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John V. Parachini

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Director, Intelligence Policy Center, RAND National Defense Research Institute
Washington Office

Education

M.B.A., Georgetown University; M.A. in international relations, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University; B.A. in philosophy, Haverford College

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 Parachini is a senior international policy analyst and director of the Intelligence Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. He has led RAND projects on the propensity of terrorists to acquire chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons; how the U.S. government can capture terrorists' digital information; scenario development for counterterrorism planning; and the danger of terrorists and rogue states acquiring nuclear material expertise from the former Soviet Union.

Parachini has testified before both houses of Congress and published articles on terrorism and weapons proliferation in the Washington Quarterly, Arms Control Today, RAND Review, The Nonproliferation Review, Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Newsday, and International Herald Tribune.

Previously, Parachini served as the executive director of the Washington office of the Monterey Institute of International Studies' Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Prior to joining the Monterey Institute, he was a senior associate at the Henry L. Stimson Center, where he focused on nonproliferation and arms control issues.

Parachini has taught at the University of Southern California Washington Policy Center and the City University of New York's Baruch College in the School of Public Affairs. He served in short assignments at the U.S. State Department's Operations Center, and the Bureaus of Political-Military Affairs, Intelligence and Research, and Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Parachini holds a B.A. in philosophy from Haverford College; an M.A. in international relations from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University; and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University.

Research Focus

Previous Positions

Executive Director, Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies

Recent Projects

  • Jihadist networks

Selected Publications

Brian A. Jackson et al., Breaching the Fortress Wall: Understanding Terrorist Efforts to Overcome Defensive Technologies, RAND Corporation (MG-481), 2007

Brian A. Jackson et al., Aptitude for Destruction, Vol. 2: Case Studies of Organizational Learning in Five Terrorist Groups, RAND Corporation (MG-331), 2005

Sara A. Daly et al., Aum Shinrikyo, Al Qaeda and the Kinshasa Reactor: Implications of Three Case Studies for Combating Nuclear Terrorism, RAND Corporation (DB-458), 2005

John Parachini et al., Diversion of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Weapons Expertise from the Former Soviet Union: Understanding an Evolving Problem, RAND Corporation (DB-457), 2005

David Aaron, ed., Three Years After: Next Steps in the War on Terror, RAND Corporation (CF-212), 2005

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: Agence France Press; Australian Financial Review; BBC; Boston Globe; CBS; Christian Science Monitor; CNN; Congressional Quarterly; Dallas Morning News; Fox; MSNBC; National Journal; NPR; Reuters; St. Petersburg Times (FL); Toronto Star; Voice of America; WashingtonPost.com; WTOP

Commentary

  • A tank is seen as fighters from Libyan forces allied with the U.N.-backed government take position during a battle with Islamic State militants in Sirte, Libya, September 22, 2016

    Keep Chemical Weapons Out of Terrorist Hands

    As the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front seized territory in Syria and northern Iraq, they came upon military sites with chemical munitions and industrial facilities with toxic chemicals. Reducing such opportunities should be a priority.

    Sep 27, 2016 U.S. News & World Report

  • U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov shake hands following their meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, September 9, 2016

    Syria Cease-Fire Should Ban Chemical Weapons

    The United States and Russia negotiated an agreement to suspend fighting in Syria and get relief supplies to trapped civilians. They should not miss an opportunity to regularly and forcefully draw a red line on the use of toxic chemicals as weapons.

    Sep 15, 2016 USA Today

  • Blog

    Arab Spring, not Osama bin Laden's Fall, Will Determine Middle East's Fate

    The unanswered question is just what will endure in the Arab world: comparatively peaceful demonstrations leading to regime change, or brutal tactics by authoritarian regimes to crush dissent and cling to power, writes John Parachini.

    May 9, 2011 Christian Science Monitor

  • Blog

    A Bottom-Up Peace in Afghanistan

    The Afghan government has embarked on a high-stakes gamble: Try to negotiate with the leaders of the various insurgent networks to end the nine-year-old Afghan war, write Wali Shaaker and John Parachini.

    Jul 15, 2010 Providence Journal

  • Blog

    Rereading the Duelfer Report

    Published commentary by RAND staff.

    Nov 15, 2004 International Herald Tribune

  • Blog

    Iraq's Had Time to Really Hide Its Weapons Sites

    Published commentary by RAND staff.

    Sep 19, 2002 Newsday

  • Blog

    Deny Victory to Anthrax Terrorists

    By keeping in mind the modest scope of the anthrax attacks and not overreacting, we deny the perpetrators of these attacks their objective of terrorizing us into doing what they want us to do. These anthrax cases do, however, highlight some areas for improvement in America's response that can help reduce fear and anxiety, thereby denying the terrorists their objective.

    Oct 17, 2001 International Herald Tribune

  • Blog

    Religion Isn't Sole Motive of Terror

    Published commentary by RAND staff.

    Sep 16, 2001 Los Angeles Times

Publications