Joslyn Fleming

@joslynmfleming on Twitter

Defense Policy Researcher; Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Santa Monica Office

Education

M.A. in international affairs - africa regional concentration, The George Washington University; B.S. in political science, United States Naval Academy

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

Joslyn Fleming is a defense policy researcher at RAND and a professor of policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Fleming specializes in military logistics, with a particular interest in how to plan for logistics in future operating concepts. She also has helped initiate and grow the Women, Peace, and Security research portfolio at RAND. She is a proven project leader and her research has been recognized by RAND leadership as directly improving military readiness and for shedding light on underexplored research topics. She also was recognized as a mentor of the year.

She has served in the Marine Corps for 18+ years as a supply officer and civil affairs officer, leading diverse teams on deployments to Iraq, Jordan, and the INDOPACOM and CENTCOM theaters. She also served as Senator Chris Dodd's (D-CT) military legislative fellow. As a legislative and strategic analyst for the Marine Corps, she researched, analyzed, and briefed senior defense and legislative officials on military future vision and strategy.

Fleming holds an M.A. in international affairs with an Africa regional specialty from The George Washington University and a B.S. in political science from the United States Naval Academy. She did her capstone research in Uganda where she explored the long-term reintegration needs of former child soldiers. She continues to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve and is currently assigned to Marine Forces Europe and Africa.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

The People’s Liberation Army’s Approach to Maintenance Management
Implementing WPS Principles in Department of Defense Operations, Activities, and Investments
Defining Discrete Missions for Army Long Range Precision Fires
Equipping the 21st Century Marine Corps
Addressing Ballistic Glass Delamination

Commentary

Military Health and Health Care

Inequitable Marine Corps Body Composition Policies and Their Impact on the Health of the Force
The Marine Corps Body Composition and Military Appearance Program is potentially harming Marines. The Marine Corps should consider pausing the policy while it further examines its effects on individual health and considers developing a new health-focused policy that includes requirements designed to reflect the diversity of the force.
Mar 25, 2022
The RAND Blog
United States Marine Corps

A Tradition of Service: Q&A with Two Veterans
Before they became RAND researchers, Jonathan Wong and Joslyn Fleming served as U.S. Marines. In this interview, they discuss what made them want to join the service, what led them to research, and how their military experience guides the work they do at RAND.
Nov 7, 2021

Publications

Report
Women, Peace, and Security in Action: Including Gender Perspectives in Department of Defense Operations, Activities, and Investments
This report presents vignettes to help U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) stakeholders understand Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) relevance to national security and how WPS principles and gender perspectives have been applied in DoD mission areas.
Oct 18, 2023
Report
New Directions for Projecting Land Power in the Indo-Pacific: Contexts, Constraints, and Concepts
This report seeks to address how the U.S. Army can most effectively project and employ land power in the Indo-Pacific, during competition and conflict, with a focus on scenarios involving China.
Dec 20, 2022
Report
Los Angeles County's Preparedness for California's Edible Food Recovery Mandate (SB 1383): An Examination of Food Recovery Logistics and Other Challenges
The authors review food recovery in Los Angeles County and specific challenges relating to Senate Bill 1383 implementation, and they suggest ways in which the mandate could be turned into an opportunity for innovation and capacity-building.
Jun 21, 2022
Multimedia
Preparing for California's Edible Food Recovery Mandate: Findings from the Los Angeles Food Recovery Study
Under a new state law, California must significantly reduce organic waste and recover some edible food from going to landfill by 2025. Is Los Angeles County prepared for the new mandate?
Jun 21, 2022
Report
Impacts of Marine Corps Body Composition and Military Appearance Program (BCMAP) Standards on Individual Outcomes and Talent Management
Researchers examine how the U.S. Marine Corps' Body Composition and Military Appearance Program and its associated policies drive individual behavior -- namely those related to disordered eating -- of marines and specifically of women and people of color.
Mar 28, 2022
Report
Equipping the 21st Century Marine Corps: Alternative Equipping Strategies for Task-Organized Units
Provisional unit equipping differs from the traditional way the Marine Corps equips forces, which places a burden on the logistics enterprise. The totality of the problem demands a multipronged approach as the best course of action.
Feb 18, 2021
Report
Right-Sizing Marine Corps Intermediate Supply Units: A Staffing Model and Proposed Process Improvements
The authors present a methodology to determine optimal personnel capacity for Marine Corps intermediate-level supply accounts and other measures to help these accounts work more effectively and efficiently to meet supported units' needs.
Oct 14, 2019
Report
Realigning the Stars: A Methodology for Reviewing Active Component General and Flag Officer Requirements
The authors developed and employed a methodology to review general and flag officer requirements in the U.S. military, used results to identify opportunities to eliminate or downgrade positions, and explored the implications of reductions.
Oct 22, 2018
Report
Expanding Operating and Support Cost Analysis for Major Programs During the DoD Acquisition Process: Legal Requirements, Current Practices, and Recommendations
The Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation is required to perform a broad set of cost analysis duties related to major defense acquisition programs but does not always have the resources to fulfill its duties.
Sep 17, 2018
Report
Addressing Ballistic Glass Delamination in the Marine Corps Tactical Vehicle Fleet: Implications for Resourcing and Readiness
Delamination of ballistic glass impairs driver visibility and affects the readiness of Marine Corps tactical vehicles. To address this issue, RAND researchers estimate costs and vehicle availability under various repair and replacement scenarios.
Feb 27, 2018
Report
Developing a Capacity Assessment Framework for Marine Logistics Groups
This report provides a capacity assessment framework to assist each of the Marine Logistics Groups, or any size unit, in determining the ability of logistics units to meet current and projected tasks.
Feb 20, 2017
Research Brief
Reserve Component General and Flag Officer Requirements
RAND researchers assessed whether the system, management, and number of reserve component general and flag officers were appropriate.
Oct 14, 2016
Report
Reserve Component General and Flag Officers: A Review of Requirements and Authorized Strength
Increased use of the reserve component has renewed interest in the question of the appropriate number of reserve component general and flag officers. RAND researchers conducted a review of requirements for reserve component general and flag officers.
Feb 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