Raymond E. Conley

Senior Management Scientist

Off Site Office

Education

D.P.A. (doctorate of public administration), University of Alabama; M.S. in industrial engineering, Arizona State University; M.S. in resource strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University; M.B.A., Louisiana Tech University; B.A. in industrial production, University of Oklahoma

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

Raymond E. Conley is a senior management scientist at the RAND Corporation. He has led and worked on an array of policy studies concentrating primarily on U.S. Air Force human resources and organizational issues. Recent research projects at RAND include evaluating the size, structure, and development of AF space personnel; evaluating the acquisition workforce; analyzing the movement of airmen between active, reserve, and air national guard components; assessing the sustainment of human capital for the Air Force nuclear enterprise; maintaining the balance between manpower, skill levels, and operations tempo; delayering Air Force headquarters structure and warfighting headquarters implementation; and determining senior leader competency requirements for joint organizations. Prior to joining RAND in 2001, Conley was chief, Manpower Requirements and Utilizations, Headquarters, United States Air Force. He holds a D.P.A. in public administration from the University of Alabama; an M.S. in industrial engineering from Arizona State University; an M.S. in national resource management from National Defense University; and an M.B.A from Louisiana Tech University.

Research Focus

Previous Positions

Chief, Manpower Requirements and Utilizations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force

Recent Projects

Improving the Effectiveness of Air Force Squadron Commanders
Sizing the Air Force Acquisition Workforce
Intelligence Community Workforce Planning
F-35 Beddown Alternatives
Enhancing performance of reserve component flag and general officers, senior executive civilians, and senior noncommissioned officers in joint matters

Selected Publications

John A. Ausink, Miriam Matthews, Raymond E. Conley, Nelson Lim, Improving the Effectiveness of Air Force Squadron Commanders, RAND Corporation (RR-2233), 2018

Lauren Caston et al, The Future of the U.S. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force, RAND Corporation (MG-1210), 2014

Ronald G. McGarvey et al, Assessment of Beddown Alternatives for the F-35, RAND Corporation (RR-124), 2013

Don Snyder et al, Assessment of the Air Force Materiel Command Reorganization: Report for Congress, RAND Corporation (RR-389), 2013

Charles Panagiotis Nemfakos et al, Workforce Planning in the Intelligence Community: A Retrospective, RAND Corporation (RR-114), 2013

Lynn M. Scott, Raymond E. Conley, Human Capital Management for the USAF Cyber Force, RAND Corporation (DB-579), 2010

Raymond E. Conley et al, Enhancing the Performance of Senior Department of Defense Civilian Executives, Reserve Component General/Flag Officers, and Senior Noncommissioned Officers in Joint Matters, RAND Corporation (MG-621), 2008

Conley, Raymond E., Albert A. Robbert, Joseph G. Bolten, Manuel J. Carrillo, and H. G. Massey, Maintaining the Balance Between Manpower, Skill Levels, and PERSTEMPO, RAND Corporation (MG-492-AF), 2006

Commentary

Military Personnel Retention

Investing in Military Human Capital
A new effort to review the military's personnel system will focus initially on policies to assign, evaluate, and promote service members. To truly address systematic challenges, however, the scope will need to widen to include how the various military services might size, structure, and support key missions.
Nov 5, 2015
Military Times

