John P. Godges

John P. Godges
Research Communications Analyst
Santa Monica Office

Education

M.P.P. in public policy, Harvard University; M.J. in journalism, University of California, Berkeley; B.A. in American Studies, Georgetown University

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

John Godges is a research communications analyst at the RAND Corporation. He assists researchers chiefly in the National Security Research Division, Project AIR FORCE, and the Arroyo Center, with an emphasis on special mission analysis. Since his arrival at RAND in 1997, his additional areas of focus have included counterterrorism, security cooperation, and agile combat employment. His recent publications are mostly classified. He holds an M.P.P. in public policy from Harvard University, an M.J. in journalism from the University of California, Berkeley, and an A.B. in American studies from Georgetown University.

Selected Publications

Simpson, Michael, Adam R. Grissom, Christopher A. Mouton, John P. Godges, and Russell Hanson, Road to Damascus: The Russian Air Campaign in Syria, 2015 to 2018, RAND Corporation (RR-A1170-1), 2022

Mouton, Christopher A., Carl Rhodes, Mark V. Arena, Paul DeLuca, Andrew Dowse, John P. Godges, Adam R. Grissom, Caleb Lucas, and Erik Silfversten, Establishing a Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise for Australia: International and Domestic Lessons Learned, RAND Corporation (RR-A1710-1), 2022

Michael J. Mazarr, Samuel Charap, Abigail Case, Irina A. Chindea, Christian Durriden, Alyssa Demus, Bryan Frederick, John P. Godges, Eugeniu Han, Timothy R. Heath, Logan Ma, Elina Treyger, Teddy Ulin, Ali Wyne, Stabilizing Great Power Rivalries, (RR-A-456/1), 2021

Hanson, Russell, Christopher A. Mouton, Adam R. Grissom, and John P. Godges, COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization: A New Tool Helps Analyze Commercial Air Travel Involving Infected Passengers, RAND Corporation (RR-A248-1), 2020

Mills, Patrick, James A. Leftwich, John G. Drew, Daniel P. Felten, Josh Girardini, John P. Godges, Michael J. Lostumbo, Anu Narayanan, Kristin Van Abel, Jonathan W. Welburn, and Anna Jean Wirth, Building Agile Combat Support Competencies to Enable Evolving Adaptive Basing Concepts, RAND Corporation (RR-4200-AF), 2020

Christopher A. Mouton, Edward W. Chan, Adam R. Grissom, John P. Godges, Badreddine Ahtchi, Brian Dougherty, Personnel Recovery in the AFRICOM Area of Responsibility: Cost-Effective Options for Improvement, RAND Corporation (RR-2161/1-AFRICOM) (RR-2161/1), 2019

Egel, Daniel, Adam R. Grissom, John P. Godges, Jennifer Kavanagh, and Howard J. Shatz, Estimating the Value of Overseas Security Commitments, RAND Corporation (RR-518-AF), 2016

The RAND Corporation, The Long Shadow of 9/11: America's Response to Terrorism, RAND Corporation (MG-1107-RC), 2011

Commentary

  • Socioeconomic Status

    What Drives Income Inequality?

    The mixed picture of income inequality around the world reinforces the point that it is more important to know the underlying explanations for inequality across countries and within them, rather than the amount of inequality or changes in it, write Charles Wolf, Jr., and John Godges.

    Oct 24, 2012

    The Orange County Register

Publications

  • Report

    An Enterprise Cost-Effectiveness Approach to Decisionmaking: Improving Analytic Support to Senior Defense Leaders

    The authors propose analytic and programmatic frameworks to explore potential cost-per-effect measures, assess those measures with an enterprise cost-effectiveness approach, and chart a roadmap to add a joint focus in future Air Force decisionmaking.

    Dec 5, 2022

  • Report

    Road to Damascus: The Russian Air Campaign in Syria, 2015 to 2018

    The authors review the chronology of Russian air operations in Syria, and assess the strategic and operational blueprint, basing strategy and force disposition, effectiveness of the Russian air campaign, and its applicability to future campaigns.

