Randolph H. Pherson, President of Pherson Associates, teaches critical thinking and advanced analytic techniques to analysts throughout the Intelligence Community and the private sector. He co-authored with Richards J. Heuer, Jr. Structured Analytic Techniques for Intelligence Analysis and a second book, Cases in Intelligence Analysis: Structured Analytic Techniques in Action with Sarah Miller Beebe that was published in December 2011. His third book, Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence, co-authored with Katherine H. Pherson, was published in October 2012. Mr. Pherson collaborated with Richards J. Heuer, Jr., in launching the Analysis of Competing Hypotheses software tool and has developed three other simple but elegant software tools for intelligence analysts. Mr. Pherson 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, Mr. Pherson 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 (ExDir). Mr. Pherson is the recipient of both the Distinguished Intelligence Medal for his service as NIO for Latin America and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. Mr. Pherson received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in International Relations from Yale University.
