Director, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, National Agriculture Statistics Service, Department of Agriculture

 

Ron Thompson is the Director of the Information Technology (IT) Division and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, where he provides leadership and oversight to protect the agency’s data and IT services to NASS’s divisions.  His responsibilities include designing and maintaining automated systems for processing, directing the administration of IT security, and developing and maintaining effective relationships with the USDA Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) as well as other federal agencies.

Mr. Thompson has more than 25 years of progressive experience in leadership roles spanning the public and private sectors, where he was responsible for the design, engineering, operational management, and governance of complex IT solutions and services. Mr. Thompson’s breadth of hands-on experience in organizational design and transformation bring new perspectives in partnership and creative problem solving. 

 

Prior to joining USDA, Mr. Thompson worked at the Environmental Protection Agency and served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he provided the day-to-day operational leadership required to accomplish its IT strategic initiatives. Mr. Thompson served as the Executive Director for the Engineering, Design and Operations in the Office of the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Health and Human Services, where he transformed the organization’s services to an IT service management model that increased value to the business improved service levels, ensured reliance and agility, and lowered overall costs.

 

Mr. Thompson is a fellow in the American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC).  He has an Executive Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management, both from the University of Maryland.

 

Having grown up in rural Maryland, Mr. Thompson has strong ties to the agricultural community. Mr. Thompson served in the United States Army in Europe and at posts throughout the United States.   He resides in Maryland with his wife and two sons, and is active in Boy Scouts of America as Scoutmaster leading his sons’ troop.