Lynn E. Davis
Overview
Biography
Lynn E. Davis is a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, and serves as director of RAND's Washington office. From 1993 to 1997, Davis served as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.
Her current research focuses on strategic planning, terrorism, citizen preparedness, and defense strategy and force structure issues. She was the senior study group advisor for the Commission on National Security/21st Century. Prior to joining the State Department, Davis was vice president and director of the RAND Arroyo Center. She has also served on the staffs of the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the first Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. She has taught in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University, at the National War College, and at Columbia University.
Davis's recent RAND publications include Iran's Nuclear Future: Critical U.S. Policy Choices (Lynn E. Davis et al., 2011); A Strategic Planning Approach: Defining Alternative Counterterrorism Strategies as an Illustration (Lynn E. Davis and Melanie W. Sisson, 2009); Hurricane Katrina: Lessons for Army Planning and Operations (Lynn E. Davis et al., 2007); "Four Ways to Restructure National Security in the U.S. Government" (in Robert Klitgaard and Paul C. Light, eds., High-Performance Government: Structure, Leadership, Incentives, 2005); and Stretched Thin: Army Forces for Sustained Operations (Lynn E. Davis et al., 2005).
Research Focus
Recent Projects
- Strategic planning
- Terrorism
- Homeland security
- Citizen preparedness
Selected Publications
Lynn E. Davis et al., Iran's Nuclear Future: U.S. Policy Choices, RAND Corporation (MG-1087), 2011
Lynn E. Davis and Melanie W. Sisson, A Strategic Planning Approach: Defining Alternative Counterterrorism Strategies as an Illustration, RAND Corporation (OP-242), 2009
Lynn E. Davis, Hurricane Katrina: Lessons for Army Planning and Operations, RAND Corporation (MG-603), 2007
Lynn E. Davis et al., Army Forces for Homeland Security, RAND Corporation (MG-221), 2005
Robert Klitgaard and Paul C. Light, eds., High-Performance Government: Structure Leadership Incentives, RAND Corporation (MG-256), 2005
Lynn E. Davis et al., Stretched Thin: Army Forces for Sustained Operations, RAND Corporation (MG-362), 2005
Lynn E. Davis et al., Coordinating the War on Terrorism, RAND Corporation (OP-110), 2004
Lynn E. Davis et al., Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear and Biological Terrorist Attacks, RAND Corporation (MR-1731), 2003
Recent Media Appearances
Interviews: CNN; New York Times; Reuters; Wall Street Journal; Washington Post
Commentary: The Connection

Quake a Disaster 'Drill' D.C. Flunked — Aug 29, 2011