Compliance & Ethics

SPOTLIGHT: Kenneth Thomas

Kenneth D. Thomas, MS, leads Equal Opportunity-ADA (EO-ADA) Compliance within the Office of Compliance & Ethics.  In his role as the EO-ADA Compliance Officer, he and his team of compliance professionals are responsible for receiving and responding to discrimination complaints involving USF Employees based on the protected classes under Federal law.

Prior to joining USF, Kenneth served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps where he managed programmatic functions and investigations aimed at addressing equal employment opportunity-related allegations and violations of policy. His final rank was an E7-Gunnery Sergeant. His duties included performing root cause analysis and, in instances where discrimination was substantiated, assuring implementation of appropriate corrective and preventative action. Kenneth served as an advisor and facilitator to senior management on EO matters at all levels.  His duties included addressing EO requirements and new initiatives in personnel relations, facilitating discrimination complaint resolutions, assessing organizations, and delivering diversity awareness programs. He also was responsible for the EO database, determinative correspondence and policies updates, senior management briefings, seminars, and informal counseling interviews.

Kenneth earned his Master of Science in Forensic Psychology and his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Walden University.  He holds the following certifications from the Equal Opportunity Management Institute: Opportunity Advisor Certification and Mediation Certification.  He also holds the following certifications: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Continuous Improvement (U.S. Marine Corps), Office Manager/Administrative Services (U.S. Department of Labor), and Emergency Management Institute for Single Resources and Initial Accident Incident, ICS-200 (FEMA).