If not the only person in the world to have achieved distinction in the four fields of human geography, human services, human intelligence, and human resources, Mr. Batson is the first to do so without attending college. In 1978, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and, while a Cavalry Scout stationed in Cold War Germany, earned three bachelor’s degrees by examination. Sergeant First Class Batson's military assignments spanned the tactical (1AD), operational (SDDC), & strategic (CENTCOM) levels of warfare. His military education included the Advanced Non-commissioned Officer; Human Intelligence Collector; Mapping, Charting, and Geodesy Staff Officer; and Defense Language Institute’s Turkish courses. He was decorated with the Bronze Star and Kuwait Liberation Medals for meritorious service in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, and later the Army Commendation, Joint Service Achievement, & Global War on Terror Service Medals. The helping professions characterized the first decades of his 30-year Federal civilian career. Notably, Mr. Batson was a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security. However, the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, resulted in a return to the Defense Department. While serving on the staff of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, he was twice named an Exceptional Analyst by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Each award came with a one-year research fellowship at the National Intelligence University. Via award-winning publications, he advocated for the Land Administration Domain Model, which, in 2012, became a new international standard, ISO 19152. He was recognized with the AAG's M.F. Burrill award in 2014.Since his retirement from Federal service, Mr. Batson seasonally works as an Advanced Placement Human Geography exam reader and question reviewer. He provides quality control checks of the proposed exam questions that will be administered the following year to a quarter million high school students. Professor Batson travels the world to leverage his cross-cultural, counseling, and training expertise: teaching undergraduates at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania, and providing trauma healing to Persian refugee churches. In the USA, he served on the board of directors of Global Frontier Missions and helped resettle Afghan refugees. He is proud to have performed well as a reserve soldier in Operation DESERT STORM, exhibited a spirit of public service in four Cabinet agencies, and displayed Christian charity in all his interactions [excerpt from the Marquis Who’s Who biographical registry].
Listed skills include Government, Army, Intelligence Analysis, Dod, and 27 others.