Lydia W. Thomas

Dr. Lydia Waters Thomas is a member of the Board of Trustees and President and Chief Executive Officer of Mitretek Systems, also known as the Center for State Homeland Security.

According to the Mitroteck biography on Dr. Thomas:

"Dr. Thomas was elected to the Board of Trustees of Mitretek Systems Inc. in May 1996 and president and chief executive officer in July 1996. She is responsible for the general management and direction of the company's overall technical, financial, and administrative activities. Previously, as a Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dr. Thomas was responsible for strategic planning and leadership of Mitretek's Center for Environment, Resources and Space.

"Prior to Mitretek Systems, Dr. Thomas was with The MITRE Corporation from 1973 to 1996. At MITRE, Dr. Thomas held a series of technical and management positions, spanning the areas of energy, environment, health, and communications systems.

"Dr. Thomas was recently appointed to serve as a member of the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council. She has also become a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Thomas serves as a member of the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission and the Virginia Governor's Higher Education Summit Steering Committee. Dr. Thomas serves on the Board of Directors of the Cabot Corporation and the United States Energy Association. She is a trustee of George Washington University and a Corporate Member of Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.. Dr. Thomas is on the Advisory Board of the Research and Technology Campus of George Washington University in Virginia, and serves as a member of the Superintendent's Business/Industry Advisory Council for Fairfax County Public Schools.

"Dr. Thomas co-chaired the R&D Investment Panel for a Defense Science Board Summer Study on Defense Technology, and she served a three-year term on the Scientific Advisory Board of the U.S. Defense Department's Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program. She served as a member of the International Women's Forum Washington Chapter, a Regular member of The Conference Board, and as a member of the ITProfessional magazine Editorial Advisory Board.

"Dr. Thomas served two terms on the seven-member Environmental Advisory Board to the Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She has appeared as an expert witness on behalf of the U.S. government at various public hearings and before the U.S. Congress; and has co-authored one book and written many technical reports.

"Dr. Thomas received a Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation for her contributions to the technology economy in Fairfax County from the Fairfax County Commission of Women in February 1998; the 1991 Deans' Award at the 1991 Black Engineer of the Year Conference; the 1990 "Ebone" Image Award presented by The Coalition of 100 Black Women, Northern Virginia Chapter, for outstanding achievement in the public service; and was the recipient of the 1986 TWIN Award (Tribute to Women in International Industry) presented by the Young Women's Christian Association, National Board.

"Dr. Thomas holds a Ph.D. in Cytology from Howard University, 1973; an MS in Microbiology from American University, 1971; and a BS in Zoology from Howard University, 1965. She is a member of the following professional organizations: American Society of Toxicology; American Defense Preparedness Association/ National Defense Industrial Association; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Associate Fellow); The Conference Board, and the Teratology Society."

On June 11, 2002, Dr. Thomas was appointed by President George Walker Bush to the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council.