National Security

RAND conducts a broad array of national security research for the U.S. Department of Defense. RAND also carries out an extensive research program in homeland security, homeland defense, and terrorism-related research for the U.S. Government, as well as selected research for key allied governments and ministries of defense. Through its long-term investment in federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), the U.S. government has built a network of institutions with unique analytical and technical capabilities.

National security research is conducted by the following RAND FFRDCs: RAND Project AIR FORCE, sponsored by the U.S. Air Force; RAND Arroyo Center, sponsored by the U.S. Army; RAND National Defense Research Institute, sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

More »Featured Research

"Preferred Performance Metric" Could Aid Evaluation of Army Recruiters — Apr. 20, 2008

Traditional Army recruiter performance metrics do not adequately measure effort, skill, and productivity. A “preferred performance metric” that takes into account the difficulty of recruiting different types of youth in various markets could provide a more accurate assessment of recruiters.

Full Document

One In Five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Suffer from PTSD or Major Depression — Apr. 17, 2008

Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — 300,000 in all — report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slightly more than half have sought treatment.

Full Document News Release Invisible Wounds of War: Summary and Recommendations Research Brief Post-Deployment Stress: What You Should Know, What You Can Do Post-Deployment Stress: What Families Should Know, What Families Can Do Media Interview veterans.rand.org

More »Featured Project

Center Provides Expertise on the Middle East — May 23, 2007

The RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy (CMEPP) provides expertise on critical issues facing the Middle East. Recent CMEPP projects include education reform in the region, transition to democracy, and the viability of a Palestinian state.

May 7, 2008: Give Them Sabbaticals, By Laura Miller (USA Today)

April 25, 2008: A House of Tribes for Iraq, By Theodore W. Karasik, Ghassan Schbley (Washingtonpost.com)

April 22, 2008: Good Morning, Syria! – Time to Revisit Our Axis of Evil List?, By Cheryl Benard, Edward O'Connell (Providence Journal)

April 17, 2008: One In Five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Suffer from PTSD or Major Depression

April 15, 2008: Perspectives on the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism, By Roger C. Molander

View All »Featured Reports

The Challenge of Nuclear-Armed Regional Adversaries

North Korea’s test of a nuclear weapon in 2006 shows that such weapons are within reach of determined regional powers. Thus, defense planners in the United States and elsewhere must begin now to confront the new security challenges posed by nuclear–armed regional adversaries.

Full Document

Small Ships in Theater Security Cooperation

The Navy asked the RAND Corporation to analyze necessary small vessel characteristics, focusing on theater security cooperation (TSC) operations in sub–Saharan Africa. Using a strategies–to–tasks methodology, the authors develop concepts of operation for employing small ships in TSC, translate TSC tasks into required capabilities, and derive ship characteristics from these capabilities.

Full Document