Our Staff

Principal Officers

Katherine Hibbs 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 is also a consultant to the government on planning, security, and analysis projects. Ms. Pherson completed a 27-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency in intelligence and security analysis and resource management in 2000. 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 Director of Central Intelligence's (DCI) 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.

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.  He and his wife are now drafting a third book, Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence. 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.

Jeffrey Friedman, Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for providing overall direction and guidance regarding the operations of Pherson Associates and its affiliate companies. Mr. Friedman brings a wealth of expertise in this role having helped various companies grow, develop, and expand into new areas.
Mr. Friedman is skilled in fund formation, fundraising, venture investing, and complex negotiations.  He is experienced in turnarounds, investment transactions, exits to public and private companies, corporate governance, business development, corporate finance, capital and operating budgets, and mergers and acquisitions.  Most recently he spent 10 years with Monumental Venture Partners where he was one of the founding partners and managing director. In addition, he spent 10 years with MCI Communications in various financial management roles. Mr. Friedman earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and an MBA in Finance from The George Washington University.  He has also completed executive education programs in mergers and acquisitions as well as negotiations at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Mary O’Sullivan is Dean of the Forum and responsible for curriculum development and instruction at the state-of-the-art classroom and conference facility in Reston, VA.  She completed her 28-year career at the Central Intelligence Agency as a Senior Executive responsible for production and review of the President’s Daily Brief (PDB), the creation of the Agency’s first on-line daily intelligence publication, and the establishment of field-based analytic units.  Ms. O’Sullivan was the first Chancellor of CIA University, a position in which she established standards for training design and development, reinstituted professional certification requirements for all instructors, and obtained new resources for language and leadership training.   She has extensive experience in operational budgeting and strategic planning as well as human resource development.  Ms. O’Sullivan was tapped by the Deputy Director of Intelligence to design training and experiential development paths for each analytic field in the Directorate of Intelligence and was the first strategic resource planner in the Office of the Comptroller.  She began her career as a leadership analyst in the Directorate of Intelligence and was loaned to the Department of Defense to assist in the preparation for various high-level visits and policy meetings.  Ms. O’Sullivan is the recipient of both the Distinguished Intelligence Medal for her service as Chancellor of CIA University and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. She received her B.A. from Western Kentucky University and her M.A. in History from the University of Kansas.  She also has a Certificate in Mandarin Chinese from the Defense Language Institute. 

Vaughn Bishop

Associates

Micheal Adkins

Sharon Basso has over 34 years experience in the Intelligence Community analyzing international political trends, advising senior executives, and leading staff in public and congressional relations and employee communications at CIA, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA), Central Imagery Office, and The National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) (now National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency). She served a Congressional Fellowship on Capitol Hill, experience that led to her selection to develop a legislative strategy to establish NIMA. Ms. Basso served as its first Director of Congressional and Public Affairs. Since retiring from CIA, she has used her organizational and leadership skills as an advisor and director of several non-profit organizations that provide scholarships and quality of life programs to military families. She is a Master Trainer in the US Army Family Team Building program. Ms. Basso holds a Bachelor's degree in political science and history from American University and did graduate work in international relations at Georgetown and American University. Her awards include CIA's Intelligence Commendation Medal, Career Intelligence Medal, Intelligence Medal of Merit, ACDA's Meritorious Honor Award, NIMA's Meritorious Civilian Service Award, two Secretary of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medals, and the Secretary of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.

Ray Converse analyzed European and Soviet affairs during his 35 year career at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) where he served as an analyst, manager, and faculty member of the Sherman Kent School of Intelligence Analysis. At the Kent School, Mr. Converse was well known for his facilitation and teaching skills, for developing innovative curricula, and mentoring a diverse body of students in the Career Analyst Program. He was a senior analyst on the Director's Review Group to study the government's response to terrorism in support of the 9/11 Commission and ongoing Congressional reviews. At the CIA, Mr. Converse managed units responsible for Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, South Asia, and the Soviet Union and its successor states during multiple crises, supervising analysis written routinely for the President and senior officials. He frequently prepared the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI) for high-level meetings and attended as their substantive adviser. During three years at the Department of Commerce, Mr. Converse managed new programs for the "Support of East European Democracies Act" and regularly represented Commerce to the public and business community. Early in his career, he worked on the Soviet economy, its industries, and defense economics. Mr. Converse is a professional film and stage actor and has used improvisation and role play to support the training of numerous government and corporate clients. He has written and co-produced a screenplay for instructional purposes. Mr. Converse, an economist, received a B.A. with Honors from the College of William and Mary, an M.A. from the University of Michigan, and participated in MIT's prestigious year-long Seminar XXI.

