GSA and the Trump Administration took a new route last week by switching the Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner position to a political spot and naming industry veteran Alan Thomas to the post.  Thomas has spent most of his professional life in industry, specifically in the DOD and intelligence fields.  Additionally, he served for nearly three years inside DOD as a program manager working in research and development.  While at least one of Thomas’ previous firms was a GSA Schedule contractor, his own experience likely put him in little contact with that realm.  At a time when DOD use of all outside IDIQ contracts is being challenged, however, FAS could benefit from Thomas’ experience with the agency.  He has clear experience in working for and with DOD offices on a variety of missions and may be well-positioned to relate how GSA’s acquisition programs can support them.  The FAS Commissioner role has always been one that could be held by a political appointee, but had traditionally been a career slot.  There is no immediate word on what might come next for out-going Commissioner Tom Sharpe.