Diana Gehlhaus

Adjunct Policy Researcher

Off Site Office

Education

Ph.D in policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; M.A. in applied economics, Johns Hopkins University; B.A. in mathematics and economics, Bucknell 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

Diana Gehlhaus is an adjunct policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Her research focuses on the intersection of tech and talent, including the U.S. artificial intelligence workforce; education and workforce development policy; youth career and educational decisionmaking; youth workforce outcomes; labor market trends; military recruiting and talent management; and technology and telecommunications policy.

Prior to joining RAND, she was an economist and director of the Young American Prosperity Project at the Progressive Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. Gehlhaus also previously worked for the Export-Import Bank, and for the Bureau of Labor Statistics, where she was a contributing author of the Occupational Outlook Handbook. She earned her Ph.D. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School.

Research Focus

Commentary

Small Businesses

A Path to Recovery from COVID-19 for Small Businesses
The COVID-19 pandemic has hammered small businesses around the United States. We spoke with 21 small business owners to learn more about the challenges they are facing and how they might best be helped.
Jun 25, 2020
The RAND Blog
Labor Markets

Bridging the Growing College Divide Among Young Americans
Over the last decade, more Americans age 25 to 34 earned four-year college and graduate degrees, but the number of those without college degrees also increased. New ways of communicating educational options and outcomes to young people are needed.
Apr 13, 2018
The Hill
Technical Professions

To Increase Diversity in Tech, We Need to Rethink What 'Tech' Is
Rethinking what defines today's tech jobs, along with greater investment in public-private partnerships, could go a long way toward bridging the diversity gap.
Nov 17, 2016
The Hill
Young Workers Without College Degrees Face Uncomfortable Truths
Young Americans without a college education suffer from high unemployment, low earnings, and delayed adulthood with a limited ability to buy a home. To help them, policymakers need to remind themselves that workforce training and labor policy must focus on the technology-driven jobs of tomorrow.
Jun 23, 2016
The Hill
Postsecondary Education

Reframing the 'Free College' Debate
Framing the future of college as a debate about whether it should be free is a lost opportunity to discuss what's really wrong with higher education in America—and a missed chance to help young Americans regain lost competitiveness in the workforce.
Apr 14, 2016
The Hill

