Welcome to the Homeland Security and Defense Center

The Homeland Security and Defense Center conducts analysis to prepare and protect communities and critical infrastructure from natural disasters and terrorism. Center projects examine a wide range of risk management problems including coastal and border security, emergency preparedness and response, defense support to civil authorities, transportation security, domestic intelligence programs, technology acquisition, and related topics.

Center clients include the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and other organizations charged with security and disaster preparedness, response and recovery.

The Homeland Security and Defense Center is a joint center of the RAND National Security Research Division and RAND Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment.

Recent Publications and Blog Posts

Reacting to Boston — Apr 22, 2013

Massachusetts National Guardsmen in BostonBasing public safety decisions on risk analysis allows authorities to devote public resources to those counterterrorism measures that have the potential to do the most good, writes Henry Willis.

Boston Marathon Bombings Highlight Need to Measure Investment in Homeland Security — Apr 18, 2013

A cloud of smoke envelopes the street after a bomb explodes at the Boston MarathonIn recent years, especially following the economic downturn, states, counties, and cities have looked for ways to reduce costs and maintain basic policing services, leading many to question what the investment in counterterrorism and homeland security has achieved for their jurisdiction.

Capabilities-Based Planning Can Enhance Energy Security at DoD Installations — Feb 20, 2013

Energy security strategies are needed because DoD installations rely on the U.S. commercial electricity grid which is vulnerable to disruption from natural hazards and actor-induced outages, such as physical or cyber attacks.

The Effects of Celestial Events Go Beyond Their Impact — Feb 20, 2013

While the event in Russia was caused by a medium-sized (10,000-ton) meteor, larger objects, like the asteroid 2012 DA14 that also passed near Earth last week, have the potential to be significantly more damaging, write Dave Baiocchi and William Welser.

Assessing Multiple Data Points Can Help in Predicting Suicide Attack Targets — Feb 18, 2013

Analysis of data on suicide attacks in Israel suggest that assessing sociocultural, political, economic, and demographic factors in addition to geospatial data enhances the ability to predict future suicide attack targets.
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HSDC Director

Henry H. Willis

Henry WillisHenry H. Willis is director of the RAND Homeland Security and Defense Center and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Willis has applied risk analysis tools to resource allocation and risk management decisions in the areas of public health and emergency preparedness, homeland and national security policy, energy and environmental policy, and transportation planning. He is the author of dozens of publications, book chapters, and op-ed pieces and has testified before Congress as an expert on applying risk analysis to homeland security policy.

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HSDC Associate Director

Michael J. McNerney

Michael McNerneyMichael McNerney is a senior defense research analyst at the RAND Corporation. His research focuses on defense strategy and planning, civil–military coordination, and international relations.

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