Patricia Powers Thomson

Patricia Powers Thomson served as the USIP's "Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from August 2005 to September 2008. In this position, Thomson managed the day-to-day operations of the Institute. During her tenure, she successfully restructured the organization and implemented management reforms leading to a significant increase in performance, visibility, and resources. She also focused the Institute’s efforts on developing practitioner tools and training, and on working more effectively in conflict zones, while maintaining its position as a leading research institution. Thomson also played a key role in developing and expanding the number of courses offered by the Institute’s Education and Training Center.

"Prior to coming to the Institute, Thomson was an associate partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, D.C., where she consulted with a broad range of state, federal, and international clients.

"Thomson was also a member of Vice President Gore’s task force on reinventing government (the National Performance Review) and was the assistant director of evaluation at the Corporation for National and Community Service, where she played an instrumental role in the start-up of Americorps. She also served for four years in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps.

"Thomson has lived and worked in Portugal, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. She holds a B.S. in engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s in public policy from Harvard University."