John Thomas '80-'84

Chief Thomas comes to UCLA from the University of Southern California, where he served most recently as special advisor to the senior vice president for administration. Before that, Chief Thomas served as the USC Department of Public Safety’s executive director and chief of police from 2013 to 2022, and was assistant chief from 2009 to 2013, as well as a police captain from 2006 to 2009. Prior to USC, he served as the University of the District of Columbia deputy chief of police and emergency management from 2005 to 2006 and has served in various roles in the Los Angeles Police Department where he rose to the level of lieutenant.

Chief Thomas is well known for his collaborative and community-oriented approach to public safety as well as his strong commitment to the mentorship of law enforcement and civic leaders. He is a member of the board of directors for a variety of professional organizations, including the Los Angeles Police Museum, FBI National Academy Associates, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and Pac-12 Chiefs Association. He is also affiliated with the Police Executive Research Forum and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. In addition, he was a researcher and contributor to the National Policing Institute’s Assessment and Report on Findings on Policing National Best Practices and is a workstream leader on Community Response to Lower Level Offenses and Calls for Service.

Chief Thomas is no stranger to the UCLA campus. In fact, he attended UCLA from 1980 to 1984 as an undergraduate, was editor-in-chief of NOMMO and worked at the ASUCLA Bookstore. In his senior year, he suspended his education to join the LAPD. While he felt strongly about completing his degree, the rigorous demands of working various specialized assignments made it too difficult to finish in a traditional manner. Instead, he enrolled in a weekend program at Mount St. Mary’s University that allowed him to complete his degree in liberal arts while working full time during the week. Chief Thomas also holds a master’s degree in executive leadership from USC.