Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world

Past Event
Seminar

Defense Project Series: Strategic Intelligence for National Security Decision-Making

RSVP Required Harvard Faculty, Fellows, Staff, and Students

The Defense Project and Intelligence Project will co-host a lunch with LTG Karen Gibson, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for National Security Partnerships, from 11:45a,-1:00pm in Bell Hall. 

Please RSVP below. Admission open to Harvard staff, students, fellows, faculty, alumni, and affiliates. 

Date: Time: - Location: Belfer Building - Bell Hall, 5th Floor
LTG. Karen H. Gibson

About

Based primarily on her recent three-year experience as the Director of Intelligence for U.S. Central Command (military operations from Egypt to Pakistan, Yemen to Kazakhstan) and for the Defeat-ISIS Campaign in Iraq and Syria, LTG. Gibson will discuss her observations of how senior leaders – from the Secretary of Defense down to battlefield commanders – shape, drive, and consume strategic intelligence. 

She will offer best practices for being a wise consumer of intelligence and share a few cautionary tales for how one might misuse or distort intelligence. Finally, she'll discuss her views on shortcomings within the intelligence enterprise and the dramatic change necessary to effectively respond to emerging threats and new technologies. 

Biography

LTG Gibson has served in a variety of joint and operational intelligence duty assignments in the United States, Middle East, Afghanistan, Africa, and Korea and has commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. She most recently served as Director, J2, U.S. Central Command; Director, CJ2, Combined Joint Task Force-OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE; Deputy Commanding General for U.S. Army Cyber Command’s Joint Force Headquarters; and Director, CJ2, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

LTG Gibson holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Purdue University, a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the Joint Military Intelligence College, and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. Her military education includes the Military Intelligence Officer’s Basic and Advanced courses, Postgraduate Intelligence Program, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. She is also a Distinguished Graduate of the National War College.

LTG Gibson’s awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star Medal, and various other medals. She is authorized to wear the Parachutist, Air Assault, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification and Army Staff badges.

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