Mr. Thomas M. Deford

Mr. Mac Deford received his BA from Yale University, and has a MTS (Masters of Theological Studies) degree from Bangor Theological Seminary.  He was a US Foreign Service Officer, 1965-1977.   He served in Vietnam, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Washington.  In 1977, he joined Merrill Lynch International (MLI).  He ran MLI’s offices in Seoul, Manila, Buenos Aires, and New York, and was managing director for Private Banking through Asia based in Hong Kong.   He retired in 1997 and moved to Maine.   Since 1997, Mac has held many prestigious positions and has been involved in a variety of activities.  Since 1999, he has been the President of a prestigious forum called the Mid-Coast Forum on Foreign Relations.  The 150-member forum was organized in 1983 by a group of area residents with a special interest in the United States role in international affairs.

Mac has also served as Executive Director of Penobscot Marine Museum (2002-2006), as a board treasurer for the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and a board member of International College (Beirut, Lebanon) 1998-2006.   He is currently a member of the Advisory Board of Nieman Fellows (2006-present) Harvard University, New England Association of Schools and Colleges (2004-present), board chair of Penobscot (language) School in Rockland,   and a board member of the prestigious foreign policy organization called the Camden Conference (2001-Present).