Jim Thomas

Jim Thomas is a Principal at the Telemus Group, a defense forecasting, strategy and analysis firm.

Jim Thomas is an experienced analyst and practitioner of strategy development, scenario planning, operational planning, force design, and conventional and nuclear deterrence. He served for thirteen years in a variety of policy, planning, and resource analysis posts in the Department of Defense, culminating in his dual appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Resources and Plans, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy.

During his tenure in the Pentagon, he was responsible for the development of U.S. defense strategy, guidance for conventional force planning, resource assessment, and the oversight of war plans. Mr. Thomas spearheaded the 2005-2006 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) and was the principal author of the 2006 QDR Report to Congress.

Mr. Thomas has testified before Congress and has published numerous analytic studies with the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS). His articles have appeared in Foreign Affairs, The American Interest, The National Interest, and The Wall Street Journal.

Prior to co-founding the Telemus Group, Mr. Thomas was Vice President and Director of Studies at CSBA. Earlier in his career, Mr. Thomas was Vice President of Applied Minds, Inc., a private research and development company specializing in rapid, interdisciplinary technology prototyping. He has previously served on the National Security Agency Advisory Board External Affairs Panel and participated in several Defense Science Board Summer Studies on Constrained Operations (2016), Capability Surprise (2008), and Future Warfare (2007).

A former US Naval Reserve officer, Mr. Thomas served as an analyst in the Office of Naval Intelligence and watch officer in the National Military Joint Intelligence Center. He was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 2006. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He holds an MA in Strategic Studies and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, an MA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and a BA degree with high honors in International Relations from the College of William and Mary.