John Gordon IV

David E. Johnson: A Remembrance

On October 30th, David E. Johnson, Col U.S. Army (retired), a principal researcher at RAND and a leading intellectual in national defense and military history, passed away following a long illness. His deep knowledge of military history provided a perspective to analyze problems and make sound policy recommendations that were valued by senior decisionmakers in the Army and elsewhere.

Reimagining and Modernizing U.S. Airborne Forces for the 21st Century

Many of the challenges the U.S. will face in the coming years across the range of military operations could be deep inland and require rapid response. Airborne forcible entry — with reimagined and modernized airborne forces — would offer decisionmakers options in crises that they do not possess today.

Flagging Ally: Pakistan's Lapses Are Hurting the War on Terror

Published commentary by RAND staff: Flagging Ally: Pakistan's Lapses Are Hurting the War on Terror, in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Report

Battle of Gettysburg: The Impact of Alternative Technologies on Civil War History

The authors of this Battlefield Futures Program report examine the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and consider the potential outcomes that might have come to bear had the armies involved used alternative technologies.

Report

The Backbone of U.S. Joint Operations: Army Roles in the Indo-Pacific

The authors of this report seek to provide an engaging and structured illustrated narrative to more clearly describe the U.S. Army's role throughout the Indo-Pacific region in the present day and into 2035.

Report

Army Theater Fires Command: Integration and Control of Very Long-Range Army Fires

The U.S. Army is developing a new generation of surface-to-surface fires with very long ranges. To help with integration, the Army proposed creating the Theater Fires Command, which will need to operate as part of a joint force.

Report

Army Fires Capabilities for 2025 and Beyond

To assist the Army in its reorientation toward conventional combat operations, the authors of this report identify capability gaps in the field artillery and actions that the Army should consider taking from today to roughly 2030.

Report

America's Strategy-Resource Mismatch: Addressing the Gaps Between U.S. National Strategy and Military Capacity

This report describes the specific technological, doctrinal, and budgetary gaps between the stated strategic and defense policies of the United States and the resources and capabilities that would be required to implement those policies successfully.

Report

Targeted Interoperability: A New Imperative for Multinational Operations

This report looks at what motivations exist for interoperability and defines a reasonable framework from which to work if and when interoperability needs and investments meet strategic language in the United States.

Report

Building Armies, Building Nations: Toward a New Approach to Security Force Assistance

This report proposes an alternative approach to Security Force Assistance (SFA) derived from an interpretation of nation-building and legitimacy formation grounded in history.

Report

Assessing Tracked and Wheeled Vehicles for Australian Mounted Close Combat Operations: Lessons Learned in Recent Conflicts, Impact of Advanced Technologies, and System-Level Implications

We assess trade-offs between tracked and wheeled combat vehicles by exploring lessons learned from conflict in various parts of the world, the implications of advanced technologies, and system-level implications of the different classes of vehicles.

Report

Defining an Approach for Future Close Air Support Capability

This report helps to define an approach to ensure that the Army has a viable close air support capability in light of the possible retirement of the A-10.

Report

Organising for Peace Operations: Lessons Learned from Bougainville, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands

This report examines the governmental organizational structures that were used in three Australian-led interventions that commenced in the late 1990s and early 2000s in the Southwest Pacific regions: Bougainville, East Timor, and the Solomon Islands.

Report

Enabling the Global Response Force: Access Strategies for the 82nd Airborne Division

The Global Response Force is built for rapid response to unforeseen operations. This study recommends specific GRF access strategies for each geographic combatant command given constraints in aircraft, intermediate staging bases, and other factors.

Report

Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: Decisive War, Elusive Peace

Summarizes a classified five-volume report on the planning and execution of operations in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM through June 2004. Recommends changes to Army plans, operational concepts, doctrine, and Title 10 functions.

Report

Comparing U.S. Army Systems with Foreign Counterparts: Identifying Possible Capability Gaps and Insights from Other Armies

Comparing U.S. Army Systems with Foreign Counterparts: Identifying Possible Capability Gaps and Insights from Other Armies contrasts selected U.S. Army systems and capabilities with comparable foreign systems.

Report

The Ukrainian Crisis and European Security: Implications for the United States and U.S. Army

Discusses the implications of Russia's annexation of Crimea and attempt to destabilize eastern Ukraine for European security and the United States, particularly the U.S. Army.

Report

Enhanced Army Airborne Forces: A New Joint Operational Capability

RAND examined options to increase the mobility, protection, and firepower of U.S. Army airborne forces, given likely future missions and threats, and identified a concept for enhancing today's forces by adding a light armored infantry capability. The near-term focus also meant that the current Air Force airlift fleet was an important consideration, since Army airborne forces rely on Air Force transport aircraft to deploy.

Research Brief

Lessons from 13 Years of War Point to a Better U.S. Strategy

This brief summarizes seven lessons from the past 13 years of war and identifies critical requirements for land forces, special operations forces, and partners to collaborate successfully.

Report

Improving Strategic Competence: Lessons from 13 Years of War

This study formulates seven lessons from the past 13 years of war and identifies critical requirements for land forces, special operations forces, and partners to collaborate successfully.