Publications

Multimedia
Keeping Up with the Joneses: How Can DoD Address Its Technical Talent Shortage?
The U.S. Department of Defense recognizes that it is struggling to recruit and retain the technical talent it needs. An October 2023 panel discussion examined the factors behind the department’s current shortage of technical talent.
Oct 30, 2023
Journal Article
The Race for U.S. Technical Talent: Can the DOD and DIB Compete?
This policy brief uses LinkedIn data to track the movement of tech workers between industries and metro areas, with a particular focus on the U.S. Department of Defense, the defense industrial base, and the so-called “Big Tech” companies.
Oct 6, 2023
Report
A Snapshot of the Department of the Air Force Total Force Recruiting Integration: Survey Results and Implications
In this report, the authors discuss the results of the first Total Force Recruiting Panel-Technology and Integration Survey, which was designed to provide baseline data about the state of Total Force Recruiting in the Department of the Air Force.
May 5, 2022
Dissertation
Youth Information Networks and Propensity to Serve in the Military
Provides military recruitment planners a more comprehensive understanding of how youth build and access their career and educational information networks in high school, as part of their decision-making process.
Sep 30, 2021
Report
A Clean Sheet Approach to Space Acquisition in Light of the New Space Force
The authors describe an unconstrained "clean sheet" approach to space acquisition for the U.S. Space Force designed around the unique mission and calling of the new service.
Aug 25, 2021
Research Brief
How Does Corequisite Remediation Change Student Experiences? Results from a Randomized Study in Five Texas Community Colleges
Corequisite remediation for non–college-ready students provides early opportunities to earn credit, more-intensive instruction, greater rigor, greater alignment, and increased opportunities to learn from peers.
Mar 24, 2021
Report
Student Experiences in English Corequisite Remediation Versus a Standalone Developmental Education Course: Findings from an Experimental Study in Texas Community Colleges
In this report, researchers use data from a randomized control trial at five community colleges in Texas to examine contrasts in student experiences between corequisite remediation and standalone developmental education courses.
Mar 24, 2021
Research Brief
The Department of Defense's Posture for Artificial Intelligence: Assessment and Recommendations for Improvement
In this report, RAND Corporation researchers assess the state of artificial intelligence relevant to the U.S. Department of Defense and provide recommendations for the future of the department's artificial intelligence posture.
Jan 26, 2021
Report
Corporate Knowledge for Government Decisionmakers: Insights on Screening, Vetting, and Monitoring Processes
The authors of this report interviewed human resources and security personnel in several corporate sectors to derive insights for the U.S. government into ways to screen, vet, and monitor personnel over time.
Aug 3, 2020
Commentary
Preserving Small Businesses: Small-Business Owners Speak About Surviving the COVID-19 Pandemic
With the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic causing severe economic dislocations, interviews with 21 business owners revealed concerns about a need for assistance in covering fixed operating costs and about worker safety.
May 22, 2020
Report
The Department of Defense Posture for Artificial Intelligence: Assessment and Recommendations
In this report, the authors assess the state of artificial intelligence (AI) relevant to DoD, conduct an independent assessment of the Department of Defense's posture in AI, and put forth a set of recommendations to enhance that posture.
Dec 17, 2019
Research Brief
Evolving the Practice of Evaluating Research-Portfolios
Researchers appraised metrics that medical research entities use to evaluate research portfolios. The work can help organizations select, develop, and revise metrics for their portfolios. This brief summarizes the findings and recommendations.
Nov 12, 2019
Report
Research-Portfolio Performance Metrics: Rapid Review
Researchers reviewed metrics for evaluating research portfolios used by medical research organizations and appraised their characteristics. Organizations can use their results to help select, develop, and revise metrics for research portfolios.
Nov 12, 2019
Report
Supporting College Enrollees Who Test at the Lowest Levels of Readiness: Lessons from Texas Community Colleges
Beginning in fall 2015, Texas policymakers recommended that colleges offer targeted supports to students who tested at the lowest levels on the state's placement exam. This report describes the reforms and their implementation by community colleges.
Aug 26, 2019
Draft
Practitioner Perspectives on Implementing Developmental Education Reforms: A Convening of Six Community Colleges in Texas
Provides a description of the various convening sessions and the perspectives of practitioners regarding promising practices and lessons learned regarding key developmental education reforms.
Dec 3, 2018
Report
The Potential Economic Value of Unlicensed Spectrum in the 5.9 GHz Frequency Band: Insights for Future Spectrum Allocation Policy
WiFi plays an indispensable role in generating economic prosperity and opportunity. This report helps quantify WiFi's value by estimating the potential economic value of opening the 5.9 GHz frequency band for WiFi use.
Nov 28, 2018
Report
Support for DoD Supervisors in Addressing Poor Employee Performance: A Holistic Approach
In this report, authors identify ways to address poor Department of Defense employee performance by developing, supporting, and professionalizing supervisors in conjunction with assessing and reporting key performance-related outcomes.
Sep 24, 2018
Report
Designing and Implementing Corequisite Models of Developmental Education: Findings from Texas Community Colleges
This report describes the implementation of integrated reading and writing corequisites -- a reform to developmental education that accelerates students into college-level courses, while providing academic support -- in Texas community colleges.
Feb 12, 2018
Journal Article
Pursuing Excellence in Graduate Education and Research While Serving Regional Development
This chapter examines policies that Texas can use to encourage institutions to pursue excellence in graduate education and research, while meeting state labour market needs.
2018
Journal Article
Using Workforce Data to Plan Higher Education Degree Programs
In this chapter, we summarize some findings and lessons from a series of projects for the state of Texas to help improve the alignment of higher education degree programs and workforce needs.
2018
Report
Strategic Planning and the U.S. Air Force: Characteristics of Success
The U.S. Air Force has embarked on a new round of strategic planning under the auspices of its 2015 Strategic Master Plan. This report represents a general survey of the state of the art in strategy and planning.
Nov 10, 2017
Report
Developing a Skilled Workforce for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry: An Analysis of Employers and Colleges in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
This report summarizes findings from surveys administered to oil and gas employers and education providers to inform policy decisions on how best to expand and sustain the pool of workers with knowledge and skills needed by these employers.
Oct 17, 2017
Report
Managing the Expansion of Graduate Education in Texas
RAND researchers analyzed policies and practices that the state, higher education systems, and individual higher education institutions in Texas can use to manage the expansion of their master's, doctoral, and professional programs.
Mar 3, 2017
Report
Managing the Expansion of Graduate Education in Texas: Executive Summary
RAND researchers analyzed policies and practices that the state, higher education systems, and individual higher education institutions in Texas can use to manage the expansion of their master's, doctoral, and professional programs.
Mar 3, 2017