John H. Thompson (born 1951) is an American statistician and former

Director of the United States Census Bureau The Director of the Bureau of the Census is the chief administrator of the United States Census Bureau (USCB). The officeholder is appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate and assisted by the Deput ...

. In this position, one of his main duties was to oversee preparations for the

2020 United States Census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

. On May 9, 2017, the

Commerce Department The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for busin ...

announced that he would leave his post on June 30.

Biography

Thompson received B.S. and M.S. degrees in mathematics from

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also has educational facilities in six regi ...

in 1973 and 1975, respectively. After graduation, he spent 27 years working at the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, retiring in 2002 after holding the position of associate director, where he was responsible for the 2000 Census. Prior to that, Thompson served as Chief of the Decennial Management Division. He worked in the Statistical Support Division from 1987 to 1995 and the Statistical Methods Division from 1975 to 1987. From 2008 to 2013, Thompson was the President and CEO of

NORC at the University of Chicago NORC at the University of Chicago is one of the largest independent social research organizations in the United States. Established in 1941 as the National Opinion Research Center, its corporate headquarters is located in downtown Chicago, with o ...

. He was confirmed by the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

to be the 24th Census Bureau director on August 1, 2013.Thompson Confirmed as Census Bureau Director
Census Bureau web site. 2 Aug 2013.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Thompson, John H. 1951 births Living people American statisticians Directors of the United States Census Bureau Obama administration personnel Virginia Tech alumni Fellows of the American Statistical Association Trump administration personnel