Maintenance of military aircraft often requires the acquisition and procurement of new and technologically advanced equipment, which is a major expense for any nation. RAND has researched and evaluated military acquisition, procurement, and maintenance activities for decades, providing essential recommendations to allow military decisionmakers to manage costs and make effective decisions and policy regarding aircraft sustainment activities.
Report
Building on RAND work examining the cost-effectiveness of modernizing the U.S. Air Force's KC-10 aerial refueling tanker to comply with airspace modernization mandates, this study extended the analysis to the C-5, C-17, C-130, and KC-135 fleets.
Report
Depot purchased equipment maintenance (DPEM) funds the bulk of the work done at Air Force depots that does not involve the repair of spares or work on modification programs. This report analyzes how to better program for DPEM.
Report
A congressionally mandated review of the proposed restructuring of Air Force Materiel Command examined the proposal and its effect on life-cycle management, weapon system sustainment, and overall support to the warfighter.
Report
When production ceases, tools must be used elsewhere, disposed of, or stored; the authors examine these tooling retention issues for the C-17 cargo aircraft.
Report
The Air Force is considering upgrades to the KC-10 in several areas. An assessment of options to upgrade the KC-10 weighed the costs and potential benefits of the upgrades against demands in different types of operations and KC-10 roles.
Report
The initial phases of a study of the Air Force logistics enterprise finds that consolidated wing-level scheduled inspections and component back-shop maintenance capabilities would be more effective and efficient than the current system.
Report
Develops an approach for rebalancing aircraft maintenance capabilities between mission generation units and a network of centralized repair facilities, illustrated by an application to the F-16 and KC-135 weapon systems.
Report
Without modernization, the U.S. Air Force's KC-10 air refueling fleet will not be in compliance with upcoming worldwide air traffic mandates. An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the required KC-10 upgrades revealed a net cost avoidance.
Report
A method for capabilities-based programming is developed to assist the programming of a wide range of resources in light of an uncertain future, expressing capabilities and risks of resource allocations in terms of national planning objectives.
Report
Evaluates maintenance options for U.S. Air Force associate units, where the goal of the associate units is to produce trained pilots in the most efficient manner possible.
Report
Examines Air Force missions that could be transferred, in whole or in part, to the Air National Guard.
Report
Describes a model for evaluating organic and contractor capacity to meet aircraft programmed depot maintenance (PDM) workloads, using an assessment tool that forecasts the number of aircraft that will be in maintenance over the coming decades.
Report
Analyzes the interpretation, transformation, and future of the U.S. Air Force's ongoing surge requirements.
Report
This report presents a construct for reorganizing Air Force acquisition and purchasing activities by implementing purchasing and supply management.
Report
Examines the development and recent implementation of maintenance forward support locations, also known as Centralized Intermediate Repair Facilities.
People
Senior Management Scientist
Ph.D. in business administration, M.B.A. in logistics management, The Ohio State University; M.S. in logistics, Air Force Institute of Technology