Eric Henson

Eric Henson is currently a Senior Vice President at Compass Lexecon, where he offers his expertise in economic and financial analysis in a range of settings, including oil and gas valuation disputes, antitrust claims, and industry/market structures. He also works closely with the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development as a Research Fellow, where he focuses on American Indian economic development.

Henson holds a B.B.A. in business economics from the University of Texas at San Antonio, an M.A. in economics from Southern Methodist University, and an M.P.P. degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

While at Harvard, Henson's research centered on the interaction of government and business. His thesis provided analysis for the importance of a uniform commercial code to the economic development on a Native American reservation. He was honored to attend the school as the Kennedy School's Christian Johnson Native American Fellow.

Henson has a strong interest in Native American economic development. Recent work on behalf of Native Americans has examined tribal taxing authority in the Pacific Northwest and settlement negotiations regarding the valuation of oil leases in Alaska.

Henson notes that his maternal grandmother was a huge influence on him in embracing the importance of his Chickasaw heritage. "It's great to meet tribal people ... people who have accomplished so much, often against great odds," he said. "We're still here, we're strong in our identities and we will determine who and what we are."