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James A. Thomson

President Emeritus; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. and M.S. in physics, Purdue University; B.S. in physics, University of New Hampshire

One Page Bio

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Jim Thomson is president emeritus of the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.

Thomson describes his career in four phases. In the first phase, he was an experimental nuclear physicist and published numerous scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. In the second, he was a government official dealing with defense and arms control matters, serving in the U.S. Defense Department and at the White House. In the third phase, he focused on policy research covering a range of strategic issues. In the fourth phase, while continuing his research, Thomson moved into research leadership positions at RAND. He served as RAND's fourth president from 1989 to 2011. Under his leadership, RAND grew by 60 percent, expanded its research agenda, increased its policy impact, and become an international organization with offices in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Thomson is a member of several for-profit and nonprofit boards.

Thomson holds a B.S. in physics from the University of New Hampshire and an M.S. and Ph.D. in physics from Purdue University. He has honorary doctorates from Purdue and Pepperdine universities, the University of New Hampshire, and the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He has working knowledge of German and Spanish.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

James A. Thomson, 2009 Year in Review, RAND Corporation (CP-401-2010-01), 2010

James A. Thomson, A House Divided: Polarization and Its Effect on RAND, RAND Corporation (OP-291), 2010

David Aaron ed., Three Years After: Next Steps in the War on Terror, RAND Corporation (CF-212), 2005

James A. Thomson, Must All Join? America, 1788; Europe, 2004, RAND Corporation (OP-136), 2004

Jared M. Diamond and James A. Thomson, Why Did Human History Unfold Differently on Different Continents for the Last 13,000 Years?RAND Corporation (P-8054), 2001

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: Associated Press; Congressional Quarterly; Denver Post; Hearst Newspapers; Inside the Pentagon; Korea Times; Los Angeles Times; National Journal; New York Times; Palestinian Chronicle; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review; Washington Post

Commentary: Atlantic Monthly; Cleveland Plain Dealer; Financial Times; The Hill; Le Figaro; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Video Interviews: James Thomson discusses the RAND Corporation

Commentary

The North Korea Standoff: Have We Been Here Before?
How the United States responded to China's nuclear weapons program last century can provide lessons for today's debate about North Korea. For instance, the conclusion that the only option is deterrence is still sound.
Aug 14, 2017 Newsweek
Is Geographic Clustering Driving Political Polarization?
The ideological gap separating the Republican and Democratic parties in Congress has grown dramatically wider in recent decades. An analysis of the presidential vote in congressional districts over the last 60 years finds that the degree to which most districts are different from the 'average' district has grown, supporting the theory that polarization stems from geographic clustering.
Mar 3, 2015 The Washington Post Monkey Cage Blog
Step It Up, Europe
Despite the latest sanctions on Russia, the European Union will need to do more to achieve its objectives in Ukraine. In addition to much tougher economic sanctions, NATO could help Ukrainians by providing military assistance, weapons, training, and intelligence, and deploying air and naval forces closer to the conflict.
Aug 6, 2014 U.S. News & World Report
Blog
A House Divided: Polarization and Partisanship
Certainly, ideology should play a role in public policy decisions. But when many policies—regardless of their merits—are simply off-limits for ideological reasons, then the nation as a whole has a problem, writes James A. Thomson.
May 14, 2010 Cleveland Plain Dealer
Blog
RAND Finds Pittsburgh Grand; Research Nonprofit Marks 6 Years With New Offices and Commitment to Make the City and Region Better
Published commentary by RAND staff: RAND Finds Pittsburgh Grand; Research Nonprofit Marks 6 Years With New Offices and Commitment to Make the City and Region Better, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Jun 20, 2006 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Blog
In Political Analysis, Just the Facts, Please
Published commentary by RAND staff: In Political Analysis, Just the Facts, Please, in The Hill.
Mar 8, 2006 The Hill
Blog
The Mysteries of the American Electoral College
Published commentary by RAND staff
Oct 14, 2004 Le Figaro
Blog
Why U.S. History Holds a Lesson for Europe
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Dec 19, 2003 Financial Times
Blog
Atlantic Monthly and RAND View the Future
The Atlantic Monthly Magazine features a compilation of ten short essays written by experts at RAND, collectively titled Headlines Over the Horizon. The RAND authors examined developments in international and military affairs drawing little attention today that are expected to be major issues in the next three to five years.
Aug 1, 2003 Atlantic Monthly
Blog
Atlantic Monthly and RAND View the Future
The July/August 2003 issue of The Atlantic Monthly Magazine features Headlines Over the Horizon, a compilation of ten essays by RAND experts. The RAND authors examined developments in international and military affairs drawing little attention today that are expected to be major issues in the next three to five years.
Jul 1, 2003 Atlantic Monthly