Randy Deitering

Keith DeVincentis is currently the Director of State and Local Outreach and is in charge of offering training and consultation services to state and urban area fusion centers as well as state, local and tribal law enforcement entities.  Previously, he served for 30 years at the FBI. Mr. DeVincentis was appointed to the position of Special Agent in 1979 and served in the Washington Field Office until he was assigned to the Office of Independent Counsel, followed by his promotion to Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) at FBIHQ. He was assigned to San Diego as an SSA and was promoted to ASAC in Denver, Section Chief in the Laboratory Division and SAC in Albany. Mr. DeVincentis received his B.A. in Political Science from Kutztown University.

Averill W. Farrelly, an economist and international affairs specialist, teaches advanced analytic methodologies, and intelligence writing to analysts in the Intelligence Community and to students overseas. She also authors in-depth studies on intelligence analysis and collection issues for Director of National Intelligence's Integrated Concepts Development Office. Ms. Farrelly is a consultant to the MITRE Corporation, SAIC, and Pherson Associates. During her CIA career, she managed analytic units covering political, economic, and leadership issues, served as a CIA representative overseas and worked with private sector managers while at a domestic field office. At the Community Management Staff, she developed resource management programs. Ms. Farrelly was appointed to a position as a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council of the United States in 1985. She received a B.A. in International Relations from the University of Denver and an M.A. in Economics from American University. She was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal for outstanding performance.

Laura Hale

Mal Helgesen, Ph.D. teaches advanced analytic techniques to Intelligence Community analysts. His areas of expertise include the former Soviet Union, South Asia and the Middle East, societal analysis, analytic tools and technology, and academic outreach. Dr. Helgesen retired from the CIA in early 2006. During his 26-year career at the CIA, he held many analytical and managerial positions, including rotational assignments in Ottawa and London and with the Naval War College. Prior to retiring, he worked as the outreach coordinator for the CIA's Sherman Kent School for Intelligence Analysis. Dr. Helgesen earned a Ph.D. from the State University of New York in modern Russian and Soviet History.

Georgia Holmer designs and teaches training programs in analytic writing and critical thinking skills for a range of US Government clients. Ms. Holmer served for 10 years at the FBI as an Intelligence Analyst working in close collaboration with analysts and officers from the US Intelligence Community and in liaison with foreign law enforcement and security services. Ms. Holmer entered the FBI as a Balkan expert and was a lead analyst on the 1999 inter-agency Kosovo Task Force. From 2000-2004, she was assigned as the senior analyst on an inter-agency task force at the US Embassy in Athens, Greece, where she received numerous commendations and awards from the FBI, US Department of State, and the Hellenic National Police. From 2004-2006, she worked at the FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché in Copenhagen, Denmark, as a senior analyst supporting international investigations in Scandinavia.  Prior to her work at the FBI, Ms. Holmer designed cross-cultural orientation programs, training, and study plans for foreign Fulbright scholars and other international educational exchange programs. She holds a B.A. from American University’s School of International Service and an M.A. in International Relations from Boston University.

Eileen H. Hurley has extensive experience in intelligence collection, analysis, and production with a concentration on intelligence applications for law enforcement.  She is an expert in the nexus between national security intelligence and law enforcement intelligence and operations.  Ms. Hurley held responsible positions in counterintelligence, anti-smuggling and drug trafficking intelligence, strategic trade and arms control, commercial fraud, counter-terrorism, organized crime, illegal immigration and human smuggling, with a broad range of premier US Government organizations, including the CIA, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).  Ms. Hurley earned a B.A. in History from St. Joseph College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and M.B.A. and M.S. in Internal Audit from Marymount University. 

John Hurley has almost four decades of experience in several intelligence and law enforcement agencies.  He has extensive law enforcement experience working as a senior manager with the US Customs Service.  Mr. Hurley served as US Customs Attaché in London for six years and as Assistant Commissioner of Customs.  He also has significant involvement with Inter-Agency Centers such as the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) and was an all-source analyst at the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR). Mr. Hurley has 37 year experience in the US Air Force as an active duty officer for three years and as a Reserve officer for 34 years, working mostly in the intelligence field. He was promoted to Brigadier General in the US Air Force Reserve in 1988. Mr. Hurley is an Adjunct Professor at Defense Intelligence Angency's (DIA) Joint Military Intelligence College. He received his B.A. in Economics from Rutgers, an M.A. in International Relations from American University, and an M.S. in Management from National-Louis University.

William R. Johnson teaches techniques for briefing and writing for senior policy makers to analysts in the Intelligence Community. In 2010, Mr. Johnson completed a 29-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency serving variously as an all-source collections manager, manager of a program that was a critical element of the US Government’s watch-listing enterprise, editor of current intelligence publications, intelligence briefer to senior policy makers in the aftermath of 9/11, and finally, as a senior instructor in CIA’s Leadership Academy. Mr. Johnson is a Vietnam combat veteran. He received the Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster and the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. He holds a B.A. in English and Theology from Lasalle University, an M.M.S. in Medieval Studies from the University of Notre Dame, an M.A. in Medieval History from Cornell University, and an M.L.S. in Library Studies from SUNY in Buffalo.

