Dave Baiocchi

Adjunct Researcher; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Off Site Office

Education

Ph.D. and M.S. in optical sciences, University of Arizona; B.S. in physics, DePaul University

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Dave Baiocchi (bye-OH-key) is an adjunct researcher at the RAND Corporation, and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, where he teaches courses on research and design. He is a designer, futurist and problem-solver who works at the intersection of technology, art and the human experience.

A recovering engineer, Baiocchi started his career at Sandia National Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he designed space telescopes—he has several sensors currently in orbit. Looking to have greater impact on the nation’s science and technology strategies, he joined the RAND Corporation in 2008, and he built a client practice that helped senior decision makers at NASA, DARPA and the Air Force better understand the implications of emerging technologies.

In 2019, Baiocchi founded Imaginative Futures, an innovation strategy consultancy that integrates original, multidisciplinary research with technology & design trends to help business leaders adapt in a rapidly changing world.

Baiocchi remains affiliated with RAND as an adjunct researcher, where he works on special projects with RAND leadership. He holds a B.S. in physics from DePaul University and a Ph.D. in optical sciences from the University of Arizona.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Identifying effective management strategies for the DoD's national laboratories
Assessing the business case for the Maui High Performance Computing Center
Helping the Air Force Research Labs maximize the utility of their optical observatories
Understanding the Army's deployments to Iraq & Afghanistan
Technology policy for space debris remediation

Selected Publications

Dave Baiocchi and Steven Fox, Surprise! From CEOs to Navy SEALs: How a Select Group of Professionals Prepare for and Respond to the Unexpected, RAND (RR-341), 2013

Dave Baiocchi and William Welser IV, Confronting Space Debris, RAND (MG-1042), 2010

Tim Bonds, Dave Baiocchi, and Laurie McDonald, Army Deployments to OIF and OEF, RAND (DB-587), 2009

Honors & Awards

Brown Fellowship, Pardee RAND Graduate School, 2015
RAND Gritton Award, RAND Corporation, 2013
RAND Bronze Award, RAND Corporation, 2010

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: Quartz

Commentary: Houston Chronicle; Leadership Excellence Magazine

Commentary

Outer Space

Debris Poses Increased Threat to Exploration
Today, every satellite launch and maneuver is carefully coordinated because some orbits are strewn with the space-based equivalent of blown tires, abandoned vehicles, loose gravel and, of course, other traffic.
May 16, 2014
Houston Chronicle
Decisionmaking

Surprise! Now What?
Who is best prepared for responding to surprise: a Navy SEAL, an NFL coach, or a Fortune 500 CEO? The answer is that all three professions have something to teach us: The NFL coach is an expert in pre-planning; the SEAL is great under pressure; and a good CEO has become an expert in responding to strategic threats.
Aug 27, 2013
the October 2013 edition of Leadership Excellence magazine and on The RAND Blog
Surprise: Q and A with Dave Baiocchi and D. Steven Fox
Dave Baiocchi, RAND senior engineer and professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and assistant policy analyst D. Steven Fox discuss their new study,
Aug 14, 2013
Satellites

Satellite Collision Is a Reminder of Challenges Posed by Space Debris
This isn't going to be an easy problem to solve because, like spilled petroleum products, debris can spend years lurking in an environment that is foreign to most people's daily lives, write Dave Baiocchi and William Welser.
Mar 15, 2013
The RAND Blog
Outer Space

The Effects of Celestial Events Go Beyond Their Impact
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.
Feb 20, 2013
The RAND Blog
Satellite Communication

Intelsat Crash a Setback for Space Lift Competition
Sea Launch's recent failure means more than just a lost payload and revenue for Intelsat: It means the status quo for launch services will continue for a while longer, write Dave Baiocchi and William Welser.
Feb 12, 2013
The RAND Blog

Publications

Brochure
Roadmap of Scalable Analytic Methods
Scalable analytic methods refers to a collection of data-intensive methods, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, and data science. This infographic illustrates how these methods relate to traditional analytical approaches.
Feb 9, 2022
Report
Assessing the Need for Supercomputing Resources Within the Pacific Area of Responsibility
This report evaluates the capabilities, challenges, and future options for the Maui High Performance Computing Center, providing important context about the center as decisionmakers work toward resolving its budget gap.
Feb 9, 2017
Report
Good Seeing: Best Practices for Sustainable Operations at the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site
Presents a framework developed to survey the most appropriate analog facilities to the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site in order to provide suggestions for how the Air Force might further streamline its operations and minimize costs.
Apr 22, 2016
Report
Satellite Anomalies: Benefits of a Centralized Anomaly Database and Methods for Securely Sharing Information Among Satellite Operators
This report describes the nature and causes of satellite anomalies, and the potential benefits of a shared and centralized satellite anomaly database. It also explores the obstacles that have so far prevented such a database from being created.
Jun 2, 2014
Report
Achieving Higher-Fidelity Conjunction Analyses Using Cryptography to Improve Information Sharing
Examines the applicability of secure multiparty computation (MPC) protocols as a means to compute the collision probability of two satellites (conjunction analyses) while maintaining the privacy of each operator's orbital information.
Feb 12, 2014
Report
A Sixty-Year Timeline of the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site
This document contains a timeline of key events in the history of the Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing Site. The timeline is provided in both tabular and printable wall chart formats.
Dec 16, 2013
Report
Increasing Flexibility and Agility at the National Reconnaissance Office: Lessons from Modular Design, Occupational Surprise, and Commercial Research and Development Processes
To help the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) become more flexible and agile in an increasingly uncertain world, RAND researched whether the NRO might benefit from building modular satellites and examined how professionals respond to surprise.
Aug 14, 2013
Research Brief
The Elements of Surprise: How Professionals Prepare for and Respond to Unexpected Events
This research brief summarizes the findings of a project that sought to identify common strategies used by practitioners in various professions, from professional sports to Navy SEALs, to respond to unexpected events.
Aug 14, 2013
Report
Surprise! From CEOs to Navy SEALs: How a Select Group of Professionals Prepare for and Respond to the Unexpected
RAND researchers interviewed representatives from 13 diverse professions and relate how these representatives detect and mitigate the negative effects of surprise.
Aug 14, 2013
Report
Facilitating Information Sharing Across the International Space Community: Lessons from Behavioral Science
Based on a review of relevant research literature, this report examines ways to encourage the space community to share information that will help its members navigate increasing numbers of satellites and space debris.
May 2, 2013
Report
Measuring Army Deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan
Summarizes how many Army personnel have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan through December 2011.
Feb 28, 2013
Research Brief
Can the Army Deploy More Soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan?
Assess the demands placed upon the Army by the continuing deployments of soldiers to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nov 17, 2011
Report
Confronting Space Debris: Strategies and Warnings from Comparable Examples Including Deepwater Horizon
To guide future responses to the space debris problem, examines strategies for nine comparable problems: acid rain, U.S. commercial airline security, asbestos, chlorofluorocarbons, hazardous waste, oil spills, radon, spam, and U.S. border control.
Nov 2, 2010
Report
Army Deployments to OIF and OEF
Assess the demands placed upon the Army by the continuing deployments of soldiers to operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jan 29, 2010