Michael Thomas

Mike is a senior vice president of state government relations based in the Richmond office. He initially joined the firm in February 2007 before leaving in 2011 to manage George Allen's 2012 Senate Campaign. Mike provides senior-level insight to our clients on legislative, regulatory or administrative issues at the state and local level in Virginia and in other states focuses his practice on government relations, grassroots/grasstops, issue management and technology matters.

Prior to joining McGuireWoods Consulting, Mike served as State Director and Chief of Staff for United States Senator George Allen. As state director, he managed the staff and five regional offices throughout the Commonwealth and worked with individuals, businesses, state and local government organizations, and others that needed help with a federal government agency or program, or who wished to affect the legislative process.

Mike served in state government from 1998-2001 as the Director of the Virginia Department of Information Technology (DIT) (now known as VITA). DIT was the state agency which provided telecommunications and data processing services to state agencies and institutions, and to many of Virginia’s local governments and school systems. From 1998 – 2000, he also served a transitional role as Virginia’s first Deputy Secretary of Technology.

From 1994-1998, he served as Secretary of Administration for the Commonwealth of Virginia, appointed by then-Governor George Allen. He was responsible for 13 state agencies, including the Department of Information Technology, the Council on Information Management, the Department of General Services and the Department of Personnel and Training. Prior to this, Mike was campaign manager for the successful George Allen for Governor campaign and served as Transition Director for Governor Allen in the months preceding the inauguration.

Mike has been an aide over the years to U.S. Senator Paul Trible, U.S. Senator John Warner, and Congressman Tom Bliley and has helped organize and manage grassroots operations for dozens of state, local and federal elected officials and candidates.

Member, State Board for Community Colleges, 2010-present

First Vice-Chairman, Republican Party of Virginia, 1996-present

Member, Virginia Information Providers Network Authority Board, 1996-2000

Member, Council on Technology Services, 1998-2000

Member, Commonwealth Competition Council, 1995-2000

Chairman, Governor’s Commission on Surplus Property, 1996-1997

Chairman, Land, Growth and Stewardship Subcommittee, Chesapeake Bay Program, 1995

Coalition Development

Executive and Legislative Affairs

Local Government Relations

Referenda Campaigns

Stakeholder Engagement

Strategic Positioning

Energy

Healthcare

Land Use and Environmental