Ellen Kane serves as a senior consultant, instructor, and program manager at Pherson Associates. During her 32-year career in the Central Intelligence Agency and the Intelligence Community she worked as an analyst, manager of analysis, strategic planner, and resource manager. She served for four years as CIA’s Deputy Comptroller; managed strategic planning, programming, and budgeting; developed and drafted two DCI strategic plans; managed program analysis and requirements evaluation for collection systems; supported the development and deployment of advanced collection systems; conducted intelligence, counterintelligence, and deception analysis; drafted National Intelligence Estimates as well as the damage assessments on the Ames and Hanssen spy cases; and served 12 years in Intelligence Community organizations.  She received an A.B. in Political Science from Mount Holyoke College and a M.A., M.A.L.D., and Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Martha Kessler consults on the Middle East and foreign intelligence issues, and teaches analytic techniques, writing, and briefing to Intelligence Community analysts. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the board of the Middle East Policy Council. Ms. Kessler was an intelligence officer with the CIA from 1970 until her retirement in 2000. During her career, she held analytic and management positions in the Directorate of Intelligence (DI) and on the National Intelligence Council focusing on the Middle East and South Asia. She served as National Intelligence Officer (NIO) for the Near East and South Asia and authored numerous National Intelligence Estimates on Middle East issues. For six years, she headed the Directorate's efforts on the Arab-Israeli area and was liaison with US peace negotiators throughout the Madrid process. Ms. Kessler was appointed to the National War College in 1985 where she authored a book on Syria. She was also a guest scholar at the Brookings Institution where she contributed to the Middle East Policy Journal. Ms. Kessler was awarded the National Intelligence Community's Medal of Achievement, the CIA's Medal of Career Achievement, and various outstanding performance awards.

Michael Marini, a senior intelligence and security specialist, teaches advanced analytic methodologies to analysts in the Intelligence Community. He managed projects focusing on the areas of national security, international crime and terrorism, and emulative analysis. He consulted on a number of national security sector programs while advising senior executives from the Intelligence Community, the National Security Council, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense. He taught as an adjunct professor, facilitating graduate level Counterterrorism and Security Studies courses. In 2004, he received the Office of Personnel Management’s Superior Performance Award and in 2010, he received the Army’s Achievement Medal for Civilian Service. A former intelligence officer and Presidential Management Fellow, Mr. Marini received his M.S. in Criminal Justice from Boston University and completed the Executive Education program at Georgetown University, and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Laura Lenz served at the FBI for five years as an Intelligence Research Specialist, analyzing and writing tactical and strategic intelligence regarding terrorist activities in the United States. She also developed and conducted training and conferences on terrorism issues. Ms. Lenz currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Northern Virginia Community College. She was Team Leader for R2 Resources, instructing Government personnel in intelligence and counterterrorism analysis. Ms. Lenz has served as a research assistant and research coordinator for the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars and the Heritage Foundation. She received an M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University and a B.A. from Regis University.

Polly (Mary) Nayak consults, lectures, and writes on issues ranging from South Asia and proliferation to terrorism and intelligence analysis. Ms. Nayak serves on the Sandia National Laboratories Distinguished Advisory Panel. She teaches at several government agencies and at the Foreign Service Institute and lectures at universities and foreign policy organizations around the country. Ms. Nayak retired in 2002 from CIA's Senior Intelligence Service; her intelligence career encompassed diverse issues and regions. As the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)-appointed Issue Manager for South Asia from 1995-2001, she was the Intelligence Community's senior official and expert on the region, drawing on her extensive experience there. Ms. Nayak earlier was Deputy Chief of the Director of Intelligence's (DI) Africa Division (1992-1995), managed analysis on South America and on Africa, and was a briefer on the President's Daily Brief staff (1986-87). Ms. Nayak capped her CIA career with a Federal Executive Fellowship at the Brookings Institution in Washington (2001-2002.) She has published numerous articles since then, including a co-authored monograph (2006) based on interviews of senior US policy makers who helped avert war between India and Pakistan in 2002, in the midst of Operation Enduring Freedom. She is working on a book about the relationship between government experts and senior foreign policy officials. Before her government career, Ms. Nayak worked in a variety of private sector roles.

Pamela J. Noe teaches advanced analytic techniques to Intelligence Community analysts and operators. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at The George Washington University and consults to a variety of Intelligence Community organizations. She retired from the CIA in 2005 after 12 years as a team leader in the Director of Central Intelligence Nonproliferation Center, a CIA Officer in Residence at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University, and an educator in the Sherman Kent School of Intelligence Analysis. During a 14-year career in the Foreign Service, she served in the U.S. Embassy in London, the U.S. Mission to the UN, the International Trade Office of the Department of Commerce in Houston, Texas, and the U.S. Embassy in Lima, Peru. Ms. Noe has also worked for NBC-TV News and United Press International. She holds a B.A. from Russell Sage College, an M.S. in Education from the College of New Rochelle, and an Executive M.B.A. in Management from The George Washington University.