Publications

Report
Assessing the Implications of Policy Options for the Military Personnel Budget: An Analytic Framework for Evaluating Costs and Trade-Offs
A new tool simulates how various Department of the Air Force personnel policy changes could affect military spending. The tool lets users view cost variances and trade-offs when adjusting such factors as personnel count, rank, and experience levels.
Jan 17, 2023
Report
Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Considerations into the 2021 Department of the Air Force Developmental Education Selection Boards: Analysis of Outcomes
Although demographic data have been masked for most Air Force boards adjudicating career development and promotions, the 2021 Central Professional Military Education Program Boards provided an opportunity to test the effects of unmasking the data.
Dec 20, 2022
Report
Department of the Air Force Officer Talent Management Reforms: Implications for Career Field Health and Demographic Diversity
The Department of the Air Force is revamping the way it manages officer development and promotion. The Air Force Personnel Policy Simulation Tool models the effects of personnel policy changes to identify potentially adverse consequences.
Jul 27, 2021
Report
Improving the Effectiveness of Air Force Squadron Commanders: Assessing Squadron Commander Responsibilities, Preparation, and Resources
This study used a variety of data sources and interviews with squadron, group, and wing commanders to develop recommendations for how the Air Force can address commander responsibilities, improve commander preparation, and refine resource monitoring.
Apr 11, 2018
Report
The Future of the U.S. Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Force
Assesses alternatives for a next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) across a broad set of potential characteristics and situations and weighs them against the costs of those alternatives.
Feb 4, 2014
Report
Assessment of the Air Force Materiel Command Reorganization: Report for Congress
Assesses the FY 2012 reorganization of the Air Force Material Command, which was undertaken as one of the initiatives to achieve mandated budget reductions by eliminating civilian manpower positions, thus achieving cost savings.
Nov 21, 2013
Report
Workforce Planning in the Intelligence Community: A Retrospective
This report chronicles intelligence community efforts over more than half a decade to improve community-wide workforce planning and management. The tools described will help decisionmakers maintain workforce capabilities as budgets decline.
Sep 16, 2013
Report
Assessment of Beddown Alternatives for the F-35: Executive Summary
RAND assessed the savings potential of reconfiguring the U.S. Air Force's combat-coded F-35s into larger squadrons and adjusting the Primary Aerospace Vehicle Authorized mix across the Active and Reserve Components.
Apr 3, 2013
Report
Assessment of Beddown Alternatives for the F-35
RAND assessed the savings potential of reconfiguring the U.S. Air Force's combat-coded F-35s into larger squadrons and adjusting the Primary Aerospace Vehicle Authorized mix across the Active and Reserve Components.
Apr 3, 2013
Report
Air Force Materiel Command Reorganization Analysis: Final 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.
Jul 6, 2012
Report
Preserving Range and Airspace Access for the Air Force Mission: Striving for a Strategic Vantage Point
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.
May 17, 2011
Report
Targeting the Occupational Skill Pairings Needed in New Air Force Colonels
The Air Force needs to develop a second occupational competency, or a paired skill, in many of its future colonels and generals so they can fill leadership jobs that require competency beyond their primary occupational backgrounds.
Oct 7, 2010
Report
Human Capital Management for the USAF Cyber Force
Identifies and analyzes the human capital management issues associated with the creation of a formal organization dedicated to cyberspace capabilities within the U.S. Air Force.
Feb 22, 2010
Report
Air Force Officer Specialty Structure: Reviewing the Fundamentals
Focusing primarily on the officer structure, provides a brief primer on the specialty-classification system, summarizes major changes in progress or planned, and suggests additional changes based on interviews and comparative analyses.
Oct 30, 2009
Report
Enhancing the Performance of Senior Department of Defense Civilian Executives, Reserve Component General/Flag Officers, and Senior Noncommissioned Officers in Joint Matters
Examines the preparation of reserve component general and flag officers, senior civilians, and senior noncommissioned officers for participation in joint military activities.
Sep 18, 2008
Research Brief
Preparation of Senior Department of Defense Civilian Executives, Reserve Component General/Flag Officers, and Senior NCOs for Joint Roles
This research brief describes how the Department of Defense can best develop its civilian executives, reserve component general/flag officers, and senior noncommissioned officers for success in joint matters.
Sep 12, 2008
Report
Maintaining the Balance Between Manpower, Skill Levels, and PERSTEMPO
Using historical and other data and interviews, the authors assessed the wing-level effects of disparities between authorized and actual numbers of personnel, skill levels, and personnel tempo.
Nov 21, 2006
Research Brief
The U.S. Air Force Should Take Steps to Balance Manpower, Skill Levels, and Personnel Tempo
This research brief examines ways to address the disconnect between authorized personnel at home bases and those actually available in an era of increased deployments.
Oct 11, 2006
Report
Past and Future: Insights for Reserve Component Use
Documents the background information, research, and analysis RAND was asked to provide in support of a comprehensive Department of Defense Review of the roles and missions of the Reserve Components.
Dec 13, 2004