Arthur R. "Art" Thompson (1938–2024) was an American executive best known for his leadership roles within conservative and educational organizations. Born in Seattle, Thompson rose to prominence within the John Birch Society, an advocacy group where he served as Chief Executive Officer. He assumed the role of CEO in 2005 following a leadership dispute that unseated his predecessor, G. Vance Smith, a transition he executed with the backing of former president John McManus. Thompson remained at the helm of the organization for fifteen years until he was succeeded by Bill Hahn in 2020. In addition to his work with the John Birch Society, Thompson served as the CEO of FreedomProject Education. This initiative, functioning as the educational branch of the American Opinion Foundation, offers an online curriculum designed for high school students in grades 9 through 12. Under his guidance, the program focused on promoting patriotism, the concept of American exceptionalism, and values rooted in Biblical belief.
