Aaron C. Davenport

Associate Director, Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations Program, RAND Homeland Security Research Division; Senior Policy Researcher, Defense/International

Washington Office

Education

M.S. in environmental sciences, occupational health, industrial hygiene, minor - hazardous materials, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health

Overview

Aaron C. Davenport is an associate director of the Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations (IISO) Program, part of the RAND Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD), and a senior policy researcher. HSRD oversees the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Davenport retired as a senior officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. His final assignment was Chief of Cutter Forces for a fleet of 250 ships and 8,500 sea going personnel. He also served as founding Deputy Chief, USCG Office of Counter-Terrorism and Special Missions and Executive Officer, Counterdrug Operations, US Southern Command. Davenport’s sea duty includes six ships and command of two large cutters, enforcing international treaties, international immigration and trafficking laws, and performing institutional security governance and capacity building assistance, humanitarian assistance and joint maritime operations throughout the Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Bering Sea. He was also detailed to the White House Staff as Special Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism for two administrations (Obama/Bush).

Davenport completed senior executive fellowships at the RAND's National Defense Research Institute and the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group. He participated as an expert panel member and paper presenter at the 2019 NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme, Advanced Research Workshop on Counterterrorism and is currently advising the U.S. Institute of Security Governance and Bahamas Ministry of National Security. Earlier research and analysis include assessing border security in Northern Africa, the Caucasus, and assessments of DHS program strategy, operations, policy and metrics. Davenport has participated in several congressionally mandated studies, written for several publications within the national and homeland security arena and is regarded as an expert on maritime and border security. Davenport has also contributed as a maritime security and strategy expert panelist and contributor to multiple international and national symposiums and conferences.

Research Focus

Concurrent Non-RAND Positions

Previous Positions

White House Special Advisor for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism, Office of the Vice President of the United States, National Security and Homeland Security Affairs, 2007-2009; Chief, US Coast Office of Cutter Forces, Department of Homeland Security, 2011-2014; Deputy Chief, US Coast Guard Office of Counter-terrorism and Special Missions, Department of Homeland Security, 2005-2006; Executive Officer, Counter-drug Operations Division, US Southern Command Headquarters, Department of Defense, 2001-2003; Commanding Officer, US Coast Guard Cutters JARVIS, (2009-2010) VALIANT (2003-2005), Department of Homeland Security; Operations Officer, US Coast Guard Marine Safety and Group Office, Philadelphia, PA, Department of Transportation, 1988-1990,; Deputy Chief, Safety and Environmental Health Branch; Senior Industrial Hygienist, US Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Department of Transportation, 1995-1998

Recent Projects

USCG Evergreen - Future Strategic Planning and Emerging Policy
Security Cooperation and Security Governance - Ministry of National Security, RBDF, Bahamas
COVID-19 Secretary's Advisory Group, Analytical Support
Domain Awareness Strategic Plan
Evaluation of Colombia Counterdrug Programs

Selected Publications

Aaron C. Davenport and William C. Hinds, "Carbon Monoxide and Oxides of Nitrogen Exposure During Offloading of Car Carrier Vessels," Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

A.C. Davenport, T.J. Glynn, H. Rhambarose, "Coast Guard Exposure to Gasoline, MTBE, and Benzene Vapors During Inspection of Tank Barges," American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal

Davenport, Aaron C., Jonathan William Welburn, Andrew Lauland, Annelise Pietenpol, Marc Robbins, Erin Rebhan, Patricia Boren, and K. Jack Riley, An Evaluation of the Department of Defense's Excess Property Program: Law Enforcement Agency Equipment Acquisition Policies, Findings, and Options, RAND Corporation, 2018

Gerstein, Daniel M., Anthony Atler, Aaron C. Davenport, Beth Grill, Amanda Kadlec, and William Young, Managing International Borders: Balancing Security with the Licit Flow of People and Goods, RAND Corporation, 2018

