Ellen M. Pint

Senior Economist

Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in economic analysis and policy, Graduate School of Business, Stanford University

One Page Bio

Overview

Ellen M. Pint is a senior economist at RAND with over 30 years of experience in defense economics issues. Her recent work includes analyzing alternative strategies for improving Army barracks, examining Army installation capabilities and capacity to support mobilization and deployment; evaluating alternative price and credit policies for depot-level reparables; assessing the U.S. defense industrial base for autonomous unmanned systems; and analyzing the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' fee structure. Pint has also conducted research on Army reserve component training and personnel readiness, recruiting and retention; industrial base and infrastructure issues, the effects of equipment age on maintenance costs, logistics budgeting and financial management policies, and outsourcing and privatization of support functions. Pint received a Ph.D. in Business (Economic Analysis and Policy) from Stanford University in 1989.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Evaluation of Alternative Strategies for Army Installation Unaccompanied Housing
Setting Standard (Non-Creditable) and Born-On Pricing for Reparables
Evaluating Installation Deployment Readiness and Capacity
Assessing the Autonomous Unmanned Systems Industrial Base
Electronic Filing and Processing Efficiency Gains

Selected Publications

Bond, Craig A., Ellen M. Pint, Stephan B. Seabrook, and Christina Panis, Soldier Preferences and Retention Effects of Changes in Army Reserve Training Requirements: An Exploration of Revealed and Stated Behavior, RAND Corporation (RR-A750-1), 2021

Vasseur, Michael, Ellen M. Pint, Laura H. Baldwin, Maria McCollester, Max Steiner, Liam Regan, and Liam McLane, Independent Evaluation of the Transportation Working Capital Fund: Assessment and Recommendations to Improve Effectiveness and Efficiency, RAND Corporation (RR-A886-1), 2021

Vasseur, Michael, Ellen M. Pint, Laura H. Baldwin, Max Steiner, Liam Regan, and Liam McLane, Implementing Variable Cost Pricing in the Transportation Working Capital Fund, RAND Corporation (RR-A886-2), 2021

Pint, Ellen M., Beth E. Lachman, Katherine Anania, and Connor P. Jackson, Improving the Allocation and Execution of Army Facility Sustainment Funding, RAND Corporation (RR-3240-A), 2020

Lachman, Beth E., Ellen M. Pint, Aimee E. Curtright, and Cole Sutera, Alternatives for Reducing Army Installation Utility Bills While Enhancing Installation Readiness, RAND Corporation (RR-2773-1-A), 2020

Warren, Drake, Heather Krull, Jennifer Lamping Lewis, Aisha Najera Chesler, Ellen M. Pint, and J. Michael Gilmore, Assessment of Alternative Funding Models for Activities in RDECOM (Now CCDC) and ATEC, RAND Corporation (RR-2818-A), 2020

Fleming, Joslyn, Ellen M. Pint, Jessica Duke, Simon Veronneau, Austin Lewis, and Jordan R. Reimer, Right-Sizing Marine Corps Intermediate Supply Units: A Staffing Model and Proposed Process Improvements, RAND Corporation (RR-2908-USMC), 2019

Pint, Ellen M., Joslyn Fleming, Gene Germanovich, and Luke Muggy, Addressing Ballistic Glass Delamination in the Marine Corps Tactical Vehicle Fleet: Implications for Resourcing and Readiness, RAND Corporation (RR-2285-USMC), 2018

Honors & Awards

Medal for Exceptional Public Service, 2008, Office of the Secretary of Defense
Board of Directors, 2007-2010, Western Economic Association International
Rhodes Scholarship, 1982-84, Rhodes Trust

