Lynn E. Davis

Contact Information

Senior Fellow

Washington Office

Education

Ph.D. and M.A. in political science, Columbia University; B.A. in political science, Duke University

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

Lynn E. Davis is a senior fellow at the RAND Corporation. From 2006 to 2014 she served as director of RAND's Washington office and from 1993 to 1997, she served as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs.

Her current research focuses on strategic planning, terrorism, citizen preparedness, and defense strategy and force structure issues. She was the senior study group advisor for the Commission on National Security/21st Century. Prior to joining the State Department, Davis was vice president and director of the RAND Arroyo Center. She has also served on the staffs of the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the first Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. She has taught in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University, at the National War College, and at Columbia University.

Davis's recent RAND publications include: A Strategy to Counter ISIL as a Transregional Threat (Lynn Davis et al, 2017), Clarifying the Rules for Targeted Killing (Lynn Davis et al., 2016), The Days After a Deal with Iran: U.S. Policies of Hedging and Engaging, Armed and Dangerous? UAVs and U.S. Security (Lynn E. Davis et al., 2014), Choosing A New Organization for Management and Disposition of Commercial and Defense High-Level Radioactive Materials (Lynn E. Davis et al.,2013). She earned her Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Terrorism
Homeland security
Citizen preparedness

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: CNN; New York Times; Reuters; Wall Street Journal; Washington Post

Commentary: CNN; The Connection; Newsweek; U.S. News & World Report

Commentary

The Need for a Targeted Counter-ISIL Strategy
Defeating ISIL is only possible if political conditions change in the Middle East, North and West Africa, and South Asia, and in ways that are exceedingly unlikely. The coalition should focus on reducing ISIL's ability to conduct attacks and on removing the underlying conditions that feed Sunni grievances.
Feb 5, 2017 U.S. News & World Report
What Ukraine Urgently Needs to Defend Itself
Many think that the United States should do more to help Ukraine defend itself. Analysis points to the potential of U.S. support for fundamental reform of Ukraine's security sector.
Oct 16, 2016 Newsweek
RAND Experts Q&A on the Iran Nuclear Deal, One Year Later
Looking back on the past year, five RAND experts respond to a series of critical questions about the Iran nuclear deal, its implementation, and potential challenges ahead.
Jul 12, 2016
The Iran Nuclear Deal: RAND Experts Answer Questions About the Days Ahead
Diplomats have reached a nuclear agreement with Iran. Now, the United States faces important policy decisions that will help shape the days ahead and the relationship that emerges between Iran and the other parties involved.
Jul 14, 2015
Armed Drone Myth 3: Global Proliferation Demands Blanket Restrictions on Sales
More than 70 countries have acquired drones of different classes and for different purposes. However, the number of countries actually developing
Feb 19, 2015 The RAND Blog
Armed Drone Myth 2: It's Counterproductive to Develop International Norms
The challenge in establishing international norms for armed drones will be to define rules that preserve the rights of countries to use them in legitimate ways against legitimate threats (senior al Qaeda or Islamic State terrorists) while constraining illegitimate uses (political dissidents).
Feb 18, 2015 The RAND Blog
Armed Drone Myth 1: They Will Transform How War Is Waged Globally
Long-range military drones are fundamentally misunderstood. Their champions wrongly contend they are revolutionizing warfare, while critics fear their spread would greatly increase the threat that China, terrorists, and others pose.
Feb 17, 2015 The RAND Blog
Changing World Climate Requires a Dynamic Foreign Policy
As Secretary of State Kerry and former senator Chuck Hagel outline their thinking on the nation's strategy, let us hope that they both hold firm to the strategy that has served us well in the past and have the courage to explore a very different set of political and military ways to accomplish it, write Lynn Davis and Andrew Hoehn.
Feb 15, 2013 U.S. News & World Report
Blog
Quake a Disaster 'Drill' D.C. Flunked
Fortunately for the nation's capitol, Hurricane Irene and the East Coast earthquake proved to be relatively minor events, as far as disasters go. But before everyone breathes a sigh of relief, it would be wise to reflect on how people responded to what were essentially dress rehearsals for much bigger events, write Lynn E. Davis and Arthur L. Kellermann.
Aug 29, 2011 CNN
Blog
How Can Individuals Be Better Prepared for Catastrophic Terrorist Attacks?
Published RAND commentary by RAND staff.
Jun 7, 2004 The Connection