Susan R. Oliver evaluates finished intelligence products for adherence to analytic tradecraft methodologies, use of best practices, and analytic rigor.  Ms. Oliver completed a 23-year career in the Intelligence Community in 2010, where she served as a senior member of several US delegations to multi-national arms control negotiations.  Previously at the CIA, Ms. Oliver served as the Senior Intelligence Representative to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) protocol negotiations, the Standing Consultative Commission (ABM Treaty), and the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.  She was Managing Editor of the Senior Executive Intelligence Brief and also managed a team of reports officers.  Ms. Oliver served in the Office of Congressional Affairs and as the Science and Technology Representative of the Directorate of Intelligence, a liaison position to an Allied government.  Ms. Oliver received her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Alabama.

Richard K. Pyle, Sr., teaches critical thinking skills and structured analytic techniques to analysts in the Intelligence Community.  He served for 25 years as a clandestine operations officer and intelligence analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During his Agency career, he was involved in counterterrorism and other critical issues and was named Acting Chief and Deputy Chief of Station at several overseas postings. Mr. Pyle previously served for several years as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State, which included an assignment as a political analyst in State's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. During his career, he has spent more than 12 years on assignments abroad and an additional six years on assignments outside of Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of several CIA awards. More recently, Mr. Pyle worked for the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness where he was assigned as a supervisor, senior analyst, and editor. He is a professor of political science on the adjunct faculty of New York University and teaches a graduate level course entitled, "U.S. Security Policy: Issues and Challenges." He is a Vietnam veteran who served abroad as an infantry soldier in the U.S.Army. He speaks French.
Mr. Pyle earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in political science and international relations at the University of Rhode Island. He earned a graduate degree in comparative politics at Princeton University.

Janice Williams Robinson is a consultant for public and private entities and teaches analytic techniques, critical thinking and effective writing skills. She retired from the CIA as Associate Deputy Director for Administration (ADDA). In addition to her last position, her 26-year career covered a range of assignments as an analyst, director of one of the largest analytic units focusing on transnational issues, and Director of Training and Education. Ms. Robinson also was seconded to the State Department where she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Trade focusing on, among other things, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. For this she was awarded the State Department's Superior Honor Award. Upon returning to the CIA, she became the Executive Assistant to Director Robert Gates for the entirety of his tenure. She was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal.

Alan Schwartz has had a distinguished career providing legal and strategic advice to the US Government and the private sector. He teaches advanced analytic techniques to Intelligence Community Analysts and military organizations. Mr. Schwartz is a consultant to DHS and a member of the Army Science Board, chaired the Force Protection Interface Panel, and has served on three Department of Defense (DoD) Science Board studies. He is Principal Officer and co-founder of PolicyFutures LLC, and previously served as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Hamilton Securities Group, Inc.; Chief Operating Officer of the New American Schools Development Corporation; Counselor to the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, Office of the Federal Inspector; Counsel to the President's Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism; Partner, Nash, Railsback & Plesser; and Deputy General Counsel, National Cooperative Bank.
Mr. Schwartz received his LL.M. in Administrative Law from Georgetown University Law Center and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Carla L. Scopeletis teaches writing and briefing techniques to Intelligence Communicty analysts, conducts research and assessments for several US Government organizations, and consults for several training corporations. Ms. Scopeletis retired from the CIA in 1994 after 33 years of service. She started as an analyst on France and rose to the position of Deputy Director of the Office of European Analysis. Selected as a Congressional Fellow on Capitol Hill, she also attended the National War College, served as a member of the Editorial Board of the CIA's Studies in Intelligence, and chaired the CIA's Executive Committee of the Public Service Aid Society. Her final CIA assignment was as the Associate Deputy Inspector General for Inspections. Ms. Scopeletis received a Meritorious Officer Stipend for Achievement and the CIA's Intelligence Medal of Merit. She graduated from Wittenberg University and received an M.A. and an M.A.L.D. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Ms. Scopeletis is also an award-winning local actress and director and is an instructor, facilitator and role-player for training courses at CIA and other government institutions.

Vinay Shankar

Eileen Roach Smith teaches writing and briefing techniques to Intelligence Community analysts. She is a mentor for the Intelligence Community's Senior Leadership Program and has developed a case study for use with the FBI's analyst training program. Ms. Smith has over 34 years experience in the Intelligence Community, including assignments at the National Security Agency, National Security Council, and the Intelligence Community Staff. At the CIA, she worked in the Inspector General's Staff, Office of Personnel, and Office of Public Affairs. As Chief of the CIA's Language Training Division, she developed a learning strategies counseling program and a quality assurance program for teaching and testing. She was a senior manager in the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) and spearheaded changes to increase production and retrain the workforce. Ms. Smith was awarded the CIA's Career Intelligence Medal, an Intelligence Community Certificate of Distinction, and one of Vice President Gore's "Hammer" awards. She received her B.A. from Ohio State University and is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies in London.