Publications

Report
Implementing Variable Cost Pricing in the Transportation Working Capital Fund
In this companion report, researchers identify next steps toward implementing variable cost pricing for selected business lines funded by the Transportation Working Capital Fund.
Dec 16, 2021
Report
Soldier Preferences and Retention Effects of Changes in Army Reserve Training Requirements: An Exploration of Revealed and Stated Behavior
The authors examine how changes in training requirements affect soldiers' interest in staying in the U.S. Army Reserve and how their civilian employment and family situations influence that decision.
Nov 16, 2021
Report
Analyzing a More Resilient National Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Capability
The authors assess the costs associated with realistic threats to domestic, nonmilitary uses of the Global Positioning System (GPS), and consider possible additions to the positioning, navigation, and timing ecosystem in light of those costs.
May 17, 2021
Report
Independent Evaluation of the Transportation Working Capital Fund: Assessment and Recommendations to Improve Effectiveness and Efficiency
The authors assess the financial viability and current structure of the Transportation Working Capital Fund, which funds U.S. Transportation Command operations, and recommend ways to restructure the fund to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.
Mar 25, 2021
Report
Alternatives for Reducing Army Installation Utility Bills While Enhancing Installation Readiness
Researchers identified options for reducing installation utility costs in three areas: reducing commodity payments; finding alternative funding sources for energy and water system investments; and leveraging nontraditional partnerships.
Jun 18, 2020
Report
Improving the Allocation and Execution of Army Facility Sustainment Funding
To identify strategies and make recommendations on improving the allocation and execution of Army installation facility sustainment funding, the authors compare Army practices with those in the other Services and in the public and private sectors.
Apr 23, 2020
Report
Assessment of Alternative Funding Models for Activities in RDECOM (Now CCDC) and ATEC
Current funding models and impacts of alternative models are assessed by the authors to help the U.S. Army increase the transparency of reimbursable accounting practices and improve auditability at two Army commands.
Feb 6, 2020
Report
Right-Sizing Marine Corps Intermediate Supply Units: A Staffing Model and Proposed Process Improvements
The authors present a methodology to determine optimal personnel capacity for Marine Corps intermediate-level supply accounts and other measures to help these accounts work more effectively and efficiently to meet supported units' needs.
Oct 14, 2019
Report
F-35 Block Buy: An Assessment of Potential Savings
This report assesses potential cost savings available through use of a three-year block buy contract for procurement of F-35 aircraft during fiscal years 2018-2020 -- approximately $2.1 billion, or 4.9 percent of the cost of annual contracting.
Jul 18, 2018
Report
Addressing Ballistic Glass Delamination in the Marine Corps Tactical Vehicle Fleet: Implications for Resourcing and Readiness
Delamination of ballistic glass impairs driver visibility and affects the readiness of Marine Corps tactical vehicles. To address this issue, RAND researchers estimate costs and vehicle availability under various repair and replacement scenarios.
Feb 27, 2018
Report
Army Installation Rail Operations: Implications of Increased Outsourcing
In this report, we evaluate the three business models that the Army relies on for its on-post rail operations and determine whether greater reliance on commercial rail assets could meet Army rail needs at a lower cost.
Jan 8, 2018
Report
Review of Army Total Force Policy Implementation
This report reviews the implementation of the Army's Total Force Policy. The Army has made progress in integrating the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve, but budget constraints have limited implementation.
Oct 24, 2017
Report
Helping Soldiers Leverage Army Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in Civilian Jobs
Discusses the results of occupation surveys administered to soldiers in ten of the most populous Army military occupational specialties (MOSs) to develop improved crosswalks between military and civilian occupations.
Jan 23, 2017
Research Brief
Improving Employment Prospects for Soldiers Leaving the Regular Army
Discusses the results of a new approach to develop an improved crosswalk between Army military occupational specialties (MOSs) and civilian occupations, highlighting ten of the Army's most populous combat and noncombat MOSs.
Jan 23, 2017
Report
Active Component Responsibility in Reserve Component Pre- and Postmobilization Training
This report examines historical readiness problems for the Army reserve component and ways in which Congress and the Army have addressed these, including active component support to RC units, and recommends changes to support future RC training.
Apr 29, 2015
Report
Defense Working Capital Fund Pricing in the Defense Finance and Accounting Service: A Useful, but Limited, Tool
RAND researchers consider the advantages and disadvantages of funding the Defense Finance and Accounting Service through a Defense Working Capital Fund versus using direct appropriations.
Feb 16, 2015
Report
Measuring the Value of Renewal: Age, Operational Tempo, Deployment, and Reset Effects on the Readiness and Maintenance Costs of Army Vehicles
Assesses the effects of vehicle age, operational tempo (OPTEMPO), deployment location, and reset on the mission-critical failures and maintenance costs of selected Army vehicle fleets.
Jun 3, 2013
Report
