Jordan R. Reimer

@Jordan_R_Reimer on Twitter

Policy Analyst

Santa Monica Office

Education

A.B. in politics, Princeton University; M.P.A. in international relations, Princeton 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

Jordan Reimer is a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation, working in the Defense and Political Sciences department. A recipient of the Scholars in the Nation's Service Initiative fellowship, Reimer served as a policymaker at the State Department, Department of Defense, and Joint Staff on issues related to Middle East policy, strategic planning, the Quadrennial Defense Review, and media relations. He has lived in Egypt and Yemen and consulted on international development projects related to social entrepreneurship in the Arab world. Prior to joining RAND in 2017, Reimer worked as an intelligence analyst for the New York City Police Department, where he specialized in counterterrorism investigations related to the Syrian civil war, the foreign fighter threat, and illicit finance networks. He is also a lecturer and course instructor on conflict and insurgency in the post-Arab Spring Middle East, radicalization, and political Islam, most recently at New York University. In June 2020 Reimer joined the Council on Foreign Relations as a term member. He holds an M.P.A. in international relations from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Terrorism Prevention Study
Stabilization and Civilian Security in Yemen
Trends in U.S. Jihadist Terror Plots
Using AI/ML to Identify and Counter White Supremacist Activity on Social Media

Selected Publications

Trevor Johnston, Matthew Lane, Abigail Casey, Heather J. Williams, Ashley L. Rhoades, James Sladden, Nathan Vest, Jordan R. Reimer, Ryan Haberman, Could the Houthis Be the Next Hizballah?: Iranian Proxy Development in Yemen and the Future of the Houthi Movement, RAND Corporation (RR-2551), 2020

Brian A. Jackson, Ashley L. Rhoades, Jordan R. Reimer, Natasha Lander, Katherine Costello, Sina Beaghley, Practical Terrorism Prevention: Re-examining U.S. National Approaches to Addressing the Threat of Ideologically-Motivated Violence, RAND Corporation (RR-2647), 2019

Marek N. Posard, Marta Kepe, Hilary Reininger, James V. Marrone, Todd C. Helmus, Jordan R. Reimer, From Consensus to Conflict: Understanding Foreign Measures Targeting U.S. Elections, RAND Corporation (RR-A704-1), 2020

Elvira N. Loredo, Karlyn D. Stanley, Ryan Consaul, Jordan R. Reimer, Anita Szafran, The End of Sanctuary: Protecting the Army’s Installations from Emerging Threats, RAND Corporation (RR-A107-1), 2020

, Russia’s Growing Presence in Africa: A Geostrategic Assessment (forthcoming)

, Staying the Unfavorable Course: National Security Council Decision-Making and the Inertia of US Afghanistan Policy, 2002-2016 (forthcoming)

Honors & Awards

Silver Medal for Mission and Impact, RAND

Languages

Arabic

Commentary

Iran Claws Back Its Regional Influence
Last year, Iran faced protests at home as well as in Iraq and Lebanon, where thousands rallied against Tehran's regional hegemony. But with its recent machinations and the fallout over the killing of Soleimani, Iran has succeeded in changing the regional conversation.
Jan 17, 2020 The World Post
The Arab Spring in the Upside-Down
Where the original Arab Spring protests removed authoritarian leaders, the current demonstrators in Iraq and Lebanon are trying to topple popularly elected governments. This could have dramatic implications for the future of representative democracy in the Middle East.
Nov 21, 2019 The World Post
No Need to Wait for Congress to Address Mass Shootings
After three mass shootings in the span of a week left 53 wounded and 34 dead, pressure is mounting on Congress to respond with legislation to restrict access to guns and ammunition. But there is no need to wait for new laws. There are steps that can be taken immediately that evidence suggests could help prevent attacks or reduce the death toll from them.
Aug 23, 2019 The Hill

Publications

Report
The End of Sanctuary: Protecting the Army's Installations from Emerging Threats
RAND researchers catalog innovative and emerging threats to Army installations, identify deficiencies in the Army's current threat assessment methodologies, and develop a framework to respond to these threats.
Nov 10, 2020
Report
From Consensus to Conflict: Understanding Foreign Measures Targeting U.S. Elections
Russia might try to manipulate and divide U.S. voters via social media during the U.S. political campaign season of 2020. This first report in a series of four reviews research on foreign actors targeting local, state, and national elections.
Oct 1, 2020
Report
Could the Houthis Be the Next Hizballah? Iranian Proxy Development in Yemen and the Future of the Houthi Movement
The authors analyze the prospect that Iran will further invest in Yemen's Houthis and develop them into an enduring proxy group. The authors examine the history, current relations and trajectory, and possible future of the Houthi-Iran relationship.
Jul 13, 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
America's Pacific Island Allies: The Freely Associated States and Chinese Influence
The Freely Associated States -- the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau -- have been the subject of increasing Chinese influence. The authors examine the implications of these activities for defense and foreign policy interests of the United States.
Aug 6, 2019
Research Brief
Building an Effective and Practical National Approach to Terrorism Prevention
RAND researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. They found that current capabilities are relatively limited and future efforts must build trust to succeed.
Feb 14, 2019
Report
Practical Terrorism Prevention: Executive Summary
Researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. This document summarizes findings from the main report.
Feb 14, 2019
Report
Practical Terrorism Prevention: Reexamining U.S. National Approaches to Addressing the Threat of Ideologically Motivated Violence
Researchers examined past U.S. countering violent extremism and terrorism prevention efforts and explored options to strengthen them. They found that current capabilities are relatively limited and that future efforts must build trust to succeed.
Feb 14, 2019