Jason Thomas, Ph.D.

CNA is a great place to work because analysts have the chance to work at headquarters and then spend time in the field working side-by-side with their clients in a fast-paced, quickly changing environment.

Jason Thomas, Ph.D., associate director of CNA’s Safety and Security division, manages a team of analysts that provide onsite support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This team helps FEMA with both analysis and policy in support of the Comprehensive Assessment System (CAS), answering such questions as, “How prepared are we for this scenario? How prepared do we need to be? How do we structure assessment around these questions?” Thomas also worked on overhauling FEMA’s State Preparedness Report (SPR) Survey, including designing a new web-based application and developing a technical assistance program. He recently delivered in-person training to federal and state personnel at sites throughout the nation.

Thomas, who has held a number of positions at CNA – including research analyst on the Aviation and Systems Technology team, field representative for COMCARGRU SEVEN, scientific analyst for the Navy Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), and deputy director of systems analysis at the University of Michigan Brehm Center – says that one of the pluses of being a CNA analyst is the opportunity to work both at headquarters and onsite with clients. “Neither one is ‘better’” Thomas says, but “analysts can have experience in both which is part of what makes CNA so great. Analysts have the chance to work at CNA and then spend time in the field working side-by-side with their clients in a fast-paced, quickly changing environment.”

Thomas earned a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry from UCLA and a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Akron. He has been with CNA since 2001 and, in 2012, received CNA’s Phil E. DePoy Award for Analytical Excellence which acknowledges “sustained analytical excellence or exceptional analytical contributions, coupled with harmonious relations with colleagues and support personnel.” In addition, in 2004 he received the Navy Meritorious Public Service Award for his support to the Navy QDR.