Ecola, Liisa, Aaron C. Davenport, Kenneth Kuhn, Alexander D. Rothenberg, Eric Cooper, Mark Barrett, Thomas F. Atkin, and Jeffrey Kendall, Rebuilding Surface, Maritime, and Air Transportation in Puerto Rico After Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Supporting Documentation for the Puerto Rico Recovery Plan, RAND Corporation (RR-2607-DHS), 2020

Davenport, Aaron C., Lessons from Maritime Narcotics Interdiction: Interdiction in the Maritime Source, Transit, and Arrival Zones of the Western Hemisphere, IOS Press (EP-68327), 2020

Davenport, Aaron C., Michelle D. Ziegler, Abbie Tingstad, Katherine Anania, Daniel Ish, Nidhi Kalra, Scott Savitz, Rachel Liang, and Melissa Bauman, Decoding Data Science: The U.S. Coast Guard's Evolving Needs and Their Implications, RAND Corporation (PE-A150-1), 2020

Savitz, Scott, Henry H. Willis, Aaron C. Davenport, Martina Melliand, William Sasser, Elizabeth Tencza, and Dulani Woods, Enhancing U.S. Coast Guard Metrics, RAND Corporation (RR-1173-USCG), 2015

Honors & Awards

Defense Superior Service Medal, Secretary of Defense, Office of the Vice President of the United States
Meritorious Service Medal (4), Commander, U.S. Southern Command; USCG Commandant; USCG Pacific Area/Atlantic Area Commander
2019, 2017, 2016 Research and Analysis, Key Contributor Medal, RAND Corporation

Languages

Spanish

Commentary

Law Enforcement

How to Reform Military Gear Transfers to Police
Police officers equipped like soldiers have appeared on the streets of American cities amid recent protests over George Floyd's killing. How should lawmakers reform a program that makes use of excess equipment and is popular with police departments, but that also raises substantial concerns about the militarization of policing?
Jul 13, 2020
The Wall Street Journal

