Defense Infrastructure

The buildings and permanent installations necessary for the support, deployment, and operation of a nation's military constitute its defense infrastructure. RAND research has examined the structure and needs of U.S. and allied military facilities, provided recommendations concerning base realignment, and investigated ways to maximize the capabilities and utilization of existing resources and to define future infrastructure needs.

Research conducted by: RAND National Security Research Division; RAND Arroyo Center; RAND Project AIR FORCE

All Items (57)

Report

Key Trends That Will Shape Army Installations of Tomorrow — Jun 6, 2013

Assesses how future trends external to Army installations may affect the Army's ability to provide quality installation services and infrastructure.

Report

The Strategic Benefits, Risks, and Costs of U.S. Military Presence Overseas — Apr 29, 2013

world map showing U.S. overseas bases

While the DoD is under pressure to reduce costs, meaningful savings from overseas posture changes would require choosing from a small set of options, each presenting benefit trade-offs. U.S. military presence contributes to assurance of allies, deterrence, contingency responsiveness, and security cooperation.

Research Brief

U.S. Overseas Military Posture: Relative Costs and Strategic Benefits — Apr 29, 2013

In an environment of fiscal constraints and shifting strategic needs, policymakers should carefully weigh the strategic capability effects, relative costs, and risks associated with potential changes to U.S. overseas military posture.

Report

Obtaining Life-Cycle Cost-Effective Facilities in the Department of Defense — Mar 5, 2013

The Department of Defense constructs, operates, and maintains numerous facilities. This report shares RAND's description and assessment of the process used to obtain life-cycle cost-effective facilities and how it affects construction options.

Report

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.

Report

U.S. Global Defense Posture, 1783–2011 — Jan 14, 2013

The evolution of the U.S. global defense posture from 1783 to the present offers important lessons for dealing with similar problems in the future.

Report

Looming Strategic Choices for U.S. Overseas Military Presence — Sep 12, 2012

Since World War II, the United States has relied on a global network of military bases and forces to protect its interests and those of its allies. But the international environment has changed greatly and economic concerns have risen, leading some to debate just what America's role should now be in the world.

News Release

Looming Strategic Choices for U.S. Overseas Military Presence — Sep 12, 2012

Since World War II, the United States has relied on a global network of military bases and forces to protect its interests and those of its allies. But the international environment has changed greatly and economic concerns have risen, leading some to debate just what America's role should now be in the world.

Commentary

DoD Renewable Fuels Investment Premature — May 23, 2012

Technological development challenges suggest that it is highly unlikely that advanced approaches for producing hydrotreated renewable oils suitable for military applications will constitute an important fraction of the commercial fuel market until well beyond the next decade, writes Keith Crane.

News Release

Obituary: Glenn A. Kent, National Security Strategist, Senior RAND Research Fellow — Apr 26, 2012

Lt. Gen. Glenn A. Kent, a strategist, analyst and teacher whose career spanned World War II, the Cold War and the post-Cold War eras, died April 25.

Research Brief

Standing Up a More Capable Joint Task Force Headquarters — Nov 18, 2011

The U.S. Army needs to improve its ability to command and control joint, interagency, and multinational forces in diverse environments, and to prepare Army headquarters to perform as components of, or headquarters for, joint task forces.

Report

Targets for Marine Corps Purchasing and Supply Management Initiatives: Spend Analysis Findings — Oct 13, 2011

Moore et al. provide a first-order analysis of Marine Corps purchases and Defense Logistics Agency purchases on behalf of the Marine Corps, revealing many indicators of opportunities and challenges for purchasing and supply management initiatives.

Report

Preserving Range and Airspace Access for the Air Force Mission: Striving for a Strategic Vantage Point — May 17, 2011

Air Force range managers schedule the infrastructure and airspace needed for realistic testing and training activities, which requires adequate information about the proposed maneuvers, the acceptable context, and understanding of the goals.

Report

Influences on the Adoption of Multifactor Authentication — Apr 15, 2011

Passwords are proving less and less capable of protecting computer systems from abuse. Multifactor authentication (MFA) — which combines something you know (e.g., a PIN), something you have (e.g., a token), and/or something you are (e.g., a fingerprint) — is increasingly being required. This report investigates why organizations choose to adopt or not adopt MFA — and where they choose to use it.

Report

The Effects of Changing Aircraft Carrier Procurement Schedules — Mar 21, 2011

The Secretary of Defense's plans to shift Navy aircraft carrier acquisition to every five years should have little impact on force structure and the industrial base in the next decade—but after that, the force structure shrinks, as does the chance of meeting goals for the number of deployed aircraft carriers.

Report

A Methodology for Comparing Costs and Benefits of Management Alternatives for F-22 Sustainment — Feb 16, 2011

The U.S. Air Force asked RAND Project AIR FORCE to perform a congressionally required assessment of contractor versus organic management of F-22 sustainment to determine the most cost-effective approach, the methodology for which is described here.

Report

Sustaining Key Skills in the UK Military Aircraft Industry — Feb 7, 2011

The UK Ministry of Defence's Fixed Wing Sector Strategy Board commissioned RAND Europe to assist in the development of a strategy and sustainment plan for the military fixed wing sector.

Research Brief

Sustaining Key Skills in the United Kingdom's Military Aircraft Industry — Jan 31, 2011

The UK currently has the industrial skills needed to develop, produce and maintain its military aircraft, but predicted future demand for design engineering activity is insufficient to sustain a number of key skills beyond the 2010-2019 decade.

News Release

No Direct Military Benefit from Use of Alternative Fuels by Armed Forces — Jan 25, 2011

If the U.S. military increases its use of alternative fuels, there will be no direct benefit to the nation's armed forces.

Report

No Direct Military Benefit from Use of Alternative Fuels by Armed Forces — Jan 25, 2011

If the U.S. military increases its use of alternative fuels, there will be no direct benefit to the nation's armed forces. It makes more sense for the military to direct its efforts toward using energy more efficiently.

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