U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (November 22, 2024) – The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA” or the “Authority”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony Thomas as its new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). The appointment was officially approved by the WAPA Governing Board during yesterday’s board meeting.
As CAO, Thomas will oversee the Authority’s administrative operations, including purchasing, inventory control, property management, and fleet management. He brings a wealth of leadership and management experience honed over decades in both government and private sectors. Notably, he served on the WAPA Governing Board in 2019, and was re-elected chairman in 2020 during his tenure. His role will focus on streamlining organizational processes, optimizing resources, and supporting WAPA’s mission to provide reliable and affordable utility services to the Virgin Islands.
Thomas’s distinguished career includes serving as the Commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement from 2019 to 2023. In this cabinet-level role, he managed critical functions such as asset management, contracting, procurement, and fleet operations for the Government of the Virgin Islands. His tenure was marked by technological advancements and process improvements, including a 300% increase in contract executions and a 200% increase in lease agreements.
He also previously served as Chief of Staff for the Virgin Islands Department of Education, where he coordinated disaster recovery efforts and managed a $175 million project following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Earlier roles include District Manager at The Akal Group, where he supervised federal contracts with annual revenues exceeding $4 million.
Thomas holds a Master of Business Administration and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership.
“Anthony Thomas brings a proven track record of operational excellence and transformative leadership to WAPA,” said Karl Knight, CEO and Executive Director of WAPA. “His extensive experience in both government and private sectors, as well as his familiarity with the policies and processes of WAPA, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our operations and enhance our service to the community.”
The Authority extends its gratitude to Don Gregoire for his dedicated service as Interim Chief Administrative Officer since January 2022. His contributions to the Authority have been greatly valued. Moving forward, Gregoire will focus on his original position as Director of Water for St. Croix, where he will continue to play a key role in advancing WAPA’s operations on St. Croix.
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