Alan Starr, Ph.D., completed a 29-year career with the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and the Department of Energy in 2004. As Director of the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division in OSD Program Analysis and Evaluation (1996-2004), he led a staff that performed independent analyses of defense and intelligence programs in support of investment decisions by senior Department of Defence (DoD) leadership. He led reviews on overhead signals intelligence and imagery collection, space-based radar, airborne reconnaissance, and associated exploitation systems. He was also a manager of the annual intelligence program review process that led to many decisions on program and budget issues by the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence. Dr. Starr was the recipient of several DoD awards, including the Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service. After retiring, he worked as a part-time consultant with SRA International, primarily at the National Geospacial Intelligence Agency (NGA), with a focus on expanding intelligence collection and production collaboration between NGA and the National Security Agency. Dr. Starr received his S.B. and S.M. in electrical engineering from M.I.T. and his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Harvard University and also attended the National War College.

Cynthia Storer serves as a consultant and instructor, specializing in terrorist organizations. Most of her 20 year career as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency focused on terrorism. Her original model for understanding terrorism, the Ziggurat of Zealotry, was featured in The New York Times' Magazine's Best Ideas of the Year issue in December 2006. Ms. Storer is as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland where she designed and teaches a new Certificate Program in Terrorism under the auspices of the Center for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. These graduate-level courses focus on issues such as Terrorist Motivation and Intent and Tools and Methods of Terrorism Analysis. While at the CIA, Ms. Storer helped develop and teach CIA's first terrorism analysis course, which has since been adopted by the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). She received an Intelligence Commendation Medal in 1999 for her expertise on terrorist groups. Ms. Storer received a Masters in International Relations from Catholic University and a B.A. with Honors in Government from the College of William and Mary.

Kimberly Thachuk

Walter Voskian designs and conducts analytic tradecraft workshops for Intelligence Community analysts and evaluates production and analytic techniques for Intelligence Community organizations. He has taught courses on analytic writing, thinking, and presentation as well as writing for the President, reviewing analytic papers, and intelligence briefing. Mr. Voskian retired from the CIA's DI in 1997 after a 32-year career as an analyst, editor, and manager. He spent most of his career working on the Third World, with a concentration on Africa which included a five-year tour as Chief of the Directorate of Intelligence's (DI) Africa Division. He also served as a senior member and for a time as acting chief of the DI's Product Evaluation Staff. Mr. Voskian served as a CIA representative to the UK's Intelligence Community in London. He completed his CIA career with a three-year tour as Chief of the Customer Services Division in the DI's Office of Information Resources. He is a recipient of the CIA's Career Intelligence Medal. Mr. Voskian has a B.A. and an M.A. in History.

Edward S. Wilkinson, Jr., currently develops and teaches courses in analytic techniques for Intelligence Community organizations and in national security policy for the University of New Haven. He also served as a consultant to the Chief Security Officer of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). His 28-year CIA career included serving as Director, Controlled Access Policy Coordination Office and Chief, Counterintelligence and Security Policy, Office of the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI) for Community Management as well as Deputy Executive Director and Deputy Staff Director, United States Security Policy Board. He conceptualized, developed, and formed the DCI Special Security Center, serving as its first Director until his retirement in 2003. Mr. Wilkinson is the recipient of CIA's Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. He received B.S. and M.A. degrees from Sam Houston State University in the Behavioral Sciences and was a Distinguished Graduate from the National Defense University where he received his M.S. in National Resource Strategy.

Consultants

Jeffrey M. Bale, Ph.D., is the Director of the Monterey Terrorism Research and Education Program (MonTREP) and an Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of International Policy Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies (MIIS). His responsibilities at MonTREP include preparing terrorist group profiles and other in-depth research reports on various aspects of terrorist ideologies, motivations, and operational techniques. He also serves as a consultant to government agencies and private organizations on matters related to terrorism and ideological extremism. Dr. Bale has published numerous scholarly articles on terrorism, right-wing extremism, Islamism, and covert political operations in addition to book chapters and articles in Patterns of Prejudice, Terrorism and Political Violence, and Democracy and Security. He is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the journal Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions (Routledge). He was the recipient of postdoctoral fellowships from the Society of Fellows in the Humanities at Columbia, the Office of Scholarly Programs at the Library of Congress, and the Center for German and European Studies at Berkeley. Dr. Bale received his Ph.D. in Contemporary European History and his M.A. in Social Movements and Political Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, and his B.A. in Middle Eastern and Islamic History from the University of Michigan.

