Thomas Peterson
- Adjunct Faculty
- Climate, energy, and economic policy
- Economic, environmental, and energy security
- Community problem solving
Contact Info

- Name
- Thomas D. Peterson
- Job Title
- Adjunct FacultyClimate, energy, and economic policyEconomic, environmental, and energy securityCommunity problem solving
- Office Number
- David King Hall, Room 3026, MSN 5F2
Affiliations
Departments
Education
MBA, 1988, University of Texas at Austin Graduate School of Business, Austin, TX
MS, Environmental Management, 1982, Duke University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Durham, NC
BS, Biology, 1980, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
About
Tom serves as President and CEO of the Center for Climate Strategies (CCS). Since founding CCS in 2004, he has formed and directed more than 100 policy development and opportunity creation projects in the US and globally. His work has focused on advancement of multi-objective, stakeholder-based solutions to climate, energy, economic, and environmental issues, including multi sector approaches to development and resilience.
Tom also serves as Adjunct Professor and Lecturer at the Johns Hopkins’ University Energy Policy and Climate program, as Adjunct Professor in the Environmental Science and Policy Department at George Mason University, and as a Council Member for the City of Fairfax, Virginia. Through his work at CCS, Tom serves as an implementing partner for Mason’s Accelerating Research Translation program. Tom has authored many reports and publications on comprehensive policy development, consensus building, and community problem solving. He previously served as Senior White House Advisor at the Council of Economic Advisors and Council of Environmental Quality, Legislative Fellow in the US Senate, Economist with the US EPA, Vice President of DSL Capital Corporation, and Division Chief for a state conservation agency. Tom holds a BS in Biology from the College of William and Mary, an MS in Environmental Management from Duke University, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. His professional awards include two Gold Medals for Exceptional Service from the US EPA for his leadership on the 1992 Northern Spotted Owl Endangered Species Committee and the President’s 1993 Pacific Northwest Forestry Plan.
Current Research
Climate resilience, public engagement, and community problem solving
Teaching Focus
Climate adaptation planning and assessment; community problem solving
Contact Info

- Name
- Thomas D. Peterson
- Job Title
- Adjunct FacultyClimate, energy, and economic policyEconomic, environmental, and energy securityCommunity problem solving
- Office Number
- David King Hall, Room 3026, MSN 5F2