John Matsumura

Senior Engineer

Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. in engineering and public policy, Carnegie Mellon University; M.S. in engineering mechanics, Pennsylvania State University; B.S. in aerospace engineering, Pennsylvania State 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

John Matsumura is a senior engineer at the RAND Corporation with over 30 years of experience leading research on innovation and technology. At RAND, Matsumura has served in key research management positions, including director of the Joint Warfare Simulation and Analysis Center and associate director for research for RAND's Pittsburgh Office. His current research involves force protection capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous robotic systems, renewable energy technologies, and advanced modeling and simulation (M&S) methods. He has taught courses for both RAND and CMU School of Engineeering on M&S in support of technology and policy decisions, coauthored several U.S. Department of Defense and Army reports, written numerous RAND monographs focusing on technology's impact on the status quo, and authored a book on advanced technologies' potential to make U.S. combat forces less vulnerable and more capable.

Matsumura has served on federal advisory boards, including the Defense Science Board task force on power projection, the Office of the Secretary of Defense task force on defense architecture, and the Army Science Board, where he chaired many panels and studies. For this service, Matsumura received the Commander's award for outstanding civilian service in 2011 and the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal in 2021. In 2022 he served as a committee member for a National Academy of Science panel on artificial intelligence. Recently, the USPTO granted Matsumura a patent (#10,890,459) for his research in the area of improving energy efficiency for vehicles, and he has a continuation patent that was provisionally approved in 2023.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Assessing the manpower implications of autonomous robotic systems to Army force structure
Exploring renewable energy technologies for achieving net zero requirement
Assessing capabilities for anti-access and area-denial environments
Exploring the role of advanced technologies and new operational concepts to improve military capabilities and national security

Selected Publications

James Anderson and John Matsumura "Civilian Developments in Autonomous Vehicle Technology and Their Civilian and Military Policy Implications," in Andrew Williams and Paul Scharre, Autonomous Systems: Issues for Defence Policymakers, NATO, 2015

Daehner, Endy M., John Matsumura, Thomas J. Herbert, Jeremy Kurz, and Keith Walters, Integrating Operational Energy Implications into System-Level Combat Effects Modeling: Assessing the Combat Effectiveness and Fuel Use of ABCT 2020 and Current ABCT, RAND Corporation (RR-879-OSD), 2015

Matsumura, John, Randall Steeb, Blake Crowe, Nicholas Dienna, Yuna Huh Wong, Gary Quintero, and William Sollfrey, Survivability Options for Maneuver and Transport Aircraft: Analytic Support to the Army Science Board, RAND Corporation (MG-123-A), 2004

Matsumura, John, Randall Steeb, Thomas J. Herbert, John Gordon IV, Carl Rhodes, Russell W. Glenn, Michael Barbero, Frederick J. Gellert, Phyllis Kantar, Gail Halverson, Robert Cochran, and Paul S. Steinberg, Exploring Advanced Technologies for the Future Combat Systems Program, RAND Corporation (MR-1332-A), 2002

Matsumura, John, Randall Steeb, John Gordon IV, Thomas J. Herbert, Russell W. Glenn, and Paul S. Steinberg, Lightning Over Water: Sharpening America's Light Forces for Rapid-Reaction Missions — Executive Summary, RAND Corporation (MR-1196/1-A/OSD), 2001

John Matsumura and Randall Steeb, "Unmanned but Not Untethered: Robots on the Future Battlefield," RAND Review, 2006

Honors & Awards

Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Department of the Army/DoD
Commander's Award/Medal, Deparment of the Army/DoD
Army Highlight Award *(twice), Deputy Undersecretary of the Army (Operations Research)

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: Carnegie Science Center; Inside the Army/Pentagon; L'Expresso; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Popular Science

Commentary

Military Technology

War Robots Will Lessen Killing—Not Increase It
Could armed autonomous robots embark on a campaign of indiscriminate killing? John Matsumura says that there is a convincing base of evidence that robots are more likely to prevent slaughter than engage in it.
Oct 18, 2013
Christian Science Monitor

