Sarah Harting

Senior International/Defense Researcher; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Washington Office

Education

M.A. in international security, Georgetown University; B.A. in international affairs and German, Lafayette College

One Page Bio

Overview

Sarah Harting is a senior international/defense researcher at RAND, a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and directs RAND's Stanton nuclear security fellowship program. Her research focuses on U.S. defense strategy and doctrine, long-term strategic planning, defense technology and policy issues, and national security issues. She has led multidisciplinary teams of engineers, social scientists, operations researchers, and policy analysts to address complex challenges for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She is involved in scenario development and analytic gaming efforts across RAND. She has co-authored several RAND publications to include Risking NATO: Testing the Limits of the Alliance in Afghanistan, and op-eds published by the New York Times and U.S. News & World Report.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Brackup, Julia, Sarah Harting, and Daniel Gonzales, Digital Infrastructure and Digital Presence: A Framework for Assessing the Impact on Future Military Competition and Conflict, RAND Corporation (RR-A877-1), 2022

Sean M. Zeigler, Sarah Harting, Sebastian Joon Bae, Julia Brackup, Alan J. Vick, Aligning Roles and Missions for Future Multidomain Warfare, RAND (RR-A1601-1), 2021

Gonzales, Daniel, Sarah Harting, Mary Kate Adgie, Julia Brackup, Lindsey Polley, and Karlyn D. Stanley, Unclassified and Secure: A Defense Industrial Base Cyber Protection Program for Unclassified Defense Networks, RAND Corporation (RR-4227), 2020

Mikolic-Torreira, Igor, Ryan Henry, Don Snyder, Sina Beaghley, Stacie L. Pettyjohn, Sarah Harting, Emma Westerman, David A. Shlapak, Megan Bishop, Jenny Oberholtzer, Lauren Skrabala, and Cortney Weinbaum, A Framework for Exploring Cybersecurity Policy Options, RAND Corporation (RR-1700), 2016

Davis, Lynn E., Michael J. McNerney, James S. Chow, Thomas Hamilton, Sarah Harting, and Daniel Byman, Armed and Dangerous? UAVs and U.S. Security, RAND Corporation (RR-449), 2014

Hoehn, Andrew R., Sarah Harting, Risking NATO: Testing the Limits of the Alliance in Afghanistan, RAND Corporation (MG-974), 2010

Commentary

Cybersecurity

Could Time Be Up for TikTok?
Is it possible for ByteDance to maintain ownership in TikTok Global while ameliorating U.S. national security concerns? At the heart of any deal should be a highly technical agreement on data security issues—one that not only the two companies but the two governments might have to agree to.
Sep 24, 2020
The RAND Blog
Emergency Preparedness

Deadly Delay: Every Second Counts in Missile Defense
The false alarm about a ballistic missile attack on Hawaii raises important questions. How much warning time would the public get before a missile hit? And how should the system be improved?
Jan 24, 2018
The Hill
Ukraine

Exposing Russia's Covert Actions
It is paramount that U.S. and European officials and the people of Ukraine understand the true situation on the ground and the extent of covert Russian operations in eastern Ukraine.
Apr 29, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
Libya

Can You Hear Libya Now?
The U.S. and its allies could help Libyans communicate with the outside world by deploying cellphone base stations on aircraft or tethered balloons, write Dan Gonzales and Sarah Harting.
Mar 5, 2011
New York Times