Employer Partnership Program Analysis of Alternatives
Examines features of the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard's Employer Partnership Program, which seeks to strengthen relationships with reservists and their civilian employers.
Jan 7, 2013
Report
Developing Headquarters Guidance for Army Installation Sustainability Plans in 2007
Examines the experiences of Army installations with sustainability planning, and recommends ways to help foster Armywide development and implementation of installation sustainability plans, which address mission, community, and environmental issues.
Dec 9, 2009
Report
Improving Recapitalization Planning: Toward a Fleet Management Model for the High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle
Describes analyses carried out and results obtained in a study conducted to assess the effects of aging on High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles in order to assist decisionmaking for the Army's recapitalization program.
Dec 1, 2008
Report
Ensuring That Army Infrastructure Meets Strategic Needs
Discusses how changes in U.S. national security strategy are affecting Army infrastructure needs, how well Army installations are adapting to changing strategic requirements, and issues that should be addressed in future infrastructure planning.
Jun 24, 2008
Report
Lessons from the North: Canada's Privatization of Military Ammunition Production
Provides an assessment of the applicability of lessons learned from the privatization of Canada's ammunition manufacturing to the U.S. ammunition industrial base.
Aug 15, 2004
Research Brief
Privatizing Military Production
2004
Research Brief
Managing the Army's Arsenals and Ammunition Plants
The Army asked RAND Arroyo Center to assess options for managing their large industrial base, consisting of ammunition plants and arsenals.
2003
Report
Rethinking Governance of the Army's Arsenals and Ammunition Plants
Assesses options for managing the Army's arsenals and ammunition plants.
2003
Report
Right Price, Fair Credit: Criteria to Improve Financial Incentives for Army Logistics Decisions
In this document, the authors introduce a set of criteria to assess price and credit policy changes in terms of their effectiveness in meeting the overall objective of maintaining the logistics customer's ability to meet mission requirements while ...
2002
Report
Public-Private Partnerships: Background Papers for the U.S.-U.K. Conference on Military Installation Assets, Operations, and Services
The U.S. Department of Defense and the U.K. Ministry of Defence (MoD) face a common challenge: to modernize their forces to meet changing military threats under reduced budgets.
2001
Report
Public-Private Partnerships: Proceedings of the U.S.-U.K. Conference on Military Installation Assets, Operations, and Services April 14-16, 2000
This document is a summary of a three day conference on privatizing military installation assets, operations, and services held atDitchley Park in Oxfordshire, England, on April 14-16, 2000.
2001
Report
Velocity Management: The Business Paradigm That Has Transformed U.S. Army Logistics
Velocity management has brought a new way of doing business to U.S. Army logistics, with a renewed focus on the Army customer and a powerful approach for process improvement that cuts across three critical performance dimensions: time, ...
2001
Report
Dollars and Sense: A Process Improvement Approach to Logistics Financial Management
This report documents analysis conducted in support of the Velocity Management Financial Management Process Improvement Team.
2000
Report
Evaluating Five Proposed Price and Credit Policies for the Army
As the Army moves toward implementation of a Single Stock Fund, some of the important decisions to be made involve the pricing and credit policies that will be adopted.
2000
Draft
Building a New Vision for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Options for Key Policy Decisions
Drawing on over 100 interviews with a wide range of people and organizations, this report identifies issues that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California must address as it reevaluates its role in the Southern California water industry.
1998
Report
Incentives to Undertake Sourcing Studies in the Air Force
Incentives to Undertake Sourcing Studies in the Air Force
1998
Report
Strategic Sourcing: Theory and Evidence from Economics and Business Management
Strategic Sourcing: Theory and Evidence from Economics and Business Management
1997
Report
ISM-X Evaluation and Policy Implications
This document is the final report on RAND's evaluation of the Army's expanded Integrated Sustainment Maintenance (ISM-X) demonstration.
1997
Report
Drought Management Policies and Economic Effects in Urban Areas of California, 1987-1992
This study reports the results of a detailed survey of urban water agencies to provide the background information needed for future studies to determine willingness-to-pay.
1996
Report
Sustaining Innovation in South Gate: A Framework for Restructuring City Government
The demands being placed on municipal governments have increased dramatically over the past several years.
1996
Report
Financial Condition of U.S. Military Aircraft Prime Contractors
Declining defense budgets have prompted concern about the financial health of the prime contractors for military aircraft. In this report, the authors examine financial indicators for the seven contractors active in the 1980s.
1994
Report
Assessment of the Economic Impacts of California's Drought on Urban Areas: A Research Agenda
1987-91 California drought, evaluates existing work on the economic effects of the drought, and presents an agenda for future research to make an overall estimate of the economic costs of the drought in urban areas.
1993