Tom is a former member of the Senior Executive Service and served for almost five years as Deputy Director and then Director (Acting) of the Office of Policy Planning (consisting of attorneys, analysts and economists) at the Federal Trade Commission.

Among his publications:

“Consumer Protection and National Housing Policy: The Problem of New Home Defects,” Case Western Reserve Law Review,” Vol. 29, No. 3 (Spring 1979), pp. 527-549.

"The Ethnography of Government-Industry Relations: The Federal Agency and its Environment," 79th Annual Meeting
American Anthropological Association, Washington, D.C., December 5, 1980.

"New Melding of Consumer and Business Interests Foreseen by FTC Official," FTC News, May 18, 1980.