Publications

Report
Characteristics of Successful U.S. Military Interventions
Using an original data set of 145 ground, air, and naval interventions from 1898 through 2016, this report identifies those factors that have made U.S. military interventions more or less successful at achieving their political objectives.
Apr 1, 2019
Multimedia
The Evolving Terrorist Threat: Implications for Global Security
These video conference proceedings present panel discussions from a daylong conference on the evolving terrorist threat, which took place on June 27, 2017, in the Washington office of the RAND Corporation.
Jul 12, 2017
Report
A Strategy to Counter ISIL as a Transregional Threat
This Perspective offers a strategy to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL, as a transregional threat, with a focus on steps to confront the violent jihadist threat over the long term.
Jan 31, 2017
Report
Security Sector Reform in Ukraine
The Maidan Revolution in Ukraine created an opportunity for change and reforms in a system that had resisted them for 25 years. This report provides an overview of recommendations for the reform of Ukraine's security and defense institutions.
Oct 5, 2016
Report
Clarifying the Rules for Targeted Killing: An Analytical Framework for Policies Involving Long-Range Armed Drones
This report outlines a framework for policymakers to use in defining policies for targeted killing using long-range armed drones that would balance protection of civilians and human rights with military flexibility in counterterrorism operations.
Sep 8, 2016
Report
Authorities and Mechanisms for Purchased Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes purchased care services through an array of programs, each with different requirements and processes. A strategy for purchased care is needed to design an effective purchased care program.
Dec 31, 2015
Report
NATO Needs a Comprehensive Strategy for Russia
This perspective describes two possible strategies -- (1) punishment and disengagement and (2) resilience and engagement -- for how the North Atlantic Treaty Organization can approach Russia in light of Moscow's continuing intervention in Ukraine.
Mar 25, 2015
Report
The Days After a Deal with Iran: Implications for the Air Force
This Perspective examines the choices the United States will confront in its policies toward Iran and its regional partners in the event that a final nuclear agreement is reached.
Feb 2, 2015
Report
The Days After a Deal with Iran: U.S. Policies of Hedging and Engaging
This perspective examines the choices the United States will confront in its policies toward Iran and its regional partners in the event that a final nuclear agreement is reached between Iran and the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany (the P5+1).
Jun 10, 2014
Multimedia
The Days After a Deal: Iran, Its Neighbors, and U.S. Policy Following a Nuclear Agreement
On April 3, 2014, the RAND Corporation held a half-day conference in its Washington office addressing The Days After a Deal: Iran, Its Neighbors, and U.S. Policy Following a Nuclear Agreement.
Apr 17, 2014
Report
Armed and Dangerous? UAVs and U.S. Security
RAND researchers examined whether armed drones are transformative weapons, how dangerous their proliferation will be, and whether U.S. use of these weapons can shape a broader set of international norms that discourage their misuse by others.
Apr 7, 2014
Testimony
Written Testimony on S. 1240 – Nuclear Waste Administration Act of 2013
Document submitted at the request of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on August 14, 2013 as part of the record for a hearing held on July 30, 2013.
Aug 14, 2013
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 36, No. 3, Winter 2012-2013
Stories discuss the promotion of tolerance and critical thinking in the Arab world through children's media, the challenges faced by the United States in an era of fiscal austerity, and promising models for measuring teacher performance.
Feb 5, 2013
Report
Choosing a New Organization for Management and Disposition of Commercial and Defense High-Level Radioactive Materials
Describes the steps needed to design a new organization for the management and disposition of commercial and defense high-level radioactive materials, with particular focus on the relationship of the organization to the President and Congress.
Jan 11, 2013
Research Brief
Research Brief
