2011 INCMA Lecture Series:

“Instilling Rigor and Imagination in Your Analysis”

Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Please join the InfraGard Nations Capital Members Alliance (INCMA) for the next event in our 2011 Lecture Series, "Instilling Rigor and Imagination in Your Analysis."

WHO:  Katherine Hibbs Pherson and Randolph H. Pherson, CEO and President, respectively, of Pherson Associates.

The Phersons teach advanced analytic techniques to intelligence analysts in the intelligence, law enforcement, and homeland security communities.

Kathy Pherson is a consultant to government and private industry on building analytic communities, use of structured analytic techniques, and security issues.She retired from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 2000 after a 27-year career 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 head 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 AB in Hispanic Studies from Vassar College, an MA in Spanish Linguistics and Latin American Studies from the University of Illinois, and an MA 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.

Randy Pherson has spearheaded teaching and developing analytic techniques and critical thinking skills in the Intelligence Community.  He served for 28 years in the Intelligence Community, last serving as National Intelligence Officer for Latin America.  He is the recipient of the Distinguished Intelligence Medal and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal and author of the Handbook of Analytic Tools and Techniques.

WHAT:  The best intelligence analysts use a set of structured analytic techniques to analyze incomplete, ambiguous, and potentially deceptive data. These techniques can  complement traditional analytic methods by helping analysts mitigate cognitive biases, avoid errors caused by known analytic pitfalls, and explicitly examine and test their preconceptions and assumptions. The usefulness and applicability of these techniques go well beyond the intelligence community and are relevant to anyone who is responsible for protecting individuals, sensitive data, critical infrastructures, hard assets, intellectual property and much, much more.

WHEN: This event is on Wednesday, November 9th from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm (check-in and refreshments begin at 5:00 pm).

WHERE: INCMA, in partnership with Pherson Associates, is hosting this event. The address is 1890 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Free parking is available in front of the building.

This event is open to both InfraGard members and non-members.

There is a $25 fee to attend the event which includes refreshments. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite at http://incma11092011.eventbrite.com

If you aren't an InfraGard member, please indicate "N/A" when responding to the InfraGard Member Number question during registration.

WHY:  To hear expert presentations and discussion about advancing the art and science of analysis and decision-making to identify and overcome mindsets, instill rigor and creativity, and design innovative strategies to solve the hardest problems. Learn how you can leverage your skills with better analytic techniques that will make you a force multiplier for protecting people, information and physical assets.

The agenda for the evening is as follows:

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm Check-in and refreshments

5:30 pm - 5:45 pm Welcoming Remarks / INCMA chapter business 

5:45 pm - 7:15 pm Speaker presentations

 7:15 pm - 7:45 pm Moderated Q&A

 7:45 pm - 8:00 pm Wrap-up and adjournment

We hope you can join us and look forward to your attendance at this event. If you have any questions, please contact one of us.

Warm regards,

 Paul Byron Pattak, INCMA, President, paulbyronpattak@gmail.com

 Alex Grohmann, INCMA, VP for Programs & Events, alex_grohmann@yahoo.com

 Kara Sidener, FBI-WFO InfraGard Coordinator, kara.sidener@ic.fbi.gov

InfraGard is a public-private volunteer organization that serves as a critical link across sectors and industries. There are 86 members alliances throughout the United States and over 41,000 members. InfraGard provides its members with unmatched opportunities to promote the physical and cyber security of their organizations through access to a trusted, national network of Subject Matter Experts from the public and private sectors. It provides government stakeholders, across the local, state, and Federal levels with unmatched access to the expertise and experience of critical infrastructure owners and operators. InfraGard’s leadership consists of volunteers with distinguished careers in government, business, military, law enforcement and academia. More information can be found at www.infragardnationscapital.org and www.infragard.net.