Publications

Report
Joint Requirements Framework for Collaboration at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
To help the U.S. Department of Homeland Security plan and assess joint activities, researchers created a framework with a decision aid, a taxonomy, a tool for selecting program types, and recommendations for structuring joint programs for success.
Sep 6, 2022
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.
Aug 30, 2021
Report
A New Methodology for Conducting Product Support Business Case Analysis (BCA): With Illustrations from the F-22 Product Support BCA
This document explains how to apply guidance on project evaluation to product support business case analyses in a way that allows senior Department of Defense decisionmakers to use net present value to compare courses of action.
Jun 13, 2017
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.
Apr 5, 2017
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.
Jan 30, 2017
Report
A Modeling Framework for Optimizing F-35A Strategic Basing Decisions to Meet Training Requirements
This report presents a modeling framework designed to identify basing locations for the F-35A fleet and training range locations that minimize flying costs associated with composite force training exercises for combat mission-ready pilots.
Dec 14, 2016
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.
May 13, 2015
Report
Integrating Operational Energy Implications into System-Level Combat Effects Modeling: Assessing the Combat Effectiveness and Fuel Use of ABCT 2020 and Current ABCT
The authors developed and applied a methodology that leveraged detailed combat effectiveness models to account for the operational energy needs of an Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) 2020 and the current ABCT conducting combat missions.
Apr 23, 2015
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.
Jun 17, 2013
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.
Nov 3, 2011
Report
High-Performance Computing Opportunities and Challenges for Army R&D
This study identifies potential users of high-performance computing within the Army science and technology community and develops a strategy to build an initiative that will help the Army compete effectively for Department of Defense computing resources.
Jan 30, 2006
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
Report
Examining the Army's Future Warrior: Force-on-Force Simulation of Candidate Technologies
Explores and assesses selected technology options for future dismounted soldiers that could improve mission effectiveness and reduce casualties.
Aug 15, 2004
Report
Survivability Options for Maneuver and Transport Aircraft: Analytic Support to the Army Science Board
Explores and assesses survivability concepts and technologies for future heavy-lift transport aircraft.
2004
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.
2002
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.
2002
Report
Preparing for Future Warfare with Advanced Technologies: Prioritizing the Next Generation of Capabilities
A new era in military planning is under way. As the defense leadership attempts to define and prepare a more efficient and effective military from the top down, the services are selectively transforming key capabilities to meet the anticipated needs for warfare in the new millennium.
2002
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.
2001
Report
Corralling the Trojan Horse: A Proposal for Improving U.S. Urban Operations Preparedness in the Period 2000-2025
This study presents an alternative to continued reliance on close combat urban operations paradigms that require a commitment of large numbers of soldiers to urban actions.
2001
Report
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.
2000
Report
Ground Forces for a Rapidly Employable Joint Task Force: First-Week Capabilities for Short-Warning Conflicts
This monograph is a "think piece" about rapidly deployable future ground forces that would be used in time-urgent joint-task-force missions.
2000
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.
2000
Report
Rapid Force Projection Technologies: Assessing the Performance of Advanced Ground Sensors
This documented briefing summarizes research supporting the Rapid Force Protection Initiative (RFPI) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD), with the goal of exploring new technology concepts for the ACTD.
2000
Report
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)."
1999
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
1999
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.
1998
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.
1998
Report
Analytic Support to the Defense Science Board: Tactics and Technology for 21st Century Military Superiority
Analytic Support to the Defense Science Board: Tactics and Technology for 21st Century Military Superiority
1997
Report
A Framework for Precision Conventional Strike in Post-Cold War Military Strategy
Examines the value PCS weapons have in future military strategies and draws inferences about investment of system development and acquisition dollars.
1996
Report
Rapid Force Projection: Exploring New Technology Concepts for Light Airborne Forces
The simulation results suggest that a division ready brigade (DRB) can be improved to fight and survive against a current and future heavy force.
1996
Report
Rapid Force Projection Technologies: A Quick-Look Analysis of Advanced Light Indirect Fire Systems
In recent years, light, rapid-reaction forces have become a staple of U.S. military strategy and planning. ... to provide decisionmakers with an assessment of the effectiveness of differing advanced indirect fire weapon alternatives to the light airborne forces.
1996
Report
An Assessment of Alternative Transports for Future Mobility Planning
With the end of the Cold War and growing pressure to reduce the budget deficit, DoD mobility programs will probably face sharp fiscal constraints. Yet the ability to project forces to distant places remains central to U.S. national security.
1993