Report

The Army's Role in Overcoming Anti-Access and Area Denial Challenges

The U.S. armed forces must be prepared to confront a wide range of anti-access and area denial challenges in future operations. This report makes the case for and proposes a joint response to the most serious of these threats posed by adversaries.

Report

Keeping Law Enforcement Connected: Information Technology Needs from State and Local Agencies

RAND researchers interviewed an extensive sample group to assess criminal justice technology priorities at the state and local levels, as well as the means by which agencies at those levels commonly receive information on technology.

Report

Lessons from the Army's Future Combat Systems Program

Documents the U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems program's history, from inception to cancellation, and draws lessons from its experiences.

Research Brief

Can NATO Meet Defense Challenges in an Era of Austerity?

This study analyzes the impact of planned defense budget cuts on the capabilities of seven key European members of NATO and suggests ways in which the Alliance can adapt to meet emerging security challenges.

Report

NATO and the Challenges of Austerity

Analyzes the impact of planned cuts in defense spending by European members of NATO: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland.

Commercial Book

Fighting for MacArthur: The Navy and Marine Corps' Desperate Defense of the Philippines

The only single-volume work offering a full account of the Navy and Marine Corps actions in the Philippines during World War II, providing never-before-published details about the fighting based on American and newly discovered Japanese sources.

Report

CANES Contracting Strategies for Full Deployment

Examines contracting alternatives for the full deployment phase of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services system, intended to give the U.S. Navy a common set of key command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence networks.

Report

Perspectives on the Battle of Wanat: Challenges Facing Small Unit Operations in Afghanistan

Using the Battle of Wanat as a case study, the authors evaluate a range of alternative technological and corresponding tactical improvements to help small unit operations in Afghanistan, particularly when establishing and protecting combat outposts.

Report

From Insurgency to Stability: Volume II: Insights from Selected Case Studies

This book examines six case studies of insurgencies from around the world to determine the key factors in the successful transition from counterinsurgency toward stability.

Report

From Insurgency to Stability: Volume I: Key Capabilities and Practices

This book identifies the procedures and capabilities that the U.S. Department of Defense, other agencies of the U.S.government, and its allies and partners require to support the transition from counterinsurgency to conditions of greater stability.

Report

Observations on Recent Trends in Armored Forces

Provides initial research observations on how various militaries view the role of heavy forces (tanks and other armored vehicles) in irregular warfare and hybrid warfare environments.

Research Brief

Alternatives for the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future)

An assessment of the proposed MPF(F) Sea Basing squadron found alternative configurations with fewer ships and different air components that could still meet mission support counterinsurgency, special operations, and major combat operations.

Report

Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) Capability Assessment: Planned and Alternative Structures

An assessment of the proposed MPF(F) Sea Basing squadron found alternative configurations with fewer ships and different air components that could still meet mission support counterinsurgency, special operations, and major combat operations.

Report

Withdrawing from Iraq: Alternative Schedules, Associated Risks, and Mitigating Strategies

In studying the withdrawal from Iraq, RAND assessed logistical constraints, trends in insurgent activity, and the implications of the readiness of Iraqi security forces on the size of the residual U.S. force and on security in Iraq and the region.

Report

Underkill: Scalable Capabilities for Military Operations amid Populations

The U.S. military is ill-equipped to fight extremists who hide in populations. The use of deadly force can harm and alienate the people whose cooperation U.S. forces need. To solve this problem, a new RAND study proposes a ''continuum of force.''

Report

Analytic Support to Intelligence in Counterinsurgencies

Examines the nature of the contemporary insurgent threat and provides insights on using operational analysis techniques to support intelligence operations in counterinsurgencies.

Research Brief

Countering Insurgency in the Muslim World: Rethinking U.S. Priorities and Capabilities

This research brief summarizes a RAND report that analyzes insurgencies such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq and calls for a major shift in investment priorities to give the United States the capabilities it needs for effective counterinsurgency.

Report

War by Other Means -- Building Complete and Balanced Capabilities for Counterinsurgency: RAND Counterinsurgency Study -- Final Report

Examines the challenge of 21st-century insurgency, exemplified by the global jihadist movement, and describes the civil, information, perception-and-cognition, and security capabilities required for effective counterinsurgency.

Report

Domestic Trends in the United States, China, and Iran: Implications for U.S. Navy Strategic Planning

To help the U.S. Navy understand how near-, mid-, and far-term trends in the United States, China, and Iran might influence its investments, RAND examined emerging domestic and regional nonmilitary trends in each of the three countries.

Report

Warfighting and Logistic Support of Joint Forces from the Joint Sea Base

Analyzes the feasibility of sustaining a Marine Corps ground element ashore and simultaneously sustaining Army elements ashore from a sea base or moving Army elements ashore from the sea base in a reasonable period.

Report

Stealing the Sword: Limiting Terrorist Use of Advanced Conventional Weapons

Examines how terrorists make technology choices and how the United States can use that knowledge to discourage terrorists' use of advanced conventional weapons.

Research Brief

New Combat and Noncombat Roles for U.S. Aircraft Carriers

This research brief describes the range of new capabilities that U.S. aircraft carriers will require for combat and noncombat operations in the next 20 to 30 years.