Roger Cubby analyzed European and international organizations and issues during his 30-year career at the CIA. He headed up three separate divisions, as well as the staff that evaluated analytic production; had two overseas tours; provided intelligence support to a senior military commander and to the Congress; served on an arms control delegation; worked for the Inspector General; and taught political science and intelligence courses at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He received the Career Intelligence Medal and other performance awards. Mr. Cubby has an A.B. in Government from Harvard, an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin, and he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London. Before joining the CIA, he was a First Lieutenant in Army Intelligence, serving in Washington and Vietnam. After retiring from the CIA, he taught Government and American History to high school students at the Lab School of Washington. He now interprets history at the Yorktown National Battlefield.

Stanley A. Feder, Ph.D., has more 25 years experience doing country, issue, and global assessments using innovative analytic techniques. After retiring from the CIA, he co-founded PolicyFutures, LLC, a consulting firm that provides the private and public sector with policy risk assessments and broad strategic perspectives. During his 21-year career at the CIA, he was a research political scientist in Directorate of Science and Technology (DST) Office of Research and Development evaluating alternative approaches for political analysis. He also served as a senior political analyst in the Directorate of Intelligence (DI), where he pioneered the use of methods for policy forecasting, for assessing prospects for political instability and military coups, and for managing uncertainty in strategic planning. Dr. Feder was Director of the CIA's Project on the Future of Global Relations (1994-98) and has taught political risk analysis at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. He earned his Ph.D. in Politics from Brandeis University.

Ann Goodman teaches writing and briefing techniques to Intelligence Community analysts. She also evaluates analysis training programs, teaches English as a Second Language (ESL), and overseas courses in management and analytic techniques. She retired from the CIA in 2000 after a 23-year career as an analyst, instructor and manager. At the CIA, Ms. Goodman focused largely on the former Soviet Union, working on economic and leadership issues. She served as an instructor of analysts in the Directorate of Intelligence (DI) before becoming a manager in the Office of Training and Education. She received her B.A. in Russian Studies from Syracuse University, an M.A. in History from Indiana University and an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from American University. She also completed an American Society for Training Development (ASTD) Certificate Program in Measuring and Evaluating Learning.

Dallas Jones, Ph.D., retired from the CIA having served most recently as Officer in Residence at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service where he developed and taught courses on the role of US intelligence in foreign policy and the interaction between the Intelligence Community and policymakers.  Dr. Jones had a distinguished career in the CIA’s Directorate of Intelligence (DI), serving as Chief of the Western Europe Division, the Aegean Issue Group, and three other West European branches.  He served two overseas tours in Europe, provided intelligence support to a senior U.S. military commander, and briefed the Secretary of State as a member of the President’s Daily Brief staff.  Dr. Jones was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal.  He received his Ph.D. in History from the University of Edinburgh and a B.A. in History from the College of Wooster. 

David B. Low is a consultant to Pherson Associates, the National Intelligence Council and Senior Advisor and a Member of the International Advisory Board of Oxford Analytica Inc. He retired in 2006 as the National Intelligence Officer (NIO) for Transnational Threats in the National Intelligence Council. In this position he was the senior advisor to the Director of National Intelligence on strategic global terrorism issues. As the originator of this position after 9/11, Mr. Low shaped the analytical framework, provided leadership to the US Intelligence Community (IC) on terrorism analysis, and produced National Intelligence Estimates and other strategic assessments on terrorism which were coordinated with all agencies within the IC. Mr. Low has been a featured speaker on terrorism at national and international colloquia including at the Aspen Institute, Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton, Bush School at Texas A&M, and Denver University Graduate School. In the 1980s, Mr. Low was NIO at Large responsible for the issues of CBRN weapons proliferation as well as international economics and trade. Earlier, Mr. Low was Special Assistant to the Chairman at the Export-Import Bank of the United States and negotiated over a billion dollars of loans. In the private sector, Mr. Low was president of the largest US apartment company, was responsible for US corporate acquisitions for a British industrial company, and was general counsel for the investment advisors to the Imperial Government of Iran under the Shah. Mr. Low practiced corporate law on Wall Street at White & Case. Mr. Low attended the Corporate Financial Management Program for executives at The Harvard Business School. He has an A.B. from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. He was awarded the Distinguished Intelligence Medal by the CIA.

Elizabeth Manak, Ph.D., is a South Asia and nonproliferation specialist.  Prior to her retirement from the US Government, Dr. Manak worked in a variety of positions both in the US and abroad.  Most recently, she worked for three years as a representative to a US Embassy working on topics of interest in South Asia.  For two years prior to that, Dr. Manak was the Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia in the National Intelligence Council.  Dr. Manak also was a Group Chief for Community Collection Strategies in the Office of Weapons Intelligence and Nonproliferation and Executive Officer for the Nonproliferation Center.  From 1996 to 1998 she was Deputy Director in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Intelligence where she managed a unit of intelligence analysts and provided direction and oversight to the analytic processes and products of the intelligence components at the National Laboratories.  At DOE she also served as Division Chief for Nuclear Weapons Analysis, overseeing programs of analysis at the National Laboratories.  Prior to working at DOE, she was Deputy Chief of Analysis and Directorate of Intelligence (DI) Proliferation Coordinator in the Director of Central Intelligence's (DCI) Nonproliferation Center and served as a Branch Chief in the Office of Near East and South Asian Analysis.  Ms. Manak was awarded the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, the Career Intelligence Medal and a number of other meritorious awards.  She received her B.A. and an M.A. in History from California State University and a Ph.D. in South Asian History from the University of Hawaii.

