Gary Cecchine

Director, RAND Gulf States Policy Institute; Senior Policy Researcher

New Orleans Office

Education

Ph.D. in biology and public policy, Georgia Institute of Technology; B.S. in marine science and biology, University of Tampa

One Page Bio

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

Gary Cecchine is director of the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute and a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. He leads and conducts technical and policy research in a range of areas, including energy and environmental policy, coastal protection, emergency preparedness and response, homeland security, and science policy. As director of the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute, he also develops and coordinates policy research in environment, health, education, economics, public safety, and regional and strategic planning. Cecchine earned his Ph.D. in biology and public policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology and was a U.S. Regular Army officer in the Medical Service Corps.

Research Focus

Previous Positions

Management Systems Consultant and Auditor, Det Norske Veritas (USA); Officer, Regular Army, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Army

Recent Projects

Emergency response to terrorist attacks and natural disasters
Ecosystem management and health
Research funding management
Civil-military relations

Commentary

Planning for the Upcoming Hurricane Season in Light of COVID-19
What if Hurricane Katrina had hit during a pandemic? Emergency planners can prepare for this scenario by evaluating current response system capacity, evacuation and sheltering procedures, food and supply issues, and more.
May 4, 2020 Vox
In Wake of Hurricane Sandy, Look to Louisiana for Lessons
Just as public agencies across the country conducted terrorism risk assessments in the wake of 9/11, a comprehensive infrastructure assessment may be in order to understand natural hazard risks and the potential exacerbating effects of climate change, write Gary Cecchine, David Groves, and Jordan Fischbach.
Nov 1, 2012 The RAND Blog
Has the Gulf Coast Learned Katrina's Lessons in Time for Isaac?
Seven years after Hurricane Katrina, it's clear that New Orleans and other cities along the Gulf Coast are applying what they learned then in preparation for Hurricane Isaac, write Gary Cecchine and Jordan R. Fischbach.
Aug 29, 2012 U.S. News & World Report