Options for an Organization to Manage and Dispose of Radioactive Materials
RAND researchers describe the attributes of potential organizational models and the steps needed to choose the form of a new organization charged with managing and disposing of commercial and defense high-level radioactive materials.
Jan 11, 2013
Report
Report
U.S. Overseas Military Presence: What Are the Strategic Choices?
The authors outline the critical choices policymakers need to address to define future U.S. global military presence, with the choice based on different strategic perspectives on how overseas military presence serves U.S. global security interests.
Sep 11, 2012
Report
Report
Iran's Nuclear Future: Critical U.S. Policy Choices
As Iran's nuclear program evolves, U.S. decisionmakers will confront a series of critical policy choices involving complex considerations and trade-offs. The U.S. Air Force will need to prepare to carry out whatever policies are chosen.
Jun 7, 2011
Report
Report
Developing a Defense Sector Assessment Rating Tool
The lack of a comprehensive tool to assess a country's defense sector and its ability to counter a range of internal security threats led to the development of the Defense Sector Assessment Rating Tool, which can be customized for a variety of goals.
Sep 17, 2010
Report
Report
Public Health Preparedness and Response to Chemical and Radiological Incidents: Functions, Practices, and Areas for Future Work
Discusses the role of public health agencies in emergency preparedness for and response to chemical and radiological incidents.
Jul 27, 2009
Report
Report
A Strategic Planning Approach: Defining Alternative Counterterrorism Strategies as an Illustration
This paper defines an approach to strategic planning and illustrates its application using the example of the critical national security topic of counterterrorism.
2009
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 31, No. 2, Summer 2007
Feature stories discuss the precarious posture taken by the world toward Afghanistan, lessons for the U.S. National Guard from Hurricane Katrina, and competing claims stoked by the RAND Health Insurance Experiment.
Aug 29, 2007
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
Research Brief
Research Brief
Army Forces for Sustained Operations
The nation has difficult trade-offs in facing calls on Army forces for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. This report describes the effects of large deployments on the Army's ability to sustain overseas operations, to provide forces for other contin...
Nov 25, 2005
Report
Report
Stretched Thin: Army Forces for Sustained Operations
Can the Army sustain its current tempo of overseas deployments without reaching the breaking point?
Jul 7, 2005
Report
Report
Three Years After: Next Steps in the War on Terror
Three years after 9/11, the RAND Corporation held a conference to share results from recent terrorism studies with government officials, military officers, congressional staff, foundations and NGOs, foreign embassy representatives, and the public.
Jun 13, 2005
Report
Report
High-Performance Government: Structure, Leadership, Incentives
In this book, RAND experts in public policy and management suggest practical ways to implement the recommendations and define a research agenda for the future.
Jan 5, 2005
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 29, No. 2, Summer 2005
Addresses the public investments and infrastructures that could help a Palestinian state succeed; also reviews the thin deployment of U.S. Army forces and how better electronic prescribing systems could improve health care.
2005
Report
Report
Coordinating the War on Terrorism
Examines how the war on terrorism should be coordinated within the executive branch of the federal government.
Dec 20, 2004
Report
Report
Army Forces for Homeland Security
What role can the Army play in protecting the United States from terrorist attacks?
Oct 14, 2004
Report
Report
What You Should Do to Prepare for and Respond to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks: Pocket Edition Survival Guide
The guide focuses on simple steps individuals can take to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks with chemical, biological, radiological (dirty bomb) and nuclear weapons.
2004
Research Brief
Research Brief
An Army Strategy for Homeland Security
Given the potential but undefined threat posed to the U.S. homeland by terrorists, the Army needs to decide whether it should hedge against the risk of not being adequately prepared. RAND researchers posed five plausible scenarios and potential Army ...