Martin W. Roeber has extensive knowledge of analytic tradecraft, developed through broad experience in conducting and reviewing in-depth analysis. He retired from the CIA in 2001 after a 35-year career spent in both the Directorate of Intelligence (DI) and the Directorate of Operations (DO), achieving high-ranking positions in both areas. He served as National Intelligence Officer (NIO) for Latin America and headed the South America, Caribbean, and Middle America Divisions in the DI. He managed several units in the DI dealing with quality control, advanced analytic techniques, and instruction. Mr. Roeber was also Deputy Director, Crime and Narcotics Center (CNC); Deputy Chief of Latin American Operations; and headed a major overseas DO Station. He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London and received numerous other recognitions, including the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal and the Meritorious Agency Officer Award.

Karen Saunders

Diane Snyder has 25 years of experience as an intelligence officer and has worked in every major field available to an intelligence professional:  as a scientist, analyst, technical operations officer, and advisor on matters of intelligence authorities.  Currently a lecturer of Politics and International Affairs at Princeton University, Ms. Snyder pursued a Ph.D. in Computational Linguistics and is able to work effectively in four languages.  Her curriculum at Princeton focuses on the functioning of intelligence in a constitutional democracy and the relationship of intelligence to policymaking, law enforcement and national security.  She was Senior Technical Representative to the Arms Control Intelligence Staff in Vienna during 1990-92 and held a diplomatic post as the United States’ Scientific Advisor to the International Science and Technology Center, Moscow, during 1998-2000.  Early in her career at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), she directed cutting-edge research and development and delivered the first artificial intelligence system to the CIA’s Counter Terrorism Center.  In 1989, Ms. Snyder was recognized by former Secretary of State James Baker for her contribution to a highly sensitive project involving diplomatic security.  Professor Snyder’s experience also includes service as Director of Research, David Sarnoff Research Center and Senior Intelligence Analyst at The RAND Corporation. 

Leah Fendley Tarbell is Director of Analytic and Collaborative Tools.  She oversees Pherson Associates' efforts to integrate analytic tools and methods throughout the US Government, academia, and the private sector, and provides instruction on management, collaboration, analysis, and information sharing.  During 27 years in the Intelligence Community, Ms. Tarbell led significant change initiatives in collection, language services, research, and analysis across diverse workforce components.  As Director of the Eurasia-Near East Group in the Open Source Center (OSC) from 2008-2010, she managed OSC's Counterterrorism, Counterproliferation, Middle East, and Central Eurasia programs, overseeing open source collection, exploitation, and analysis efforts in the United States and overseas.  As Director of Information Access from 2005-2008, Ms. Tarbell was responsible for all of OSC's customer interfaces, including its award-winning website, OpenSource.gov, the Intelligence Community’s first product delivery website with managed content and leading edge interactive capabilities, for which she received an Intelligence Commendation Medal.  She also led the introduction of new interagency collaborative tools and processes in the OSC Operations Center.  Ms Tarbell began her career as a Soviet analyst in the Directorate of Intelligence, moving to the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) in 1987 as an analyst in the USSR Foreign Policy Branch, later becoming the Russia Foreign Policy branch chief.  She also served in successive posts as the FBIS senior analyst for Europe and the Middle East.  Ms. Tarbell has a BA from the University of the South (Sewanee) and an MA from the University of Illinois.  She studied Russian at Middlebury College, the Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) Governmental University, and Johns Hopkins University; and German at the Anglo-German Institute in Stuttgart, Germany.

Christine Williams, Ph.D., teaches analytic techniques, writing, and briefing skills to Intelligence Community analysts. In 2002, Dr. Williams completed a distinguished 22-year career as a senior executive in the Intelligence Community. She served as Chairman of the National Intelligence Council (NIC), the Deputy and Acting Executive of the National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX), Senior CIA Representative to the United Kingdom, and Office Director in the CIA's Directorate of Intelligence (DI). She also managed DI analysis on Eastern and Western Europe and the Soviet Union. She was awarded the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. Prior to joining the CIA, Dr. Williams did economic research and analysis for the International Monetary Fund and taught at Virginia Tech. Dr. Williams received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois.