Report

Leveraging America’s Aircraft Carrier Capabilities: Exploring New Combat and Noncombat Roles and Missions for the U.S. Carrier Fleet

Using two Concept Options Groups, explores possible nontraditional combat and noncombat roles for aircraft carriers.

Report

Assessment of Navy Heavy-Lift Aircraft Options

Helicopters are valuable for carrying personnel and heavy cargo, including vehicles. Would one that could carry much more--up to 20 tons--be needed, usable, affordable, and survivable?

Report

A Preliminary Investigation of Ship Acquisition Options for Joint Forcible Entry Operations

Describes the global environment in which joint forcible entry operations might occur and the role of naval power in that environment.

Report

Network-Based Operations for the Swedish Defence Forces: An Assessment Methodology

Presents a methodology for helping the Swedish Ministry of Defence assess the costs and benefits of architectures for network-based operations as the Swedish Defence Forces are reoriented to a wider suite of operations than homeland defence, including operations far from Sweden.

Report

The Right Stuff: Defense Planning Challenges for A New Century

Examines defense planning in the light of the post-Cold War security environment.

Report

Alternative Futures and Their Implications for Army Modernization

Develops a range of possible futures and discusses their implications for Army modernization planning.

Report

The U.S. Army and the New National Security Strategy

How should the Army transform to meet the new strategic challenges?

Report

Disjointed War: Military Operations in Kosovo, 1999

An examination of the 1999 conflict in Kosovo, with a focus on joint military operations.

Report

Exploring Advanced Technologies for the Future Combat Systems Program

This report summarizes the research findings of a short-time-frame study that explored a range of advanced technologies for potential contribution to the Future Combat Systems program.

Report

Analysis of Air-Based Mechanization and Vertical Envelopment Concepts and Technologies

This documented briefing explores and assesses the Army's ability to insert mechanized forces in enemy-controlled terrain.

Research Brief

Improving Joint Operations: Lessons from Kosovo, 1999

The problems of Operation Allied Force provide a rich source of lessons for future military operations, as discussed in a new RAND report, Disjointed War: Military Operations in Kosovo, 1999.

Report

Lightning Over Water: Sharpening America's Light Forces for Rapid-Reaction Missions — Executive Summary

executive summary synthesizes research drawn from numerous studies conducted by the authors in the past few years on the topic of improving light air-deployable forces.

Report

Issues and Insights from the Army Technology Seminar Game

The Army's Spring 1998 Technology Seminar Game was designed to advance the Army After Next (AAN) process by bringing together military operators and civilian scientists and technologists to examine future force development issues.

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A Report on the Army Transformation Wargame 2000

Presents RAND's analysis of Army Transformation Wargame (ATWG) 2000, identifying its issues and exploring implications of them.

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The Future of Warfare: Issues from the 1999 Army After Next Study Cycle

Discuss issues that emerged from the games on Army Special Operations, Army Medical Department, Information Operations, Space, Force Projection, National Security, Campaign Planning, Pre-Assessment, and the Spring Wargame.

Report

Measures of Effectiveness for the Information-Age Army

This research demonstrates that development of measures of effectiveness (MOEs) is feasible, not only for combat operations but for stability operations as well.

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Lightning Over Water: Sharpening America's Light Forces for Rapid Reaction Missions

This book represents a compilation of research drawn from numerous studies conducted in the past few years on the topic of improving light air-deployable forces. The focus is on new operational concepts along with the underlyingenabling technologies.

Research Brief

Lightning Over Water: Assessing Options for Future Light Forces

As these conflicts and crises continue to grow in number and frequency, there is a growing need for a quickly deploying, rapid-reaction capability -- in particular, U.S. Army light forces -- to directly respond to, and intervene within.

Report

Issues Raised During the Army After Next Spring Wargame

Summarizes issues generated during the Army After Next (AAN) Spring Wargame 1998.

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The Army After Next: Exploring New Concepts and Technologies for the Light Battle Force

This document summarizes the initial year's work on the project "Assessing Advanced Concepts and Technologies for the Army After Next (AAN)."

Report

Joint Operations Superiority in the 21st Century: Analytic Support to the 1998 Defense Science Board

Joint Operations Superiority in the 21st Century: Analytic Support to the 1998 Defense Science Board

Report

Assessment of Crusader: The Army's Next Self-Propelled Howitzer and Resupply Vehicle

The research explores the utility of the Crusader system, a next-generation self-propelled howitzer and resupply vehicle, to the future of the U.S. Army, including both the near-term Army XXI and the farther-term Army After Next.

Report

Denying the Widow-Maker: Summary of Proceedings of the RAND-DBBL Conference on Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain

This document is a summary of the two-day military operations on urbanized terrain (MOUT) conference held at the RAND Washington, D.C. office on February 24-25, 1998.

Journal Article

The Gallant Stand of the U.S. Army's 'Concrete Battleship'

Recounts the story of Fort Drum, the heavily secured island fortress known as The Concrete Battleship. It was occupied by the Japanese in 1942 and later recaptured by the U.S.