Publications

Report
Report
Enhancing Military–Civilian Medical Synergies: The Role of Army Medical Practice in Civilian Facilities
RAND researchers assessed Army medical practice in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and non-Veterans Affairs civilian facilities and suggested opportunities for improving military-civilian synergies.
Jun 22, 2016
Report
The U.S. Military Response to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake: Considerations for Army Leaders
This report describes how the U.S. military responded to the 2010 earthquake that devastated Haiti, and it presents recommendations for improving military foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Oct 29, 2013
Report
Report
Sustaining the Qatar National Research Fund
An examination of what must be done to ensure sustainability of the Qatar National Research Fund, its achievements in its first five years, and recommendations for actions to respond to the new responsibilities mandated in Decree-Law (24) of 2008.
Aug 22, 2012
Report
Report
Launching the Qatar National Research Fund
The design and implementation of the Qatar National Research Fund — the first research — funding organization of its kind in the Middle East—and descriptions of its first two programs, along with some early results and lessons learned.
Aug 21, 2012
Report
Report
Building Partner Health Capacity with U.S. Military Forces: Enhancing AFSOC Health Engagement Missions
Planning for, assessing, and enhancing the effectiveness of missions to build health capacity in partner nations -- how U.S. military forces can assist in this important effort.
Aug 8, 2012
Report
Report
Improving Army Basic Research: Report of an Expert Panel on the Future of Army Laboratories
Provides recommendations on how the Army can get the best long-term value from its investments in basic research.
Apr 18, 2012
Report
Report
Recommended Research Priorities for the Qatar Foundation's Environment and Energy Research Institute
The Qatar Foundation is establishing a national research institute to conduct energy, environment, and water research. This book recommends research priorities for the institute and reports on a survey of related research institutions in the region.
Sep 22, 2011
Report
Supplying Biomass to Power Plants: A Model of the Costs of Utilizing Agricultural Biomass in Cofired Power Plants
Biomass energy is a renewable resource with lower life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. The model described here estimates cost and availability of these resources from U.S. agricultural lands for an individual power plant.
Mar 29, 2011
Journal Article
Journal Article
Prioritizing Environmental Health Risks in the UAE
A five-stage process that includes quantitative risk assessment by experts and deliberations by groups of stakeholders appears to provide an effective basis for developing a strategic plan that addresses environmental risks.
2010
Report
Report
Developing Headquarters Guidance for Army Installation Sustainability Plans in 2007
Examines the experiences of Army installations with sustainability planning, and recommends ways to help foster Armywide development and implementation of installation sustainability plans, which address mission, community, and environmental issues.
Dec 9, 2009
Research Brief
Research Brief
The Department of Defense Can Improve Its Response to and Management of Anthrax Incidents
Assesses the Department of Defense (DoD) response to three potential anthrax-related incidents at DoD facilities in March 2005 and recommends ways that DoD can improve its incident-response capabilities.
Apr 13, 2009
Report
Report
Foundation for Integrating Employee Health Activities for Active Duty Personnel in the Department of Defense
Describes current Department of Defense (DoD) safety and occupational health programs and health information systems, and employee health programs outside of DoD as a foundation for considering a more integrated DoD employee health program.
Jan 13, 2009
Research Brief
Research Brief
Learning the Lessons of Hurricane Katrina for the U.S. Army
This research brief highlights the efforts undertaken by civilian and military organizations in response to Hurricane Katrina and discusses a number of steps can be taken to enhance future Army and National Guard disaster-response efforts.
May 17, 2007
Report
Report
Hurricane Katrina: Lessons for Army Planning and Operations
The efforts undertaken by civilian and military organizations in response to Hurricane Katrina were historically unprecedented, but a number of steps can be taken to enhance future Army and National Guard disaster-response efforts.
Apr 28, 2007
Report
Report
Infectious Disease and National Security: Strategic Information Needs
This report examines infectious disease within the context of national security and assesses the need for and adequacy of information that will enable U.S. policymakers to prevent and respond to such threats.
Aug 2, 2006
Report
Report
Analysis of Department of Defense Plans and Responses to Three Potential Anthrax Incidents in March 2005: Executive Summary
What do three potential anthrax-related incidents at Defense Department mail facilities tell us about the readiness of the Pentagon and its planned responses to such incidents?
Apr 6, 2006
Report
Report
Medical Risk in the Future Force Unit of Employment: Results of the Army Medical Department Transformation Workshop V
Describes the Army Medical Department Transformation Workshop V, conducted at the RAND Corporation Washington Office 25-28 May 2004, and includes an analysis and discussion of the workshop results.
Apr 5, 2006
Report
Report
Army Medical Department Transformation: Executive Summary of Five Workshops
A summary of a series of Army Medical Command workshops that assessed the effect of the Future Force doctrine on the Health Service Support system's ability to deliver medical care on the battlefield, identifying related medical issues.
Mar 28, 2006
Research Brief
Research Brief
Examining Possible Causes of Gulf War Illness: RAND Policy Investigations and Reviews of the Scientific Literature
This research brief outlines assistance that RAND provided to the OSAGWI in investigating the health effects of eight areas of possible causes of illness: infectious diseases, pyridostigmine bromide, immunizations, wartime stress, chemical and biological warfare agents, oil well fires, depleted uranium, and pesticides.
Nov 25, 2005
Report
Report
Review of Literature Related to Exposures and Health Effects at Structural Collapse Events
Reviews the possible health effects of the substances present following a structural collapse to help develop federal guidelines for personal protective equipment used by emergency responders.
Nov 7, 2005
Report
Report
Medical Risk in the Future Force Unit of Action: Results of the Army Medical Department Transformation Workshop IV
Documents the Army Medical Department's process of identifying and addressing medical issues related to the Army's transformation to the Future Force.
Oct 3, 2005
Report
Report
Oil Shale Development in the United States: Prospects and Policy Issues
Should the United States tap into its vast deposits of oil shale?
Aug 17, 2005
Report
Report
Triage for Civil Support: Using Military Medical Assets to Respond to Terrorist Attacks
Answers the question: Under what circumstances could military medical assets be requested for support to civil authorities?
Oct 27, 2004
Report
Report
Conserving the Future Force Fighting Strength: Findings from the Army Medical Department Transformation Workshop 2002
As the Army transforms itself for the future and develops new operational concepts and technologies, the Army Medical Department (AMEDD) is identifying operational medicine issues whose resolution will be critical to its ability to support the Army of the future. The purpose of this research was to develop a method to assess these issues and further investigate a subset of them.
Jun 28, 2004
Report
Report
Unexploded Ordnance: A Critical Review of Risk Assessment Methods
Evaluates the technical soundness of existing methods for assessing the risks posed by unexploded ordnance at U.S. military installations.
2004
Research Brief
Research Brief
Gauging the Prospects of a U.S. Oil Shale Industry
Higher world oil prices and recent technological achievements are generating renewed interest in oil shale. However, based on technical design needs, initial commercial operations are likely more than a decade away.
2004
Report
Report
The Office of Science and Technology Policy Blue Ribbon Panel on the Threat of Biological Terrorism Directed Against Livestock
Focuses on the nation's emergency management infrastructure and prioritizes a future research and development portfolio for thwarting potential terrorist bio-attacks against U.S. livestock and related produce.
2004
Report
Report
Final Evaluation Report for the TRICARE Senior Supplement Demonstration Program
An evaluation of the TRICARE Senior Supplement Demonstration and its suitability as a permanent national health care program, and the implications of the demonstration for the new TRICARE for Life benefit
Apr 29, 2002
Report
Report
Army Medical Strategy: Issues for the Future
The U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) provides peacetime health care for military beneficiaries while also maintaining readiness for war and peacetime deployments.
2002
Research Brief
Research Brief
The Military Health System: How Might It Be Reorganized?
This research brief describes work documented in Reorganizing the Military Health System: Should There Be a Joint Command? (MR-1350-OSD).
2002
Report
Report
Reorganizing the Military Health System: Should There Be a Joint Command?
This book documents research on the organization of the military health system.
2001
Report
Report
Army Medical Support to the Army After Next: Issues and Insights from the Medical Technology Workshop, 1999
Gleaning insights from both the functional and technology perspectives into such areas medical informatics, combat service support, and biological and chemical defense. Identify areas warranting further investigation.
2001
Report
Report
Final Evaluation Report for Uniformed Services Family Health Plan Continuous Open Enrollment Demonstration
This book assesses the likely impact of continuous open enrollment on beneficiaries, the DoD, and other stakeholders.
2001
Report
Report
A Review of the Scientific Literature as it Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Volume 8: Pesticides
This report summarizes the scientific literature on 12 of the 35 pesticides that are likely to have been used during the Persian Gulf War.
2000