Andrew Lauland

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

Washington Office

Education

M.P.P. in public policy/admin/analysis, Harvard University; B.A. in economics, Georgetown University

One Page Bio

Overview

Andrew Lauland is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He is the portfolio development lead for State, Local, Tribal, Territorial, and International efforts for RAND's Homeland Security Research Division. His recent research includes the impact of COVID-19 and climate change on national critical functions and infrastructure, improving response and resilience to emergencies, Hurricanes Maria and Irma's impact on Puerto Rico’s municipal governments, crisis leadership, and improving response to mass shootings.

He previously served as the Director of Homeland Security and Homeland Security Advisor (HSA) for the State of Maryland from 2007 to 2015. Lauland was responsible for developing and implementing Maryland’s strategic plan for homeland security and “Homeland Security Stat” an objective, data-driven performance management system. He has extensive experience in public safety technology; law enforcement; homegrown violent extremism; intelligence, information sharing and situational awareness; critical infrastructure and transportation security; biosurveillance; public health preparedness; emergency management, disaster planning and response; and National Guard and Defense Support to Civil Authorities.

From 2002 to 2007 Lauland served as Homeland Security Advisor for the Mayor of Baltimore and Deputy Director of CitiStat, Baltimore’s data-driven performance management program. In 2005 Lauland deployed with 150 Baltimore City police officers, firefighters and public works personnel to Louisiana for a ten-day mission following Hurricane Katrina to provide direct assistance to first responders, including search and rescue operations and restoration of government.

He is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Kennedy School of Government.

Research Focus

Commentary

Critical Infrastructure Protection

New Thinking to Translate Infrastructure Dollars into Resilience
Infrastructure investments the United States makes today to recover from the pandemic can help boost resilience for the future. We will need to think beyond what we've done in the past to ensure that these investments can continue to protect the nation from shifting threats in the future.
Jun 2, 2021
The RAND Blog
Emergency Preparedness

Rethinking Disaster Evacuation
Before a storm hits, officials must decide whether to evacuate the public or advise them to shelter in place. Other, more targeted choices — such as sheltering in safer locations within a city — could be available if an analytic basis for making such judgments were fully developed.
Sep 11, 2017
Domestic Preparedness Journal
Emergency Preparedness

Rather Than Fearing 'Cyber 9/11,' Prepare for 'Cyber Katrina'
The United States needs a smooth, well-functioning mutual aid system for cybersecurity that provides all of the hard-won benefits of the nation's system for hurricanes and other emergencies.
Mar 30, 2016
U.S. News & World Report

Publications

Report
Streamlining Emergency Management: Issues, Impacts, and Options for Improvement
Researchers sought ways to streamline, simplify, and strengthen the U.S. emergency management system, assessing how overlap, duplication, and fragmentation could affect implementation and outcomes. They propose options and discuss trade-offs of each.
Jun 24, 2022
Tool
Mass Attacks Defense Toolkit
RAND researchers created this tool to advance efforts to prevent and reduce intentional, interpersonal firearm violence and public mass attacks in the United States.
May 31, 2022
Report
Managing Response to Significant Cyber Incidents: Comparing Event Life Cycles and Incident Response Across Cyber and Non-Cyber Events
This report examines U.S. structures and processes for non-cyber emergency management and whether U.S. officials can learn from these other incidents to help public and private sector stakeholders improve preparations for response to cyber incidents.
May 12, 2022
Report
A Risk Assessment of National Critical Functions During COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities
This report presents a framework for assessing risk that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses to the National Critical Functions, describes challenges in implementing the framework, and provides recommendations for improving it.
Apr 26, 2022
Report
Assessing Risk to the National Critical Functions as a Result of Climate Change
Researchers developed a framework to assess and manage the risk that climate change poses to National Critical Functions, then used the framework to assess the most-vulnerable ones. This report details the risk assessment portions of the framework.
Apr 5, 2022
Report
Recovery in the U.S. Virgin Islands: Progress, Challenges, and Options for the Future
This report provides analysis to help the U.S. Virgin Islands accelerate recovery from the 2017 hurricanes. It describes goals, accomplishments, challenges, and steps needed to improve recovery capacities, infrastructure, the economy, and services.
Nov 11, 2020
Report
Building Back Locally: Supporting Puerto Rico's Municipalities in Post-Hurricane Reconstruction
In Puerto Rico's post-hurricane reconstruction, municipal governments face significant responsibility. The authors recommend ways to target government and other resources where they are needed most to help municipal reconstruction efforts.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Municipalities on the Front Lines of Puerto Rico's Recovery: Assessing Damage, Needs, and Opportunities for Recovery After Hurricane Maria
Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center analysts assessed Hurricanes Irma and Maria's effects on Puerto Rico's municipalities and the municipalities' ability to govern, deliver services, and recover and developed courses of action for recovery.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Countering Violent Extremism in Australia and Abroad: A Framework for Characterising CVE Programs in Australia, the United States, and Europe
This report documents an effort to help countering violent extremism (CVE) program directors and policymakers place their efforts in context and identify promising approaches internationally.
Apr 4, 2019
Tool
Better Policing Toolkit
This pilot project is intended to provide law enforcement agencies with guidance on new strategies. Its objectives are to synthesize and disseminate information on policing strategies and provide assistance on implementing novel strategies.
Dec 14, 2018
Report
Homeland Security National Risk Characterization: Risk Assessment Methodology
Presents a risk assessment methodology that can be used to identify the greatest risks to homeland security and support prioritization of U.S. Department of Homeland Security mission elements as part of DHS planning processes.
Sep 19, 2018
Research Brief
Evaluation Finds Excess Property Program Is Efficient and Effective, but Perceptions About Militarized Police Persist
The Law Enforcement Support Office program is efficient and effectively reuses excess Department of Defense property, but perceptions persist that the program contributes to the militarization of police.
May 21, 2018
Report
An Evaluation of the Department of Defense's Excess Property Program: Law Enforcement Agency Equipment Acquisition Policies, Findings, and Options
The Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program is efficiently run and effectively reuses excess Department of Defense property, but this is unlikely to resolve perceptions that the program contributes to the militarization of police.
May 14, 2018
Research Brief
Emerging Technology Trends and Their Impact on Criminal Justice
The Criminal Justice Technology Forecasting Group discussed near-term effects that major societal trends could have on criminal justice and identified potential responses. This brief summarizes a report of the results of the group's meetings.
Mar 26, 2018
Report
Addressing Emerging Trends to Support the Future of Criminal Justice: Findings of the Criminal Justice Technology Forecasting Group
The Criminal Justice Technology Forecasting Group deliberated on the effects that major societal trends could have on criminal justice in the near future and identified potential responses. This report captures the results of the group's meetings.
Mar 19, 2018
Report
Wearable Technologies for Law Enforcement: Multifunctional Vest System Options
This report reviews the current and projected status of wearable technologies with potential for use by law enforcement and describes three conceptual integrated vest systems that incorporate these technologies.
Sep 8, 2017
Report
Fostering Innovation in U.S. Law Enforcement: Identifying High-Priority Technology and Other Needs for Improving Law Enforcement Operations and Outcomes
Presents the results a 2016 workshop in which a panel of law enforcement experts identifies high-priority needs for innovation in law enforcement, covering advances in technology, policy, and practice.
Aug 31, 2017
Report
Using Future Broadband Communications Technologies to Strengthen Law Enforcement
This report describes the finding of an expert panel convened in September 2015 to discuss how law enforcement can best leverage future communications capabilities anticipated to be fielded over the next 10 to 15 years.
Sep 26, 2016