James E Thomsen

Mr. Thomsen currently serves as the Principal Civilian Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition (ASN(RD&A)). As the Principal Civilian Deputy to the Honorable Sean Stackley, Mr. Thomsen’s responsibilities include oversight and policy support for all Navy and Marine Corps research, development and acquisition programs for Shipbuilding, Aviation, Space, and Weapons systems. This responsibility includes more than $100B annually and hundreds of technical development and procurement programs for the Department of Navy. Concurrently in his position as Principal Deputy, Mr. Thomsen is serving a special assignment to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics (USD-AT&L). Since July 2010, Mr. Thomsen has served as co-executive director for the Under Secretary’s Better Buying Power initiative for Defense Acquisition. Prior to his current position, Mr. Thomsen served as the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Littoral and Mine Warfare, as well as Executive Director of the same organization. As the PEO, Mr. Thomsen was responsible for the execution of more than $3B annually on technical programs that included Counter-IED Electronic Warfare Systems in response to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; Mission Modules for the Littoral Combat Ship; Mine Warfare Systems; Special Warfare Operations Systems; Anti-Terrorism Naval Ship Systems; and all Naval Undersea Surveillance Systems. Mr. Thomsen has held several technical and management positions within the Navy’s Engineering Commands --- Department Head of Naval Weapons Systems at Dahlgren, Virginia; Department Head of Coastal Warfare Systems at Panama City, Florida; and Program Manager of Undersea Weapons at the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. Mr. Thomsen received his bachelors degree in Ocean Engineering in 1981 from Florida Atlantic University, and his Master’s Degree from Florida State University. Mr. Thomsen has received several career awards for technical management and specifically for his work in undersea warfare. For his career achievements in the Department’s Senior Executive Corps, Mr. Thomsen was awarded the Presidential Rank Award in 2010, Mr. Thomsen resides in suburban Maryland with his wife and two daughters.