Joseph
(Joe) Thomas is a Technology Center (TC) Director in TC 3600, and oversees
patent examination operations in the technology areas of transportation,
construction, agriculture, electronic commerce, and national security. He also oversees the licensing and review
process within the Agency.
Joe
began his career at the Patent & Trademark Office in February 1993 as a
Patent Examiner, and has served as Primary Patent Examiner, Supervisory Patent
Examiner, Class Manager at the Office of Patent Training, and as Detailee to
the Office of the Commissioner of Patents, prior to his current role as TC
Director. In addition, Joe served on a twelve-month work assignment at
the U.S. Department of Transportation. He
has either examined or supervised examiners in a variety of technology areas,
including computer applications, computer networks, natural language processing
systems, network security systems, and business methods. Prior to his current role, Joe was a TC
Director in TC 2800, and oversaw patent examination operation in the technology
areas of semiconductors, memory systems, lasers., electrical circuits, optics,
as well as printing, measuring, and testing systems.
Joe
received his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of
Maryland.