Publications

Report
Improving Precommissioning Assignments and Readiness on the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter
Researchers identified approaches the U.S. Coast Guard could take to improve crew satisfaction with precommissioning assignments on offshore patrol cutters and overall fleet readiness, then evaluated the options using five criteria.
Dec 13, 2022
Research Brief
Activities and Results from U.S. Coast Guard Project Evergreen V
This brief summarizes the findings of U.S. Coast Guard Project Evergreen V, part of a long-term strategic planning effort to identify emerging challenges and future trends that might alter demand for missions and the ability to perform them.
Nov 30, 2022
Report
USCG Project Evergreen V: Compilation of Activities and Summary of Results
This report summarizes the findings of Evergreen V, the most recent iteration of an ongoing U.S. Coast Guard initiative aimed at identifying emerging challenges and future trends so that senior leaders can plan for the long term.
Nov 30, 2022
Report
An Overview of the Effectiveness of U.S. Counternarcotics Efforts in Colombia, 2000–Present, and Recommendations for the Future
The authors of this report examine the period in Colombia from 2000 to 2020 to assess the effectiveness of U.S. counternarcotics and security efforts: eradication of coca, interdiction of cocaine, security and rule of law, and development.
Feb 11, 2022
Report
Shaping Coast Guard Culture to Enhance the Future Workforce
This Perspective describes organizational culture, observations made in strategic-foresight workshops, examples of other organizations addressing culture issues, and how the U.S. Coast Guard can use this information in shaping its future workforce.
Nov 1, 2021
Journal Article
Lessons from Maritime Narcotics Interdiction: Interdiction in the Maritime Source, Transit, and Arrival Zones of the Western Hemisphere
Sharing information with foreign partners and regional, local, and private actors has been proven to be absolutely critical to success in combating any transnational threat and preventing illegal activities from threatening the homeland and allies.
Nov 5, 2020
Report
Logistics Analysis of Puerto Rico: Will the Seaborne Supply Chain of Puerto Rico Support Hurricane Recovery Projects?
Puerto Rico's seaborne logistics capacity is assessed in the context of recovery efforts following the Hurricane Maria. Key constraints are identified along with actions to mitigate potential bottlenecks.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Rebuilding Surface, Maritime, and Air Transportation in Puerto Rico After Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Supporting Documentation for the Puerto Rico Recovery Plan
The Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center was asked to develop a poststorm recovery plan for Puerto Rico. This report describes the transportation sector, including prestorm conditions, damage, repair cost estimates, and courses of action.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Decoding Data Science: The U.S. Coast Guard's Evolving Needs and Their Implications
This Perspective outlines the role that data science can play in decisionmaking processes and provides a selected set of key questions and sensitivities for the U.S. Coast Guard to consider in developing its future usage of this expanding field.
Jun 24, 2020
Report
Developing New Future Scenarios for the U.S. Coast Guard's Evergreen Strategic Foresight Program
The U.S. Coast Guard's Evergreen strategic foresight initiative works to identify emerging service challenges that require focus in the near term. This report describes an approach to developing future scenarios to aid in that process.
May 27, 2020
Report
U.S. Coast Guard Workforce 2040: Better Management Through Transparency
This Perspective describes several ways in which the U.S. Coast Guard can effectively recruit and retain its future workforce by providing greater transparency in personnel management practices, inspired by a U.S. Coast Guard Evergreen V workshop.
May 18, 2020
Report
The Marine Transportation System, Autonomous Technology, and Implications for the U.S. Coast Guard
The authors briefly explore some emerging issues for the U.S. Coast Guard related to increasingly autonomous systems and the Marine Transportation System.
May 4, 2020
Report
Meeting U.S. Coast Guard Airpower Needs: Assessing the Options
Researchers assessed what airpower fleet mixes could best posture the U.S. Coast Guard to execute its various missions globally to meet future operational requirements. This report provides their findings and recommendations.
Apr 21, 2020
Research Brief
How the U.S. Coast Guard Can Leverage Social Media and Enhanced Cell Phone Data to Improve Emergency Response
Researchers are helping the U.S. Department of Homeland Security understand how social media might be better leveraged for situational awareness—particularly location information—in U.S. Coast Guard response operations.
Mar 17, 2020
Report
U.S. Coast Guard Emergency Response and Disaster Operations: Using Social Media for Situational Awareness
Researchers are helping the U.S. Department of Homeland Security understand whether and how social media might be better leveraged for situational awareness in U.S. Coast Guard response operations.
Mar 17, 2020
Report
Development of Standardized and Best Practices for the USCG Boats Acquisition Program
This report contains a review of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) boats acquisition program and the programs of similar organizations inside and outside the USCG, possible funding and structural strategies, and recommendations for USCG leadership.
Jun 24, 2019
Research Brief
Evaluation Finds Excess Property Program Is Efficient and Effective, but Perceptions About Militarized Police Persist
The Law Enforcement Support Office program is efficient and effectively reuses excess Department of Defense property, but perceptions persist that the program contributes to the militarization of police.
May 21, 2018
Report
An Evaluation of the Department of Defense's Excess Property Program: Law Enforcement Agency Equipment Acquisition Policies, Findings, and Options
The Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program is efficiently run and effectively reuses excess Department of Defense property, but this is unlikely to resolve perceptions that the program contributes to the militarization of police.
May 14, 2018
Report
Managing International Borders: Balancing Security with the Licit Flow of People and Goods
This Perspective builds on global best practices and lessons learned from other established border management solutions and proposes opportunities to strengthen security while improving the flow of travelers and goods.
May 9, 2018
Report
Identifying Potential Gaps in U.S. Coast Guard Arctic Capabilities
This report documents a research project that focused on identifying priority potential Arctic capability gaps with respect to U.S. Coast Guard operations in the region in the present and in the 2030s.
Apr 11, 2018
Report
Enhancing U.S. Coast Guard Metrics
This report documents logic models detailing elements of the Coast Guard's missions, examines existing metrics, and proposes potential metrics that could improve on or complement existing metrics, together with a framework for applying the metrics.
Oct 27, 2015