“It’s a real pleasure working with, and developing, current and future leaders in the public sector.”
Solly Thomas has over 30 years of experience leading and managing federal agencies and programs. He has held senior-level positions in both the public and private sectors—as a member of the Senior Executive Service; as an associate partner at the IBM Corporation; and as an executive coach and instructor for federal leadership programs.
As an executive coach, Solly combines his extensive federal leadership experience with best practice leadership research, models and approaches. This unique combination enables him to provide the next generation of public sector leaders with practical tools and resources that help them develop both personally and professionally.
Since 2009, Solly has coached in a variety of programs across the federal sector, both in the classroom and through one-on-one coaching. He currently serves as an executive coach for the Excellence in Government Fellows Program, which prepares rising federal leaders to lead people, drive change and deliver results. He is also the coach for two Senior Executive Service programs which help new executives transition into their role. These programs include the Department of Homeland Security Capstone Program and the Department of Transportation Executive Onboarding Program.
Solly also serves as the instructor for the Senior Executive Assessment Program, sponsored by the Office of Personnel Management. This program is designed to help senior federal managers assess their performance potential for—and better understand the expectations and challenges of—the Senior Executive Service, and determine their readiness to go through the selection process.
Experience
Over 17 years of experience as a member of the Senior Executive Service
Three years of Senior Executive Service experience at the Office of Personnel Management leading government-wide human capital programs
Twelve years of Senior Executive Service experience as the executive director and chief operating officer at the Federal Labor Relations Authority
Over two years of Senior Executive Service experience as the chief of staff to the chairman of the U.S. International Trade Commission
Three years as an associate partner at the IBM Corporation Fifteen years as an executive coach Over 1,000 hours of one-on-one executive coaching
Education, Training and Certifications
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Notre Dame
- Emotional Quotient Inventory Assessment Certificate
Personal
Solly and his wife live in Potomac, Maryland, and have two adult children, both of whom live and work in the San Francisco, California, area. He and his wife travel extensively across the United States as well as overseas. In addition to travel, he enjoys reading, sports and is an avid (but not very good) golfer.