Sina Beaghley

What the Capitol Siege Means for the Future of Security Clearances

Some people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 had or have a national security clearance and thus trusted access to classified information. And some might apply for a security clearance in the future. If they are not identified and prosecuted, then they won't have a criminal record that could be detected in a background check.

A Snowden Pardon Could Have a Snowball Effect on Protecting National Security Secrets

If President Trump were to pardon Edward Snowden, then he might encourage vigilante behavior that puts at risk the very sensitive information and operations—meaning American interests and lives—that the U.S. national security system is intended to protect.

Overdue Overhaul: Security Clearance Reform in a Decade of Leakers, Spies, and Insider Threats

With the legislative and executive branches seemingly on the same page regarding the need for changes to the security clearance and vetting system, long overdue reform appears to be within reach.

Have a Victim Response Plan for Data Breaches

In a large data breach, there could be a real risk to victims' financial or personal security. Though responsible organizations should do everything in their power to ensure data is protected in the first place, they also should prepare a plan to ensure prompt victim response.

Equifax and the Data-Breach Era

The personal and financial data of almost 146 million U.S. consumers has been compromised by the Equifax breach, the latest in a long line of high-profile hacks. Do consumers worry enough about such breaches? And what options are available to Congress?

What Is the Adversary Likely to Do with the Clearance Records for 20 Million Americans?

The state actor that hacked the Office of Personnel Management could use the stolen information to further its domestic control against dissidents, enhance its foreign intelligence, and improve its position in the global military and economic order.

Defining a New Paradigm for Government Secrecy

Technology has afforded the U.S. national security apparatus incredible capabilities, along with equally monumental challenges and risks. The government has the option to choose whether to adjust by taking a proactive approach or to allow external forces to determine the future of its secrets.

The USA Freedom Act: The Definition of a Compromise

The USA Freedom Act does not 'balance' privacy and national security, nor is it clear that any legislation can credibly do so. There's no monolithic view of what such a balance should look like.

Report

A Diverse and Trusted Workforce: Examining Elements That Could Contribute to the Potential for Bias and Sources of Inequity in National Security Personnel Vetting­

The authors explore the potential for bias or sources of inequity related to race or ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or neurodivergence within the security clearance vetting process.

Report

Assessing Misperceptions Online About the Security Clearance Process

The authors of this report describe and analyze online information and potential misinformation about the security clearance process. Reviewing the content on internet forums reveals potential misperceptions about the process.

Report

Assessing Security Risk in a New Normal: Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Personal and Work Behaviors

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on a variety of behaviors considered during personnel investigations. The authors suggest ways to adjust the baseline of risk considerations for better identification of risky behavior.

Report

Assessing the Potential for Racial Bias in the Security Clearance Process

In this exploratory report, the authors consider the security clearance process through the lens of racial justice. They identify areas where bias might contribute to the underrepresentation of Black Americans in the national security workforce.

Report

Employee Conversions to the Cyber Excepted Service: Assessing Factors and Characteristics Related to Personnel Conversion Decisions

In this report, researchers analyze the characteristics of both employees that choose to convert and employees that choose not to convert to the Cyber Excepted Service.

Report

DoD Cyber Excepted Service Labor Market Analysis and Options for Use of Compensation Flexibilities

In this report, the authors examine labor demand and supply for seven U.S. Department of Defense cyber work roles to help determine whether pay adjustments are necessary to support the recruitment and retention of critical personnel.

Report

Literature on Personnel Vetting Processes and Procedures: Annotated Selected Bibliography

To help inform the U.S. government in its efforts to improve the vetting processes for public trust and national security positions and protect its assets and information, the authors assembled a selected bibliography of relevant literature.

Report

Assessing Continuous Evaluation Approaches for Insider Threats: How Can the Security Posture of the U.S. Departments and Agencies Be Improved?

This exploratory project examines various continuous evaluation approaches to detecting insider threats that are available to the U.S. government and assesses the relevance of these approaches to the challenges posed by such insider threats.

Research Brief

Building an Effective and Practical National Approach to Terrorism Prevention

RAND researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. They found that current capabilities are relatively limited and future efforts must build trust to succeed.

Report

Practical Terrorism Prevention: Executive Summary

Researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. This document summarizes findings from the main report.

Report

Practical Terrorism Prevention: Reexamining U.S. National Approaches to Addressing the Threat of Ideologically Motivated Violence

Researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. They found that current capabilities are relatively limited and that future efforts must build trust to succeed.

Commentary

Secrecy in U.S. National Security: Why a Paradigm Shift Is Needed

This Perspective summarizes an examination of the adequacy of the system for governing national security information secrecy. It finds the present secrecy paradigm failing and proposes major reforms in making, protecting, and releasing secrets.

Report

Exploring Cyber Security Policy Options in Australia

RAND conducted a cyber security exercise in Canberra, Australia to explore opportunities to improve cyber security, assess the implications of possible solutions, and inform Australia's next national Cyber Security Strategy.

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Development and Pilot Test of the RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism

The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism helps programs assess their activities and identify needed improvements. This report is a companion to the toolkit and provides background on its development and testing.

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RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism

The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism uses checklists, worksheets, and templates to help programs assess whether their activities have met their goals and identify needed improvements.

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A Framework for Exploring Cybersecurity Policy Options

RAND conducted two discovery games to explore possible solutions for improving cybersecurity, assess their implications, and develop an initial framework to support debate and inform decisions regarding cybersecurity policies and practices.

Report

Defining the Roles, Responsibilities, and Functions for Data Science Within the Defense Intelligence Agency

This report addresses and recommends potential methods for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to identify, hire, and organize data scientists.