Katherine Hibbs Pherson

Katherine Hibbs Pherson, Chief Executive Officer of Pherson Associates, teaches advanced analytic techniques and critical thinking skills to analysts in the intelligence and homeland security communities, the private sector, and academia. She is also a consultant to the government on planning, security, and analysis projects, President of Pherson Associates' sister company Globalytica, and founding board member of the non-profit Forum Foundation for Analytic Excellence. She co-authored Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence with her husband and business partner, Randy.

Ms. Pherson completed in 2000 a 27-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency in intelligence and security analysis and resource management. Her leadership in the security arena led to the adoption of a risk management methodology, the strengthening and the implementation of overseas security countermeasures, and improvements in dealing with unsolicited contacts. As Director of the DCI's Center for Security Evaluation she managed the Intelligence Community's involvement in rebuilding the penetrated U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Ms. 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. She is a recipient of the CIA's Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal and the Intelligence Community's National Distinguished Service Medal.