Publications

Report
Are Changing Constituencies Driving Rising Polarization in the U.S. House of Representatives?
This report addresses whether the American electorate has become more geographically clustered with respect to party voting and socioeconomic attributes and whether this process has contributed to polarization in the House of Representatives.
Feb 17, 2015
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 2, Summer 2011
Stories discuss America after 9/11, Afghan-based solutions, Al Qaeda's narrative, air passenger security, victim compensation, military families, health insurance, entrepreneurship, unemployment, sex, Katrina families, Arab Spring, and a new RAND.
Sep 1, 2011
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 1, Spring 2011
Stories discuss gays in the military, police recruitment, home health care, breast cancer, health insurance exchanges, alternative fuels, refinery taxes, alcohol prices, outer space debris, mental illness, diplomatic trends, and health care costs.
Apr 29, 2011
Brochure
Brochure
2010 Year in Review
In the context of the RAND Corporation's mission to help improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis, the Year in Review offers an assessment of RAND's achievements in 2010.
Feb 16, 2011
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 34, No. 3, Winter 2010
Stories discuss Haitian recovery, transportation finance, teacher accountability, childhood psychological problems, aging Americans, military savings, U.S. space systems, Middle East peace, the Wallace Foundation, and Politics Aside 2010.
Jan 6, 2011
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 34, No. 2, Summer 2010
Features discuss retirement patterns of baby boomers, marijuana legalization, drug enforcement in Europe, and No Child Left Behind; news items cover the Gulf coast, food allergies, the U.S. health reform law, police benefits, and Pakistani militants.
Aug 14, 2010
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 34, No. 1, Spring 2010
Features discuss energy strategies for Israel, the economic recession, and Iran's leadership; other items discuss the KC-10 fleet, air pollution and hospital costs, no-fault insurance, silica litigation, poverty reduction, and political polarization.
Apr 9, 2010
Report
Report
A House Divided: Polarization and Its Effect on RAND
Discusses the increase in political polarization within the U.S. electorate and Congress since the 1970s, the effects of increased polarization on public policy decisionmaking, and the implications for RAND.
Mar 17, 2010
Brochure
Brochure
2009 Year in Review
In the context of the RAND Corporation's mission to help improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis, the Year in Review offers an assessment of RAND's achievements in 2009.
Jan 27, 2010
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 33, No. 1, Spring 2009
Feature stories discuss government cost controls, health information technology, and negotiations with Iran; other stories discuss climate change, soft power, charter schools, meth use, Hispanic enlistments, Mumbai terrorism, and Jeremy Azrael.
Apr 27, 2009
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 32, No. 3, Fall 2008
The cover story offers 12 suggestions for the new U.S. president; other pieces discuss education and health in China and India, health policy models, the U.S. Postal Service mailbox monopoly, a green U.S. Army, and political reform in the Arab world.
Dec 14, 2008
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 32, No. 2, Summer 2008
The cover story contains 11 essays that forecast 11 ''issues over the horizon''; other articles discuss the invisible wounds of war, visions of the future, colleges in prisons, and nuclear deterrence for the modern age.
Aug 1, 2008
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 32, No. 1, Spring 2008
The cover story compares neonatal services across the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Sweden; other features discuss water resources management, U.S. policies in Asia, and political polarization.
Apr 19, 2008
Brochure
Brochure
2007 Year in Review
In the context of the RAND Corporation's mission to help improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis, the Year in Review offers an assessment of RAND's achievements in 2007.
Mar 11, 2008
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 31, No. 3, Fall 2007
The cover story issues a midterm report card for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Other features discuss prescription drug benefit plans for the elderly and different types of ungoverned territories around the world.
Dec 2, 2007
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 31, No. 2, Summer 2007
Feature stories discuss the precarious posture taken by the world toward Afghanistan, lessons for the U.S. National Guard from Hurricane Katrina, and competing claims stoked by the RAND Health Insurance Experiment.
Aug 29, 2007
Brochure
Brochure
2006 Year in Review
In the context of the RAND Corporation's mission to help improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis, the Year in Review offers an assessment of RAND's achievements in 2006.
Jun 27, 2007
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 31, No. 1, Spring 2007
Three stories highlight the advantages of policies that have been downplayed in recent years -- in defense, education, and health. Additional articles address antisocial behavior in Britain and problems within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Apr 2, 2007
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 30, No. 3, Fall 2006
The cover story reports on how the nightmare of Hurricane Katrina can give rise to a better morning. Other articles discuss the all-volunteer force, better ways to improve health in developing countries, and lessons from counterinsurgency research.
Dec 4, 2006
Brochure
Brochure
2005 Year in Review
In the context of the RAND Corporation's mission to help improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis, the Year in Review offers an assessment of RAND's achievements in 2005.
Mar 27, 2006
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 30, No. 2, Summer 2006
The cover story warns that Americans have succumbed too much to fear, forsaking the things for which they are fighting; related essays discuss suicide attacks, lessons from Algeria, protection for emergency responders, and public health preparedness.
