Laura H. Baldwin
Media Resources
This researcher is available for interviews.
To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or e-mail media@rand.org.
Education
Overview
Biography
Laura H. Baldwin is a senior economist at the RAND Corporation and director of the Resource Management Program within RAND Project AIR FORCE. Baldwin's research has addressed a variety of U.S. Air Force logistics and acquisition challenges associated with System Program Office staffing, the structure of transfer prices for reparable aircraft components, growth in aircraft heavy maintenance costs as aircraft age, public/private competitions for provision of services, implementation of best commercial purchasing and supply management practices, and provision of combat support activities in a joint contingency environment. She helped evaluate the option of using commercial sources of refueling within the continental United States as part of the 2006 analysis of alternatives for the recapitalization of the KC-135 aerial refueling tanker. She has collected and analyzed data on logistics and acquisition activities from Air Force installations around the world, including the United States Central Command area of responsibility (AOR) countries. In addition, she has conducted market research with commercial buyers and providers of a wide range of goods and services to learn best practices for outsourcing, performance measurement, contract bundling, and supplier management. Baldwin received her Ph.D. in economics from Duke University.
Research Focus
Recent Projects
- Military business practices (outsourcing aerial refueling services
- Adapting and adopting best commercial practices for purchasing and supply management within the U.S. Air Force
- Transforming the Air Force's procurement workforce to implement best purchasing and supply management practices
- Improving performance and cost outcomes of purchased services)
- Military logistics (contracting in a joint operational environment; contracting to support Air Force contingency operations; maintaining extended service lives for aging aircraft weapon systems)
Selected Publications
Laura H. Baldwin et al., Analyzing Contingency Contracting Purchases for Operation Iraqi Freedom, RAND Corporation (MG-559/1), 2008
Lloyd Dixon et al., An Assessment of Air Force Data on Contract Expenditures, RAND Corporation (MG-274), 2006
Michael Kennedy et al., Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) for KC-135 Recapitalization: Executive Summary, RAND Corporation (MG-495), 2006
Laura H. Baldwin and Glenn A. Gotz, "Transfer Prices for Air Force Component Repair Decisions," Defence and Peace Economics, 15(1), 2004
Laura H. Baldwin and Ellen M. Pint, "Economic Analysis for Defence Decision-Makers: Personnel, Capital and Alliances," Defence and Peace Economics, 14(5), 2003
Economics
Recent Projects
- Contracting in a contingency environment
- Outsourcing aerial refueling services
- Measuring the performance of support services and providing incentives for improvement
- Estimating the costs of maintaining aging aircraft weapon systems
- Balancing socioeconomic considerations and best business practices when contracting for services
Selected Publications
Laura H. Baldwin, John A. Ausink, Nancy F. Campbell, John G. Drew, and Charles Robert Roll, Jr., Analyzing Contingency Contracting Purchases for Operation Iraqi Freedom, RAND Corporation (MG-559/1-AF), 2008
Laura H. Baldwin, John A. Ausink and Nancy Nicosia, Air Force Service Procurement: Approaches for Measurement and Management, RAND Corporation (MG-299-AF), 2005
Laura H. Baldwin, Glenn A. Gotz, "Transfer Prices for Air Force Component Repair Decisions," Defence and Peace Economics, 14(5):1-2, 2003
Laura H. Baldwin , Robert C. Marshall, and Jean-Francois Richard, "Bidder Collusion at Forest Service Timber Sales," Journal of Political Economy, 105(4), 1997
RAND® is a registered trademark. Copyright © 1994-2012 RAND Corporation.