John Thomasian, Director, National Governors' Association Center for Best Practices (33ZA)
As Director of the NGA Center for Best Practices, Mr. Thomasian leads a bi-partisan 501(c) (3) organization that identifies and evaluates state policy trends, innovations, and emerging issues for the nation’s governors. The Center’s six divisions and 45-member staff examine all aspects of domestic policy, providing in-depth consulting services, expert studies, conferences, and retreats to governors and their executive staff. Current priorities include health care reform, homeland security, economic development and competitiveness, P-16 education strategies, support systems for an aging population, crime and juvenile justice, support systems for children and families, energy development, and land use policies to support quality development. (33ZB)
The mission of the Center is to identify, analyze, and share best practices with governors and their staff, examine and report on the implications of emerging issues, deliver expert and confidential technical assistance, and provide forums for state policy leaders to discuss innovative solutions. Since Mr., Thomasian’s appointment in July 1997, the Center has grown into a full service policy research organization for governors and their staff, covering a wide range of domestic policy issues. In addition to the priorities identified by its Board of Directors, the Center continues to extend and adjust its project base to meet new gubernatorial initiatives, most recently in health care reform (including health information technology and health care quality) and pandemic flu preparedness. (33ZC)
Before his appointment as NGA Center Director, Mr. Thomasian directed the Natural Resources Division of NGA where he examined environment, energy, and natural resource policies for Governors and their senior managers. Before joining NGA, Mr. Thomasian was Chief for Energy and Environment in the Natural Resources and Commerce Division of the Congressional Budget Office. At CBO, he provided analysis to Congress on a variety of energy, nuclear, environmental, and natural resource topics affecting the nation's economy. Prior to CBO, Mr. Thomasian was a senior analyst with the National Commission on Air Quality (established by then-President Jimmy Carter and Congress) and a consultant with Energy and Environmental Analysis, a private consulting firm in Northern Virginia. (33ZD)