2006
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 30, No. 1, Spring 2006
Addresses a set of shortfalls in U.S. performance in Iraq and identifies options for improvement, particularly with respect to sustaining army forces, promoting reenlistments, and rebuilding Iraqi security.
2006
Brochure
Brochure
Colorado ACLU Speech
RAND Corporation President and CEO James Thomson spoke to the ACLU in 2005 on the value of fact-based analysis, offering several examples of how a tension between effective policy and fairness or equity pervades the world of policy analysis.
Nov 16, 2005
Report
Report
Three Years After: Next Steps in the War on Terror
Three years after 9/11, the RAND Corporation held a conference to share results from recent terrorism studies with government officials, military officers, congressional staff, foundations and NGOs, foreign embassy representatives, and the public.
Jun 13, 2005
Report
Report
Must All Join? America, 1788; Europe, 2004
Describes parallels between constitutional ratification in the European Union and the United States and suggests that U.S. history may provide a relevant lesson for the EU.
Dec 20, 2004
Report
Report
The Haskins Lectureship in Science Policy, November 15, 2002: Bioterrorism: A Clear and Present Danger
Dr. Tony Fauci speaks about bioterrorism at the 2002 Haskins Lectureship on Science Policy held on November 15, 2002.
2003
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer 2002
Surveys RAND research conducted since Sept. 11, 2001, that examines the dimensions of the terrorist threat and potential responses to it, and issues such as global priorities, oversees deployments, homeland security, and state and local initiatives.
2002
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 25, No. 3, Fall 2001
Presents eight commentaries outlining complementary strategies for the long-term war against terrorism; also discusses how American arts organizations can adapt to shifting audiences and how improvements in depression care pay for themselves.
2001
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 24, No. 1, Summer 2000
Special presidential election issue offers recommendations regarding several domestic and foreign policy issues that will play a crucial role in this year's presidential election.
2000
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 23, No. 1, Spring 1999
Argues that to be successful, the European-American partnership can no longer depend on a lopsided military relationship, and that Europe must shoulder more of the burden and America must share leadership; also discusses U.S. defense planning.
1999
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 22, No. 1, Fall 1998
Special commemorative issue celebrates 50 years of cutting-edge RAND research, how RAND diversified into social welfare research, and identifies important ways in which RAND research will continue to serve the crucial needs of the future.
1998
Report
Report
RAND Graduate School Commencement Exercises
On July 15, 1995, the RAND Graduate School held its ninth commencement exercises in Santa Monica, California.
1996
Report
Report
RAND Graduate School Commencement Exercises: July 10, 1993
On July 10, 1993, the RAND Graduate School held its eighth Commencement exercises in Santa Monica, California.
1993
Report
Report
RAND Graduate School Commencement Exercises, July 17, 1991
This paper contains the July 17, 1991, RAND Graduate School commencement address given by Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc., and former U.S. National Security Adviser and Secretary of State.
1992
Report
Report
Implications of the Gorbachev Force Cuts
Discusses the military and political implications of the unilateral force reductions recently announced by the Soviet Union and East European countries, including the implications of the force cuts for the conventional balance.
1989
Report
Report
An Unfavorable Situation: NATO and the Conventional Balance
This Note describes the essential features of the balance of conventional forces in Central Europe and presents the author's view of the consequences of an analysis of these features.
1988
Report
Report
The Arms Control Challenge to the Alliance
This paper was originally presented as an address to the North Atlantic Assembly in Plenary Session, The Storting, Oslo, Norway, on September 25, 1987.
1987
Report
Report
Conventional Arms Control Revisited: Objectives in the New Phase
This Note examines the relationship between conventional defense and arms control planning and assesses the conditions under which arms control can help NATO meet its conventional defense requirements.
1987
Report
Report
The Promise of Passive Defenses
This paper reviews the capabilities of Soviet tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs) and considers passive defense measures such as hardening, redundancy, dispersal, and mobility, that NATO might use against them.
1987
Report
Report
NATO's Strategic Choices: Defense Planning and Conventional Force Modernization
This paper reviews NATO's present strategy; examines broad strategic alternatives, and concludes that NATO's recourse is to seek modest improvements in conventional capabilities.
1986
Report
Report
The Military Significance of Restrictions on Strategic Nuclear Force Operations
This Note examines some problems associated with the application of the concept of confidence building to strategic nuclear force operations.
1984
Report
Report
Strategic Defense and Deterrence
The author addresses technology options, the issues of offense vs. defense in an arms race, crisis stability, and extended deterrence.
1984
Report
Report
The Future of Nuclear Arms Control
The postwar security framework that has kept the peace for 35 years depends on nuclear weapons.
1982
Report
Report
NATO: Agenda for the Next Four Years
This report documents the proceedings of a Ford Foundation-sponsored workshop on NATO held in RAND's Washington office, June 10-11, 1981.
1982
Report
Report
Planning for NATO's Nuclear Deterrent in the 1980s and 1990s
NATO's defense planners face critical issues about the future of NATO's nuclear deterrent, but the intense political controversy over the impending deployment of new Long-Range Theater Nuclear Forces in Europe has submerged these issues.
1982