J. Scott Thomson is the president of Holtec Government and Security International (HGSI). In this role, Thomson leads all aspects of HGSI and its compliment of more than 350 professional associates that comprise the Critical Infrastructure Division, Community Safety Solutions Division, and Cybersecurity/Network Administration Division. This includes Holtec’s five shutdown nuclear plants as well as engagements with federal, state, local law enforcement agencies, and both public sector institutions and private sector businesses.

Thomson is also Holtec International’s senior vice president and serves as Holtec’s chief governance officer. Thomson is also a member of Holtec’s Executive Committee.

Professional History 

Thomson has a distinguished record of public service with over 27 years of law enforcement experience, with more than 11 years as the chief of police in Camden, New Jersey, where he oversaw an organization of more than 600 sworn and civilian employees.

In 2013, Thomson pioneered an innovative strategy that significantly transformed the public safety profile of Camden, a city that was perennially labelled as the “Nation’s Most Dangerous City.” It was a first of its kind endeavor in modern American policing. He designed and implemented a new police department that was responsible for achieving unprecedented enhancements in public safety and reductions in crime, culminating in a 50-year low, including a 65% reduction in murders. The organizational culture shift has enabled these achievements to be sustained and enhanced with successor administrations. To achieve this, Thomson developed unique strategies, policies and trainings, and leveraged technology as a force multiplier improving performance and enhancing accountability. Camden’s rapid transformation led to the president of the United States in 2015 visiting and recognizing the department as a model for 21st century policing.

Thomson has served on numerous boards and committees of leading institutions including the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the United States Attorney General Global Advisory Committee, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and was a founding member of the Harvard University Law Enforcement Executive Leadership Group in 2014. He has served as a subject matter expert and a strategic advisor to corporate executives, governmental leaders and global enterprises such as the NFL and NBA.

From 2015 to 2019, Thomson was the elected president of the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington DC policing think-tank, which represents more than 3,000 international law enforcement executives. In October of 2019, the County and City of Camden named the police administration building in recognition of Thomson’s dedication, sacrifice and service to the community and its safety.

Today, Thomson remains active supporting Camden’s challenges with particular focus on the youth and organizations, such as Camden’s Sophisticated Sisters, Guadalupe Family Services and Sacred Heart Grammar School, which he once attended in the Waterfront South neighborhood of Camden, where Holtec is located.

Education

Thomson received a Master of Arts in Education from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Rutgers University.