Phil Williams, Ph.D., is Professor of International Security in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh and currently Visiting Research Professor, Strategic Studies Institute, at the US Army War College.  From 1992 to 2001, Dr. Williams was the Director of the University’s Matthew B. Ridgeway Center for International Security Studies.  His research has focused primarily on transnational organized crime and he is editor of the journal, Transnational Organized Crime.  Most recently his research has focused on alliances among criminal organizations, global and national efforts to combat money laundering, and trends in cyber crime.  Dr. Williams is a consultant to both the United Nations and US Government agencies.  He has edited or co-authored books on the Carter, Reagan, and Bush Presidencies, in addition to Russian Organized Crime, Illegal Immigration and Commercial Sex: the New Slave Trade, and Combating Transnational Crime.  He recently published book chapters on the financing of terrorism and is conducting research on how to attack terrorist networks.  At the Strategic Studies Institute, Dr. Williams is working on a monograph on organized crime in Iraq.

Mark W. Willis retired from the State Department after a 26-year career as a Foreign Service Officer last serving as Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Mongolia. Prior to that assignment, he was the Political Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Counterterrorism. He was also Deputy Director, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syrian Affairs at the State Department; a Middle East political analyst in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR); and International Relations Officer in the Oceans, Environment, and Science Bureau (OES). Mr. Willis served in U.S. Embassies in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria and Germany. He is a recipient of the Secretary of State's Career Recognition Award and a three-time recipient of the State Department's Meritorious Honor Award. Mr. Willis attended the U.S. Army War College in 1994-1995. He has a B.A. in History from Wesleyan University and an M.A. in History from American University.

Mona Yacoubian is an independent consultant on Middle East and North African issues, counterterrorism, and democracy promotion for the National Intelligence Council, the State Department, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the World Bank. She is a Special Advisor to the Muslim World Initiative at the US Institute of Peace. She served as the North Africa analyst for the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) from 1990-1998 and received a Meritorious Honor Award for her work on the Algerian crisis. In 1997, as an International Affairs Fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations, she published a monograph entitled "Algeria's Struggle with Democracy." Ms. Yacoubian received a B.A. from Duke University and an M.P.A. from Harvard University. She held a Fulbright Scholarship in Syria.

Program Support

Nigah Ajaj conceptualizes and produces high-quality creative solutions for Pherson Associates. She creates and manages the artistic elements of the website redesign, advertisements and print materials, creating strategic corporate identity building products.  She received her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Washington. 

Mary C. Boardman specializes in methodology design and implementation. Her methodological expertise includes agent-based modeling, econometrics/statistics, analytics, case studies, historical research, and evidence-based science policy. Ms. Boardman is currently a Ph.D. student in Public Policy at George Mason University and has completed all necessary coursework. She also holds a B.B.A. in International Business from the University of Oklahoma, and an M.P.P. in Public Policy from Pepperdine University.

Michael Bannister provides intelligence training support to the Department of Homeland Security’s Intelligence Training Center as a member of the Intelligence Training Support Team. Mr. Bannister earned a degree in Political Science with a minor in History from Christopher Newport University.

Jennifer Brown is a senior Human Resources (HR) professional with over 20 years of experience gained through working with various companies in diverse industries. Ms. Garrett has extensive experience in HR function turn-around situations, HR strategy and organizational development, recruiting and hiring, performance management, training and development, compensation and benefits, and employee relations. She has a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Personnel/Labor Relations and an MBA with a concentration in HR and Organizational Development from the University of Maryland.

Sharita Downey is the Personnel Security Administrator and Human Resource Liaison for Pherson Associates. She has over three years of experience as both a Personnel Security Administrator and Signals Intelligence Analyst in the Intelligence Community. She is pursuing an A.D. in Cybercrime from Anne Arundel Community College in Pasadena, Maryland.

Diana Pittman, PMP is responsible for providing overall project management support for Pherson projects, developing a Program Management Office for the company, and supporting government and commercial operations.  Ms. Pittman earned her B.S. in Education from West Chester University and has taken courses pursuant to a M.S. in Computer Science at Villanova University and Hood College.

Zachariah Rel is the Facility Security Manager and IT Representative for Pherson Associates. He served in the United States Marine Corps for four years, and has over seven years of experience in the security field serving in many positions from Security Officer to Program Manager. Zach is currently pursuing his B.A. in Global Affairs at George Mason University.

Kristen Reynolds oversees ongoing publication projects including the design, content and production of books, course materials, research studies, onscreen presentations, and marketing materials. She received a B.S. from Radford University in English/Business and Technical Writing, and an M.P.S. in Publishing from the George Washington University.

Libby Sass is responsible for the coordination of conferences and meetings held at Pherson’s facilities.  She also provides proposal, software tools, and other administrative support to the Pherson office.  Ms. Sass has a B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from Principia College.

David Sutton handles the day-to-day operations for the company. He manages the completion and development of notebooks for every instructional course offered by Pherson. Additionally, Mr. Sutton handles the logistic operations for the company including: supply procurement, facility reservations, and logistical coordination for off-site courses. Mr. Sutton completed his B.A. in political science from Texas Tech and received his M.A. in International Affairs from the Bush School of Government at Texas A&M University.

Lorri Zell