Publications

Report
Digital Infrastructure and Digital Presence: A Framework for Assessing the Impact on Future Military Competition and Conflict
Digital infrastructure has emerged as an area of competition between the United States and China. This report examines this competition and describes the implications for long-term military competition and conflict.
Sep 27, 2022
Report
Aligning Roles and Missions for Future Multidomain Warfare
The authors identified disputes among roles, missions, and functions (RMF) that have endured as problems for the U.S. Air Force and crafted a framework for analyzing the RMF implications of strategic-level guidance and emerging operational concepts.
Aug 19, 2021
Report
Unclassified and Secure: A Defense Industrial Base Cyber Protection Program for Unclassified Defense Networks
This report describes a way for the U.S. Department of Defense to better secure unclassified networks holding defense information -- through the establishment of a cybersecurity program designed to strengthen the protections of these networks.
Mar 30, 2020
Report
Baselining Defense Acquisition
In support of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) efforts to improve mission effectiveness and efficiency, this report identifies DoD government functions for procurement and acquisition, estimating their costs at between $29 billion and $38 billion.
Nov 20, 2019
Report
Estimating Potential Savings in Department of Defense Activities
There is a push to make the U.S. government run like the private sector. Alternatives to this approach that attempt to account for the complexity and uniqueness of the U.S. Department of Defense are presented in this report.
Feb 11, 2019
Report
Promoting Joint Warfighting Proficiency: The Role of Doctrine in Preparing Airmen for Joint Operations
This report describes the differences and similarities between Air Force and joint doctrine and identifies ways to increase doctrinal alignment. It also evaluates the potential role of doctrine in increasing airmen's joint warfighting proficiency.
Aug 16, 2018
Report
Exploring Cyber Security Policy Options in Australia
RAND conducted a cyber security exercise in Canberra, Australia to explore opportunities to improve cyber security, assess the implications of possible solutions, and inform Australia's next national Cyber Security Strategy.
Aug 7, 2017
Report
A Framework for Exploring Cybersecurity Policy Options
RAND conducted two discovery games to explore possible solutions for improving cybersecurity, assess their implications, and develop an initial framework to support debate and inform decisions regarding cybersecurity policies and practices.
Nov 23, 2016
Report
Designing Unmanned Systems with Greater Autonomy: Using a Federated, Partially Open Systems Architecture Approach
Many current unmanned systems (UxSs) employ different communication systems and have limited autonomy, which limit information sharing with warfighters and other UxSs. This report identifies ways to address these limitations.
Sep 17, 2014
Report
DoD and Commercial Advanced Waveform Developments and Programs with Multiple Nunn-McCurdy Breaches, Volume 5
Compares aspects of the Joint Tactical Radio System network domain program with similar elements for the commercial long-term evolution waveform and analyzes acquisition programs that have repeatedly exceeded certain cost thresholds.
Aug 25, 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
Report
Improving Interagency Information Sharing Using Technology Demonstrations: The Legal Basis for Using New Sensor Technologies for Counterdrug Operations Along the U.S. Border
Summarizes the legal and policy authorities and restrictions that pertain to Department of Defense (DoD) counterdrug operations, particularly information sharing and technology demonstrations between federal government agencies.
Mar 18, 2014
Report
Risking NATO: Testing the Limits of the Alliance in Afghanistan
NATO's success in Afghanistan -- or lack thereof -- will have significant implications for the alliance itself; failure to address the long and daunting list of related challenges would risk the alliance's long-term success and sustainability.
Nov 11, 2010
Report
Meeting America's Security Challenges Beyond Iraq: A Conference Report
On December 4, 2007, the RAND Corporation and the Center for Naval Analyses cohosted a conference at which members of the U.S. defense community discussed approaches to meeting the challenges of a demanding future security environment.
Aug 11, 2008
Report
Networked Forces in Stability Operations: 101st Airborne Division, 3/2 and 1/25 Stryker Brigades in Northern Iraq
Compares three Army units that conducted stability operations in the same area in Iraq's northern provinces between 2003 and 2005: the 101st Airborne Division (ABD), the 3/2 Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT), and the 1/25 SBCT.
Oct 15, 2007
Report
Coping with Iran: Confrontation, Containment, or Engagement? A Conference Report
In March 2007, the RAND Corporation held a public conference, ''Coping with Iran: Confrontation, Containment, or Engagement?'' to discuss policy options to address the Iranian challenge. This report summarizes remarks presented during the conference.
Jul 17, 2007