Texas State to host 'Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence' lecture

Posted by Jayme Blaschke
University News Service
March 12, 2013

The School of Criminal Justice at Texas State University will host a distinguished lecture featuring two of the foremost authorities on intelligence analysis in the U.S. at 6 p.m. March 26 in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.

Katherine Hibbs Pherson and Randolph H. Pherson will present "Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence," which is free and open to the public, with a reception to follow.

Katherine Pherson, chief executive officer of Pherson Associates, teaches advanced analytic techniques and critical thinking skills to analysts in the intelligence community, homeland security community and the private sector. She co-authored, with Randolph Pherson, Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence, published in October 2012. She completed a 27-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency in intelligence and security analysis and resource management in 2000.

Katherine Pherson received her A.B. in Hispanic studies from Vassar College, an M.A. in Spanish linguistics and Latin American studies from the University of Illinois, and an M.A. in communications from the University of Oklahoma.

Randolph Pherson, president of Pherson Associates, teaches critical thinking and advanced analytic techniques to analysts throughout the intelligence community and the private sector. He completed a 28-year career in the intelligence community in 2000, last serving as National Intelligence Officer (NIO) for Latin America. Previously, at the CIA, he managed the production of intelligence analysis on topics ranging from global instability to Latin America, served on the inspector general's staff, and developed and implemented a strategic planning process for the CIA as chief, strategic planning and management staff under the deputy director for planning and coordination.

Randolph Pherson is the recipient of both the Distinguished Intelligence Medal for his service as NIO for Latin America and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. He received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in international relations from Yale University.

For more information, contact Wayman Mullins at (512) 245-3344 or wm04@txstate.edu.