Jeri Thomson

{{Only primary sources|date=May 2026}} {{Short description|American political administrator}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jeri Thomson | office = 30th Secretary of the United States Senate | term_start = July 12, 2001 | term_end = January 3, 2003 | leader = Tom Daschle | predecessor = Gary Lee Sisco | successor = Emily J. Reynolds | spouse = David James | children = 2 | education = University of Washington <br> Harvard University (Kodak Fellow) }} '''Jeri Thomson''' is an American political administrator who served as the 30th Secretary of the United States Senate from 2001 to 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: About the Secretary of the Senate {{!}} Secretaries |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/secretary-of-the-senate/secretaries.htm |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref> She oversaw Senate operations during the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the 2001 anthrax attacks on Capitol Hill, coordinating security, continuity of operations, and the decontamination of Senate office buildings in cooperation with the Sergeant at Arms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: About the Secretary of the Senate {{!}} Jeri Thomson, 2001–2003 |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/secretary-of-the-senate/thomson-jeri.htm |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=JERI THOMSON |url=https://www.tffcam.org/foundation/tomson.htm |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.tffcam.org}}</ref>

== Early life and education == Thomson grew up in Washington state and attended the University of Washington. She completed the Senior Managers in Government program at Harvard University as a Kodak Fellow.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Jeri Thomson, Secretary of the Senate, 2001–2003 |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/secretary-of-the-senate/jeri-thomson.htm |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

== Career == Thomson began her Capitol Hill career as a senior staff member to U.S. Senator John V. Tunney. She subsequently served as a special assistant in the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms and as deputy director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.<ref name=":0" />

From 1989 to 1995 she served as assistant secretary of the Senate, functioning as chief operating officer for the Office of the Secretary. From 1995 to 2000 she was the Democratic representative in the Office of the Sergeant at Arms.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jeri Thomson, Secretary of the Senate, 2001–2003 |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/secretary-of-the-senate/jeri-thomson.htm |access-date=18 September 2025 |website=Senate.gov |publisher=United States Senate}}</ref>

== Secretary of the Senate == Thomson was elected by the Senate and sworn in as secretary on July 12, 2001, succeeding Gary Lee Sisco.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sen. Daschle |first=Thomas A. [D-SD |date=2001-07-12 |title=S.Res.130 - 107th Congress (2001-2002): A resolution notifying the House of Representatives of the election of a Secretary of the Senate. |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-resolution/130 |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 12, 2001 |title=Congressional Record — Senate (Proceedings of July 12, 2001) |url=https://www.congress.gov/107/crec/2001/07/12/CREC-2001-07-12-pt1-PgS7551-2.pdf |access-date=18 September 2025 |website=Congress.gov |publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref> Her term concluded on January 6, 2003, and she was succeeded by Emily J. Reynolds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: About the Secretary of the Senate {{!}} Secretaries |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/secretary-of-the-senate/secretaries.htm |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

During her tenure Thomson managed institutional responses to two major disruptions, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent anthrax contamination of Senate offices in October 2001. Her office implemented continuity-of-operations plans, coordinated with security officials, and oversaw extensive decontamination and relocation efforts to keep the Senate functioning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: About the Secretary of the Senate {{!}} Jeri Thomson, 2001–2003 |url=https://www.senate.gov/about/officers-staff/secretary-of-the-senate/thomson-jeri.htm |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref> In March 2003 the Senate formally commended Thomson for her service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-108sres93ats/html/BILLS-108sres93ats.htm |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.govinfo.gov}}</ref>

== Honors and recognition == In 1993 Thomson was named among the top 100 data-processing leaders in government, industry, and academia for her work modernizing Senate legislative processes.<ref name=":0" />

== Personal life == Thomson is married to David James. They have two daughters.<ref name=":0" />

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomson, Jeri}} Category:University of Washington alumni Category:Harvard University alumni Category:21st-century American women Category:People from Alexandria, Virginia Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Secretaries of the United States Senate