2004
Report
Report
Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks
How can individuals best prepare themselves against a variety of terrorist attacks?
2003
Report
Report
Beyond the Nuclear Shadow: A Phased Approach for Improving Nuclear Safety and U.S-Russian Relations
Develops concrete steps as part of a phased approach by which the United States and Russia can improve nuclear safety and U.S.-Russian relations.
2003
Report
Report
Beyond the Nuclear Shadow: A Phased Approach for Improving Nuclear Safety and U.S-Russian Relations, Executive Summary
Russian language translation of the preface and summary from Beyond the Nuclear Shadow: A Phased Approach for Improving Nuclear Safety and U.S-Russian Relations, which develops concrete steps as part of a phased approach by which the United States and Russia can improve nuclear safety and U.S.-Russian relations.
2003
Research Brief
Research Brief
The Army and the New National Security Strategy
Explores some of the most difficult challenges confronting the Army today.
2003
Report
Report
Globalization's Security Implications
Examines the security threats arising from globalization and suggests ways to counter them.
2003
Report
Report
Homeland Security: A Compendium of Public and Private Organizations' Policy Recommendations
Presents recent recommendations from various commissions and think tanks regarding U.S. homeland security policy.
2003
Report
Report
Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks: A Quick Guide
Offers suggestions about how individuals can prepare for chemical, radiological, nuclear, or biological attacks and what actions they can take to protect their own health, safety, and lives.
2003
Research Brief
Research Brief
An Individual’s Strategy for Responding to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks
This research brief describes work documented in Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks (MR-1731-SF).
2003
Report
Report
The U.S. Army and the New National Security Strategy
How should the Army transform to meet the new strategic challenges?
2003
Report
Report
Organizing for Homeland Security
This issue paper discusses the critical issues involved in designing the homeland security organization and in achieving its goals.
2002
Report
Report
Improving Anti-Drug Budgeting
The United States spends over $16 billion a year to fight drugs, or so the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has certified over the past few years.
2000
Report
Report
Strategic Appraisal: The Changing Role of Information in Warfare
This report draws on the expertise of researchers from across RAND to explore the opportunities and vulnerabilities inherent in the increasing reliance on information technology, looking both at its usefulness to the warrior and the need to protect its usefulness for everyone.
1999
Report
Report
Peace Keeping and Peace Making After the Cold War
Addresses the challenges of peacekeeping and peacemaking after the Cold War, looking first at recent efforts to keep the peace and then suggesting a multifaceted approach for the future.
1993
Report
Report
An Arms Control Strategy for the New Europe
Arms control, according to this study, has a continuing role to play in addressing Europe's new insecurities and instabilities and, therefore, should be pursued ambitiously for its potential contribution to peace and security.
1993

Multimedia

47:04
Next Steps for the Caliphate in Iraq and Syria: What Does ISIS Look Like in the Middle East by 2018?
Jun 27, 2017
19:54
Call with the Experts: Update on Iran Nuclear Negotiations
Mar 26, 2015
2:05
In Brief: Lynn E. Davis on the Use of Long-Range Armed Drones: Fact v. Myth
Mar 3, 2015
26:07
The Use of Long-Range Armed Drones: Fact v. Myth
Mar 3, 2015
4:16
Days After A Deal: Looking Forward
Dec 15, 2014
12:54
Iran Nuclear Negotiations Extended: Reactions and Implications
Nov 25, 2014
40:34
Media Conference Call on Iran's Nuclear Program — U.S. Policy Choices and the Challenges Ahead
Jul 14, 2014
42:57
Israeli, Saudi, and Iranian Responses in the Days After a Deal With Iran: What Are the U.S. Options?
Jun 4, 2014
23:45
Media Call on Armed Aerial Drones and U.S. Security
May 16, 2014
54:07
Getting to a Final Deal
Apr 3, 2014
38:58
How to Defuse Iran's Nuclear Threat: Bolster Diplomacy, Israeli Security, and the Iranian Citizenry
Jun 7, 2012