Chmielewski started refereeing youth hockey at an early age, 12 years old to be more precise. It was a great way to have some free ice time and to earn a few extra bucks! Born in Illinois to an Air Force officer and pediatric oncology nurse, his family eventually settled in Colorado Spring CO. Tom graduated from Colorado State University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. While in university, Tom started working games as a part time Linesman in the USA Officiating Development Program and for the Central Hockey League (CHL). After graduating from Colorado State, he made the switch from linesman to referee and was hired under a full time status in the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program. His performance earned him to be selected to work the 2011 USHL Clark Cup Finals. That same year, he had the chance to attend the NHL Prospect tournament in Traverse City, MI. His first taste of professional hockey came in 2012 when he got hired by the East Coast Hockey League. Chmielewski will end up spending two seasons with the ECHL and was selected to work the 2012 Kelly Cup Finals. The American Hockey League (AHL) gave him his first assignments in 2012 and Tom worked both the ECHL and the AHL during the 2012-2013 season. During that same season, Chmielewski was also assigned by USA Hockey to work the 2013 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship Division 1 played in Amiens, France between December 9th and 15th 2012. During his officiating journey, Chmielewski also worked the Southern Profesional Hockey League (SPHL). In the summer of 2013 while out on vacation, Tom received a phone call from former NHL Officiating Director Terry Gregson who offered him an NHL minor league referee contract. On April 8th 2014, he made his NHL debut at the old Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale NY where he skated in a game opposing the Ottawa Senators and the New York Islanders. His teammate that evening was retired NHL referee Greg Kimmerly while linesmen David Brisebois and Mark Shewchyk worked the lines. After four full seasons under an NHL minor league referee contract, Chmielewski was promoted to a full time NHL referee status in the summer of 2015.