ACWORTH, GA, June 05, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Charmers Thompson has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Marked by his steadfast commitment to advancing opportunities for students with disabilities and from underserved populations, Dr. Thompson has led a distinguished career in education and public service that spans several decades and continents. Most recently, he retired in 2025 from the Department of Defense Education Activity after 20 successful years as a special education teacher.

In his capacity, Dr. Thompson was pivotal in transforming the educational landscape for students with mild to moderate disabilities, ensuring their full inclusion within the regular education population. This initiative resulted in substantial academic and social success for these students, particularly those from military families, United States Department of State personnel and civilian employees stationed overseas.

Prior to this tenure, Dr. Thompson contributed to the North Greenwood Educational Partnership in Clearwater, Florida, where his efforts focused on supporting at-risk youth within a small community setting. Earlier, as the program manager for a grant collaboration between the University of South Florida, a local public school and a community partnership, he led initiatives that targeted students at risk of dropping out or chronic truancy. This program provided in-school and after-school tutoring, parent engagement activities and enrichment opportunities such as museum visits, all of which significantly increased student progression rates from middle school to high school and ultimately graduation.

Dr. Thompson's earlier professional experience includes serving as a substitute teacher with Pinellas County Schools in Largo, Florida, where he developed and implemented a program in partnership with the United States Department of Justice that aimed at adult inmates who were nearing release. This initiative addressed recidivism by equipping participants with essential life skills, including obtaining driver's licenses and high school diplomas, thereby facilitating their successful reintegration into society.

Before entering the field of education, Dr. Thompson worked for Unisys (formerly Sperry Gyroscope) as a technician specializing in fire control systems. During this period, he was pivotal in establishing a ship repair facility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and provided technical instruction to Saudi personnel, marking this international endeavor as his first formal teaching experience.

Dr. Thompson began his career as an apprentice electrician in New York for three years before joining the United States Navy as a petty officer second class and technician in fire control systems. His decade-long military service included four years aboard an aircraft carrier stationed in Okinawa, Japan, which equipped him with extensive international exposure and leadership capabilities.

Alongside his primary roles in the educational sector, Dr. Thompson has been an active member of the Council for Exceptional Children, reflecting his ongoing dedication to professional development and advocacy within the field of special education.

Dr. Thompson's own academic journey is equally distinguished. He earned dual Doctor of Philosophy degrees in special education and adult vocational education from the University of South Florida in 2000, with his dissertation contributing valuable insights to the field of adult education. Dedicated to the ideals of lifelong learning, he previously completed a Master of Arts in special education at the University of South Florida in 1992, graduating with magna cum laude honors. He began his higher education with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Saint Leo College, also awarded magna cum laude in 1989.

Reflecting on his storied journey to date, Dr. Thompson attributes his achievements across teaching and technical roles to strong determination and the foundational influence of his parents during his upbringing in Kingston, Jamaica, under a British-structured educational system. He emphasizes the importance of early childhood education and credits the encouragement from his family and mentors for fostering his resilience through challenges he encountered both abroad and in the United States.

In his personal life, Dr. Thompson is happily married and the proud father of two daughters — one who is an obstetrician-gynecologist practicing in New York and another who lives with her mother — and enjoys traveling overseas, a passion cultivated during his years living abroad. Determined to further his impact in the coming years, he continues to seek volunteer opportunities through which he can meaningfully help students and adults alike achieve their goals.

Dr. Thompson's life and legacy are defined by transformative educational leadership, cross-cultural service and unwavering advocacy for inclusive practices that empower individuals from all backgrounds to achieve their fullest potential.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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