Geoffrey McGovern

Director of Intellectual Property; Senior Political Scientist

Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. in political science, Binghamton University; J.D., Harvard University; M.A. in political science, Binghamton University; B.A. in political science, Wittenberg 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

Geoffrey McGovern is director of Intellectual Property and a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. His research has focused on matters of civil justice, statutory compliance, asbestos litigation, national defense, and homeland security. Past RAND research includes a series of extensive studies of asbestos personal injury bankruptcy trusts; and examinations of state judicial resourcing and management, and intellectual property considerations for homeland security. Prior to joining RAND, McGovern was a Fulbright Fellow in Finland. He is a senior lecturer at Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Politics and Strategy, and received his Ph.D. in political science from Binghamton University in New York and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Intellectual Property and Homeland Security
Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts
Defense Department Insourcing

Honors & Awards

Fulbright Fellow, J. William Fulbright Program

Commentary

A Spotlight on the Supreme Court, and Its Vacancy
More than four months have passed since President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. In a time of contentious politics, a clear majority of Americans want the court to have a full bench. But they appear unlikely to get it soon.
Jul 19, 2016 The Hill

Publications

Report
Approaches for Strengthening Total Force Culture and Facilitating Cross-Component Integration in the U.S. Military
This research identifies practices that contribute to improved integration and a stronger total force culture, focusing on approaches that could impart cross-component knowledge and provide rewards for service members to work across components.
May 28, 2020
Report
The Role of Intellectual Property in U.S. Homeland Security
Researchers assessed intellectual property (IP) support at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components and found underused opportunities but also issues that expose programs to substantial risk.
Sep 19, 2019
Report
Realigning the Stars: A Methodology for Reviewing Active Component General and Flag Officer Requirements
The authors developed and employed a methodology to review general and flag officer requirements in the U.S. military, used results to identify opportunities to eliminate or downgrade positions, and explored the implications of reductions.
Oct 22, 2018
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: Considerations for Implementing the Controlled Unclassified Information Reform Program
This report provides a closer look at the current state of the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) program as well as how the new CUI rules might affect DoD acquisition data management.
Jan 24, 2018
Report
Stateless Attribution: Toward International Accountability in Cyberspace
This report reviews the state of cyber attribution and examines alternative options for producing standardized and transparent attribution that may overcome concerns about credibility.
Jun 2, 2017
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: A Closer Look at the Origins and Implementation of Controlled Unclassified Information Labels and Security Policy
The authors evaluated current Controlled Unclassified Information labeling procedures, practices, and security policies for U.S. Department of Defense acquisition data and recommend improvements.
Dec 19, 2016
Research Brief
Reserve Component General and Flag Officer Requirements
RAND researchers assessed whether the system, management, and number of reserve component general and flag officers were appropriate.
Oct 14, 2016
Journal Article
Response to Inselbuch and Sackett's Critique of RAND Reports on Asbestos Trusts and Asbestos Litigation
RAND responds to a piece published in Mealey's Asbestos Bankruptcy Report that was critical of three RAND studies on asbestos litigation and bankruptcy trusts.
Mar 9, 2016
Report
Reserve Component General and Flag Officers: A Review of Requirements and Authorized Strength
Increased use of the reserve component has renewed interest in the question of the appropriate number of reserve component general and flag officers. RAND researchers conducted a review of requirements for reserve component general and flag officers.
Feb 8, 2016
Report
Authorities and Mechanisms for Purchased Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes purchased care services through an array of programs, each with different requirements and processes. A strategy for purchased care is needed to design an effective purchased care program.
Dec 31, 2015
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: Executive Summary
This report identifies the problems and challenges associated with sharing unclassified information within the U.S. Department of Defense and investigates the role of policies and practices associated with such sharing.
Jun 12, 2015
Report
Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: Policy and Practice
This report identifies the problems and challenges associated with sharing unclassified information within the U.S. Department of Defense and investigates the role of policies and practices associated with such sharing.
Jun 12, 2015
Report
Bankruptcy's Effect on Product Identification in Asbestos Personal Injury Cases
This report investigates whether bankruptcy reduces the likelihood that exposures to the asbestos-containing products of bankrupt parties will be identified in interrogatories and depositions.
May 21, 2015
Research Brief
Bankruptcy Trusts Complicate the Outcomes of Asbestos Lawsuits
Interrogatories and depositions in a tort case against a bankrupt firm are less likely to reveal exposure to asbestos in the firm's product than if the case had occurred before the firm filed bankruptcy.
May 21, 2015
Report
Shining a Light on State Campaign Finance: An Evaluation of the Impact of the National Institute on Money in State Politics
This report evaluates the impact the National Institute on Money in State Politics has had on the public discourse over campaign finance at the state level.
Aug 12, 2014
Report
Who Pays for Justice? Perspectives on State Court System Financing and Governance
RAND Corporation researchers surveyed experts from five states that use a variety of approaches to funding state court systems to assess financing, accounting, and governance issues under various systems.
Apr 30, 2014
Report
Supporting Employers in the Reserve Operational Forces Era: Are Changes Needed to Reservists' Employment Rights Legislation, Policies, or Programs?
This report describes an analysis of current employment rights protections for Reserve Component members and related support programs and makes recommendations stemming from that analysis.
Aug 22, 2013
Report
Supporting Employers in the Reserve Operational Forces Era: Appendixes
This report describes an analysis of current employment rights protections for Reserve Component members and related support programs and makes recommendations stemming from that analysis.
Aug 22, 2013
Research Brief
Supporting Employers of Reserve Component Members
This brief details research finding that laws addressing employer obligations in the event of an employee's military duty–related absence are clear but that employer knowledge of obligations and where to go for help in fulfilling them is incomplete.
Aug 22, 2013
Report
Integrating the Department of Defense Supply Chain
Provides a guide for the design and improvement of Department of Defense supply chain policy, structure, and management practices, along with associated opportunities for efficiency gains.
Sep 4, 2012
Report
An Early Assessment of the Civil Justice System After the Financial Crisis: Something Wicked This Way Comes?
The financial collapse of 2008 has had a lasting, disruptive effect on many aspects of the U.S. economy. A preliminary assessment of the impact on the civil justice system identified areas that warrant further research and data collection.
Mar 5, 2012
Report
A Methodology for Implementing the Department of Defense's Current In-Sourcing Policy
The authors review the recent history of sourcing in the Department of Defense, assess relevant laws and policies, offer interpretations of key terms, and describe an approach to implementing current in-sourcing guidance.
Sep 8, 2011
Report
Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts and Tort Compensation
This book examines how state tort laws and court proceedings consider the compensation available from asbestos bankruptcy trusts and the evidence submitted in trust claim forms, and how the establishment of the trusts can affect compensation.
Aug 18, 2011
Research Brief
Bankruptcy Trusts, Asbestos Compensation, and the Courts
People with asbestos injuries are increasingly receiving compensation from trusts set up by bankrupt asbestos defendants. This brief documents how courts handling these cases consider trust payments when determining compensation.
Aug 18, 2011
Report
Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts: An Overview of Trust Structure and Activity with Detailed Reports on the Largest Trusts
This report describes the creation, organization, governance, and operation of asbestos personal-injury trusts and compiles information on the assets, outlays, claim-approval criteria, and governing boards of the 26 largest trusts.
Jul 26, 2010
Report
Third-Party Litigation Funding and Claim Transfer: Trends and Implications for the Civil Justice System
In July 2009, the UCLA-RAND Center for Law and Public Policy convened a conference to assess the regulatory implications, effect on dispute resolution, and trends in the development of third-party litigation funding.
Mar 16, 2010