Dr. Thompson received his BA degree in Geology in 1950 from the University of Colorado and his PhD in Geology from Stanford University in 1962.  Dr. Thompson has over 40 years of varied industry and teaching experience with emphasis on field geology, structure, tectonics and basin analysis applied to petroleum exploration.  His employers have included two majors, Phillips and Amoco. He has lectured extensively in the United States and throughout the world including Angola, Canada, Egypt, Europe, India, Indonesia, Israel,. Japan, Libya, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.  He has done basin analysis and prospect development in China (northeast), Papua New Guinea, North Egypt, New Zealand, Morocco, Somalia, U.S. Midcontinent Rift and the Rocky Mountains.

Dr. Thompson has been an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer on Plate Tectonics in Petroleum Exploration and a member of research groups aboard the Glomar Challenger (North Atlantic) and JOIDES Resolution (Indian Ocean).  He is currently involved in Thomasson International Ventures’ South Island New Zealand.