Daniel Thompson didn’t originally plan on becoming an operator, but credits the pay and benefits for his long career at Metro Transit. “I had seen those long, articulated buses, and I always thought it would be cool to drive them,” Thompson said. “I never thought I would end up doing it, but I did.” A former Overhaul Base manager suggested Thompson apply to become a bus operator. “I had a family to provide for. It was a good opportunity,” said Thompson, who raised two sons and a daughter. 

Thompson spent the majority of his career at South Garage with some time at Heywood. Throughout the decades, he discovered how important positive customer feedback was. Due to his manager’s approach, one such compliment stuck out. After a shift, he checked in with his manager regarding a complaint he received on Route 5. His manager shared it, but also a compliment from the very same day from a woman undergoing chemotherapy. “It was glowing compliment about how I dealt with people,” Thompson said. “So the manager ripped up the complaint and said, ‘This compliment is what we want to see.’” 

Thompson retired in April 2020 with 30 years of service. In retirement, he planned to visit national parks with his wife, Bernadette, and to move closer to his grandchildren near Alexandria.