. If we're going to overcome DEFCON, we need to be committed."

Thomas Eckhart was the president of the Appalachian Enclave.

Background
Serving as the Secretary of Agriculture before the Great War, Eckhart assumed leadership of the the Whitespring bunker after the bombs fell, a location in which the Department of Agriculture had surreptitiously funded. He is primarily responsible for the spread of the scorchbeasts and the associated Scorched Plague.

When the early warning systems were activated on October 23, 2077, government officials including Eckhart retreated to the bunker. Connections to Raven Rock and the President at Control Station ENCLAVE were lost, leaving them isolated. Eckhart informed the survivors of their inability to contact the president and of the Secretary of the Treasury's death due to radiation sickness. He then announced himself as the leader of their "little enclave."

Eckhart wished to utilize the nuclear arsenal in the region to retaliate, but automated safeguards built into the structures prevented this. He began to consider research initiatives as a solution to his issue with the nuclear weapon logistics, and shortly thereafter a group of soldiers led by Colonel Ellen Santiago arrived at the bunker. At this point, Eckhart began requiring subordinates to call him "president."

Research subsequently resulted in the first scorchbeasts, accidentally created when Enclave scientists exposed irradiated bats to biochemical experiments the previous year. Soldiers refused to take part in this plan, and attempted to destroy the AI, MODUS. An explosion tore out a large part of MODUS' memory, the damaged AI retaliated with an explosion in the weapons lab that killed General Santiago and ruptured a toxin tank that leaked into the air circulation system.

Appearances
Thomas Eckhart is mentioned only in Fallout 76.

Behind the scenes
An cut terminal entry provides an additional backstory on Eckhart including mentions of his family members, Joseph Eckhart (father), Joseph Eckhart Jr. (brother) and Julia Eckhart (sister).