January 27, 2005
Assistant Secretary Thomas Fingar
Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR)
U.S. Department of State
TOPIC:
Intelligence Reform: Why We Need It
Dr. Thomas
Fingar became Assistant Secretary of the State Department’s
Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) on July 23, 2004.
He serves as principal adviser to the Secretary on
intelligence-related issues, supervises analytical work on
every country and region as well as transnational challenges
such as terrorism and proliferation, ensures that activities
undertaken by the Intelligence Community support the
President’s foreign policy, and contributes to coordinated
intelligence judgments as a member of the National Foreign
Intelligence Board.
Previous assignments in the Department include serving as
Acting Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Research
(2003-2004 and 2000-2001), Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary (2001-2003), Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Analysis (1994-2000), Director of the Office of Analysis for
East Asia and the Pacific (1989-1994), and Chief of the
China Division (1986-1989). Dr. Fingar was a member of the
Senior Seminar during 1992-1993.
Between 1975 and 1986 he held a number of positions at
Stanford University, including Senior Research Associate in
the Center for International Security and Arms Control, and
Director of the University’s U.S.-China Relations Program.
Other previous positions include assignment to the National
Academy of Sciences as Co-Director of the US-China Education
Clearinghouse, adviser to the Congressional Office of
Technology Assessment, and consultant to numerous U.S.
Government agencies and private sector organizations. He
served as a German linguist and intelligence analyst in the
U.S. Army, 1969-72.
Dr. Fingar is a graduate of Cornell University (A.B. in
Government and History, 1968), and Stanford University
(M.A., 1969 and Ph.D., 1977 both in Political Science). He
is a career member of the Senior Executive Service. His
principal foreign languages are Chinese and German. Dr.
Fingar has published dozens of books and articles, mostly on
aspects of Chinese politics and policymaking.
