Professor Thompson has over 25 years of experience working on energy, climate, and development issues from a variety of institutional perspectives. He began his career at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he was detailed to the U.S. Export Council for Renewable Energy and managed the Asia program for the U.S. private sector, leading efforts to increase the diffusion of renewable energy into China, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. After leaving NREL, Professor Thompson became the executive director of the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) and later served as Director of the Office of Energy at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). At the State Department’s​ climate change office, he managed the multimillion dollar climate program portfolio and served as lead U.S. climate negotiator at the United Nations. Professor Thompson is currently Director of the Office of Electricity and Energy Efficiency in the State Department’s Bureau of Energy resources. His work includes advancing U.S. foreign policy and national security goals in priority countries through the promotion of electricity system reforms and increased access to clean and affordable energy services. He received a B.A. in English from Gonzaga University and a Ph.D in Political Philosophy from Georgetown University.