    May 11, 2022

  • Report

    Establishing a Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise for Australia: International and Domestic Lessons Learned

    The authors describe the relevance of five international case studies in relation to Australia's creation of a Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise, identified as a key priority by the government in its 2020 Defence Strategic Update.

    Mar 21, 2022

  • Report

    Stabilizing Great-Power Rivalries

    Leveraging theory and historical cases, the authors identify the factors that keep great-power rivalries stable and those that lead to conflictual outcomes and use that framework to assess the current U.S.-Russia and U.S.-China competitions.

    Nov 29, 2021

  • Report

    Seizures of Western Diplomatic Facilities: Historical Timelines, 1979–2019

    To help develop effective response capabilities, the authors review attacks on Western diplomatic facilities since 1979, focusing on the duration of each attack and how much advance warning there was of the attack.

    Jan 25, 2021

  • Report

    COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization: Worldwide Spread of COVID-19 Accelerated Starting on February 19, 2020

    In this report—part of a series on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic—the researchers estimate when COVID-19 transmission via commercial air travel began to rapidly accelerate throughout the world.

    Sep 22, 2020

  • Report

    COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization: African Anchor States Face Higher Risk of Importing COVID-19 Cases

    In this report—part of a series on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic—the researchers quantify the potential vectors of transmission to countries in the U.S. Africa Command area of responsibility.

    Sep 22, 2020

  • Report

    COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization: COVID-19 Cases in China Were Likely 37 Times Higher Than Reported in January 2020

    In this report—part of a series on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic—the researchers estimate the likely number of infections in China in early 2020.

    Jun 5, 2020

  • Report

    COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization: A New Tool Helps Analyze Commercial Air Travel Involving Infected Passengers

    In this report—the first in a series on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic—the researchers introduce a new tool to visualize how COVID-19 infections and commercial air travel have interacted to export infection risk across the world.

    Jun 5, 2020

  • Report

    COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization: Decisionmakers Should Base Travel Restrictions on Infection Rates Per Capita and Air Traffic Levels

    In this report—part of a series on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic—the researchers quantify potential vectors of COVID-19 transmission to the United States resulting from commercial air travel.

    Jun 5, 2020

  • Report

    COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization: Air Passenger Transmission Risk to GCC Countries Originated from Outside the Region

    In this report—part of a series on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic—the researchers quantify the potential vectors of COVID-19 transmission to Gulf Cooperation Council countries as a result of commercial air travel.

    Jun 5, 2020

  • Report

    COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization: By January 31, 2020, at Least 1.5 Daily Infected Passengers Were Originating in China

    In this report—part of a series on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic—the researchers estimate the daily rate of COVID-19 transmission via air travel from China.

    Jun 5, 2020

  • Report

    Building Agile Combat Support Competencies to Enable Evolving Adaptive Basing Concepts

    RAND researchers review the motivations for adaptive basing, describe a footprint model used for estimating its implications for Agile Combat Support (ACS), and discuss recommendations for the ACS community and the U.S. Air Force at large.

    Apr 16, 2020

  • Report

    Personnel Recovery in the AFRICOM Area of Responsibility: Cost-Effective Options for Improvement

    This report identifies the most cost-effective options for improving medical rescue capabilities in U.S. Africa Command's area of responsibility.

    Aug 27, 2019

  • Report

    Timelines for Reaching Injured Personnel in Africa

    This report studies the military medical literature and recent historical cases to explore the relationships between rescuability and time during medical evacuations and other personnel recovery missions.

    Nov 17, 2016

  • Report

    Estimating the Value of Overseas Security Commitments

    In an era of intensifying debate over U.S. funding and resources, RAND researchers explore whether and to what extent the United States derives economic benefits from its overseas security commitments.

