Ron Thompson

Director, Information Technology Division
and Chief Information Officer
National Agricultural Statistics Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Ron Thompson is the Director of the Information Technology Division and Chief Information Officer 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 as well as other federal agencies.

Ron 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. His breadth of hands-on experience in organizational design and transformation bring new perspectives in partnership and creative problem solving.

Prior to joining USDA, Ron 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. He 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.

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

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