Dr. Thomas Washburn

Dr. Thomas Washburn is the Executive Director of the Law and Public Safety Education Network (LAPSEN). Dr. Washburn retired from three decades in public education. He has extensive educational experience designing courses, writing curriculum and opening Law and Public Safety programs locally, throughout Georgia and nationwide. He served as an advisor for SkillsUSA where he had two national officers, twelve state officers, SkillsUSA National Model of Excellence winner, three-time SkillsUSA National Model of Excellence finalist, 14 national medalist, over 200 state champions and was Advisor of the Year for Georgia, the Southeast and runner up for the national Advisor of the Year award. He has won various awards such as the Stanford University Sterling Award for Academic Achievement, Atlanta Journal and Constitution Millennium Honor Teacher, American Bar Association Lawyers Auxiliary Educators Award of Excellence, Trade & Industrial Educators of Georgia Teacher of the Year, Fulton County Schools High School Teacher of the Year, Gilder Lehman Scholar, Fulbright Scholar Nominee plus 20+ other awards and honors. He was the first Law and Public Safety Career and Technical Education teacher to be National Board Certified and the first teacher to teach criminal forensics in the country. He received his PhD from Capella University where his dissertation studied the induction process for law and public safety teachers. His master’s in teaching special education was awarded from North Georgia College. He attended Young Harris College and finished his bachelor’s in political science at the University of Georgia. He completed the police academy at North Central Georgia Police Academy. Tom lives in Milton, Georgia with his wife and two young adult sons.