    Sep 22, 2016

  • Research Brief

    Economic Benefits of U.S. Overseas Security Commitments Could Far Outweigh Costs

    Amid intensifying debate over U.S. funding and resources, RAND researchers find that the economic benefits of U.S. overseas security commitments could far exceed the costs.

    Sep 22, 2016

  • Tool

    Estimating the Value of Overseas Security Commitments: An Interactive Visualization

    Researchers estimated that U.S. economic losses from major retrenchments of overseas security commitments would be more than triple any gains. This visualization compares different estimated gains and losses from selected retrenchment levels and selected tax, spending, and trade multipliers.

    Sep 22, 2016

  • Draft

    Aerospace Concept Exploration System: Architecture and Methods for an Air Vehicle Design Tool

    Details the motivation, theory, applicability and architecture of the Aerospace Concept Exploration System design tool.

    Feb 9, 2016

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 38, No. 2, Summer 2014

    The cover story discusses the rising wave of cybercrime and possible responses to it, while other features highlight research on medical innovation and U.S. security cooperation, plus public policy insights from Victor Hugo.

    Aug 7, 2014

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 38, No. 1, Spring 2014

    Feature stories discuss the implications of climate change for the Colorado River Basin and the Sierra Nevada, the burdens borne by military caregivers, the drawbacks of joint aircraft programs, and growing inequalities across the European Union.

    Apr 1, 2014

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 37, No. 2, Fall 2013

    Stories discuss U.S. and Mexican immigration and labor reforms; British, French, and German defense policies in the face of austerity; seven ramifications of the Affordable Care Act; and the cost-effectiveness of correctional education programs.

    Nov 26, 2013

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 37, No. 1, Summer 2013

    Stories discuss the harms caused by sexual assault in the military; the prospects for minimalist international interventions; cyber threats and nations' responses to them; and the rising costs of dementia in the United States.

    Jul 15, 2013

  • 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

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 36, No. 2, Fall 2012

    The cover story focuses on nine key issues in the 2012 U.S. presidential election: income inequality, health care costs, immigration reform, energy options, education, al Qaeda, Iraq, democratization in the Middle East, and China.

    Sep 21, 2012

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 36, No. 1, Spring 2012

    Stories cover Iran's nuclear threat, social security in Mexico, programs for veterans, crime costs, U.S. efforts in Afghanistan, the health insurance mandate, legal defense, marijuana legalization, global education, and Louisiana's coastal planning.

    May 11, 2012

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 3, Winter 2011-2012

    Stories discuss world demographic trends, Afghan peace prospects, U.S. health care spending, California prisoner reentry, Latin American inequalities, global health, veterans' mental health, highway investments, teacher bonuses, and charter schools.

    Jan 13, 2012

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 2, Summer 2011

    Stories discuss America after 9/11, Afghan-based solutions, Al Qaeda's narrative, air passenger security, victim compensation, military families, health insurance, entrepreneurship, unemployment, sex, Katrina families, Arab Spring, and a new RAND.

    Sep 1, 2011

  • Report

    The Long Shadow of 9/11: America's Response to Terrorism

    In a series of essays, this book addresses the question of how America has responded in the ten years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and suggests options for more effectively dealing with the terrorist threat in the future.

    Jul 26, 2011

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 1, Spring 2011

    Stories discuss gays in the military, police recruitment, home health care, breast cancer, health insurance exchanges, alternative fuels, refinery taxes, alcohol prices, outer space debris, mental illness, diplomatic trends, and health care costs.

    Apr 29, 2011

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 34, No. 3, Winter 2010-2011

    Stories discuss Haitian recovery, transportation finance, teacher accountability, childhood psychological problems, aging Americans, military savings, U.S. space systems, Middle East peace, the Wallace Foundation, and Politics Aside 2010.

    Jan 6, 2011

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 34, No. 2, Summer 2010

    Features discuss retirement patterns of baby boomers, marijuana legalization, drug enforcement in Europe, and No Child Left Behind; news items cover the Gulf coast, food allergies, the U.S. health reform law, police benefits, and Pakistani militants.

