Ron Thompson Agency Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Deputy Digital Transformation Officer (DDTO) NASA

Ron has more than 30 years of experience in leadership roles spanning the federal government and public sectors. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for organization transformation, data design, innovation, engineering, operational management and governance of complex IT solutions. Ron’s breadth of hands-on experience in organizational design and transformation will bring valuable perspectives in partnerships and creative problem solving. 

Currently Ron is serving as the Agency Chief Data Officer (CDO) and Deputy Digital Transformation Officer (DDTO), reporting to the Deputy Associate Administrator at NASA Headquarters. 

Ron previously served Associate Chief Information Officer (ACIO) Transformation and Data Division (TDD) & for the NASA Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). Ron served as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service where he provided executive leadership and oversight to protect the Agency’s data and provided IT services to multiple divisions. Prior to USDA, Ron was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Information and Technology at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and was responsible for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations and assisting the Administration across the department. At the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Ron served as the Executive Director for Engineering, Design and Operations in the Office of the Chief Information Officer, responsible for transforming the organization’s services to an IT service management model that increased service levels, ensured reliance and agility, and lowered overall costs. Previous positions include the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) where he managed finance, employee and labor relations and talent management and as the Chief Enterprise Architect for the U.S. Census Bureau and Program Manager for the Data Access and Dissemination 

System Office and the Department of Treasury, Financial Management Service, where he was the Director of Treasury’s Web Application Infrastructure. 

In the private sector, Ron served as both a Senior Account Manager and a Consulting Manager for Hewlett Packard and Compaq Computer corporations where he led software development and system design and program execution. 

He is a fellow in the American Council for Technology-Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC). In addition, is a U.S. Army Veteran. He has an Executive Masters of Business Administration M.B.A. and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Management, both from the University of Maryland. He resides in Maryland with his wife and two sons, and is active in Boy Scouts of America where he serves as a Scoutmaster.