    Aug 14, 2010

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 34, No. 1, Spring 2010

    Features discuss energy strategies for Israel, the economic recession, and Iran's leadership; other items discuss the KC-10 fleet, air pollution and hospital costs, no-fault insurance, silica litigation, poverty reduction, and political polarization.

    Apr 9, 2010

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 33, No. 3, Winter 2009-2010

    Features focus on stabilization missions, grade retention, health financing, and RAND's president; other items discuss the European Union, sodium, health insurance, retail medical clinics, energy efficiency, disaster recovery, and alcohol pricing.

    Dec 23, 2009

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 33, No. 2, Summer 2009

    A section on U.S. health care reform accompanies features on piracy, education priorities, emerging technologies, and Arkansas antismoking programs; other stories discuss climate change, parolees, oil risks, Mexican security, and global drug policies.

    Aug 17, 2009

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 33, No. 1, Spring 2009

    Feature stories discuss government cost controls, health information technology, and negotiations with Iran; other stories discuss climate change, soft power, charter schools, meth use, Hispanic enlistments, Mumbai terrorism, and Jeremy Azrael.

    Apr 27, 2009

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 32, No. 3, Fall 2008

    The cover story offers 12 suggestions for the new U.S. president; other pieces discuss education and health in China and India, health policy models, the U.S. Postal Service mailbox monopoly, a green U.S. Army, and political reform in the Arab world.

    Dec 14, 2008

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 32, No. 2, Summer 2008

    The cover story contains 11 essays that forecast 11 ''issues over the horizon''; other articles discuss the invisible wounds of war, visions of the future, colleges in prisons, and nuclear deterrence for the modern age.

    Aug 1, 2008

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 32, No. 1, Spring 2008

    The cover story compares neonatal services across the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Sweden; other features discuss water resources management, U.S. policies in Asia, and political polarization.

    Apr 19, 2008

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 31, No. 3, Fall 2007

    The cover story issues a midterm report card for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Other features discuss prescription drug benefit plans for the elderly and different types of ungoverned territories around the world.

    Dec 2, 2007

  • 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

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 31, No. 1, Spring 2007

    Three stories highlight the advantages of policies that have been downplayed in recent years -- in defense, education, and health. Additional articles address antisocial behavior in Britain and problems within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

    Apr 2, 2007

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 30, No. 3, Fall 2006

    The cover story reports on how the nightmare of Hurricane Katrina can give rise to a better morning. Other articles discuss the all-volunteer force, better ways to improve health in developing countries, and lessons from counterinsurgency research.

    Dec 4, 2006

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 30, No. 2, Summer 2006

    The cover story warns that Americans have succumbed too much to fear, forsaking the things for which they are fighting; related essays discuss suicide attacks, lessons from Algeria, protection for emergency responders, and public health preparedness.

    2006

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 30, No. 1, Spring 2006

    Addresses a set of shortfalls in U.S. performance in Iraq and identifies options for improvement, particularly with respect to sustaining army forces, promoting reenlistments, and rebuilding Iraqi security.

    2006

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 29, No. 1, Spring 2005

    Asserts that it is unfair to hold students and schools accountable for success without giving them the resources to succeed; also addresses public benefits of the arts, U.N. and U.S. experiences in nation building, and access cards in the workplace.

    2005

  • 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

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 29, No. 3, Fall 2005

    Outlines the wisdom of bearing the up-front costs for publicly funded high-quality early childhood intervention programs so that society can reap the plentiful returns over time; also reviews energy security, obesity, and national security issues.

    2005

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 28, No. 1, Spring 2004

    Argues that new threats to national security represent fundamental changes in the ecology of conflict and that America's approach must evolve to meet the challenges; education, obesity, and wind tunnels in aeronautical research are also discussed.

    2004

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 28, No. 3, Fall 2004

    Proposes ways to transform the U.S. military's personnel and compensation systems; also examines the influence of family socioeconomic background on student educational achievement and lessons of the Green Revolution for the "Gene Revolution."

    2004

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 28, No. 2, Summer 2004

    Presents data that communities can use to improve the quality of local health care, enumerates conditions that would justify a military draft, suggests ways to improve policy research, and discusses the future of American civil justice.

    2004

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 27, No. 3, Fall 2003

    Shows how coordinated efforts among community groups and public agencies can reduce gun violence among inner-city youth; also covers expanding health insurance, defense personnel policies, the nuclear threat, domestic violence, and nanotechnology.

    2003

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 27, No. 1, Spring 2003

    Examines the debate regarding the safety and efficacy of ephedra; also covers contrasting lessons from different educational interventions, a "systems approach" to counterterrorism, domestic abuse, public health, and genetic manipulation.

    2003

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 27, No. 2, Summer 2003

    Discusses how lessons from the past have not yet been applied to American efforts at nation-building in Afghanistan and Iraq; also examines troop deployment, infectious diseases, workers' compensation, and the health consequences of prisoner release.

    2003

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 26, No. 1, Spring 2002

    Suggests that the new national agenda of high-stakes testing in K-12 schools may be more of an academic hindrance than a help; also discusses ways to take the profit out of WMD proliferation, U.S. Army logistics, and the 2002 general election.

    2002

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 26, No. 3, Fall 2002

    Portrays the plight of public policies that are subject to conflicting goals -- on the national, state, and international levels -- including welfare reform in the United States, air quality in California, and information technology around the world.

    2002

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer 2002

    Surveys RAND research conducted since Sept. 11, 2001, that examines the dimensions of the terrorist threat and potential responses to it, and issues such as global priorities, oversees deployments, homeland security, and state and local initiatives.

    2002

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 25, No. 3, Fall 2001

    Presents eight commentaries outlining complementary strategies for the long-term war against terrorism; also discusses how American arts organizations can adapt to shifting audiences and how improvements in depression care pay for themselves.

    2001

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 25, No. 1, Spring 2001

    Outlines a global agenda for the United States and advocates "selective global leadership" and "strengthened and revitalized alliances"; also discusses key points in a national science and technology agenda for the new administration.

    2001

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 25, No. 2, Summer 2001

    Recommends ambitious global reorganizations of the U.S. and allied armed forces; proposes a national tracking system to measure the quality of U.S. health care; and suggests that municipal power generation would be a good energy investment.

    2001

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 23, No. 3, Winter 1999-2000

    Argues that developing and industrialized countries can avoid both environmental and economic disaster resulting from global warming by harnessing alternative fuel technologies; also covers relations with China and U.S. military personnel issues.

    2000

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 24, No. 2, Fall 2000

    Charts the likely future course of the information revolution throughout the world and suggests an "information strategy" for the global information age; also examines youth violence, electricity deregulation, and terrorism and popular culture.

    2000

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 24, No. 1, Summer 2000

    Special presidential election issue offers recommendations regarding several domestic and foreign policy issues that will play a crucial role in this year's presidential election.

    2000

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 22, No. 2, Winter 1998-1999

    Examines the forces driving terrorism today and argues that to counteract the religious root causes of terrorism, there must be national and international leadership that goes beyond military strategy; terrorism and technology also discussed.

    1999

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 23, No. 2, Fall 1999

    Discusses how the inequities in HIV care demand remedies for U.S. health care and how quality deficiencies pervade the U.S. health care system, and examines the value of drug prevention programs as a means of solving the problems of substance abuse.

    1999

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 23, No. 1, Spring 1999

    Argues that to be successful, the European-American partnership can no longer depend on a lopsided military relationship, and that Europe must shoulder more of the burden and America must share leadership; also discusses U.S. defense planning.

    1999

  • Periodical

    RAND Review: Vol. 22, No. 1, Fall 1998

    Special commemorative issue celebrates 50 years of cutting-edge RAND research, how RAND diversified into social welfare research, and identifies important ways in which RAND research will continue to serve the crucial needs of the future.

    1998