Hilary Reininger

Assistant Policy Researcher; Ph.D. Candidate, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Off Site Office

Education

M.S. in conflict analysis and resolution, George Mason University; B.A. in Middle East studies and Arabic, Brigham Young University

Overview

Hilary Reininger (recently Smith) is a doctoral student at Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. Her dissertation research focuses on how social media platforms can help their users discern, avoid, and resist false information. Her anticipated graduation is fall 2020.

Reininger is a mixed methods public policy researcher studying disinformation at the intersection of social science and technology. She uses theory and tools from sociology, psychology, and conflict studies, adapted to machine learning and other applications, for socio-technical problem-solving. She is experienced in R, text analysis, qualitative coding, interviewing, and survey design and analysis. She applies these skills to research and analysis on contemporary disinformation operations, election security, truth decay, and deception practices. She has also helped research and provide recommendations in management consulting for military and government organizations. She looks forward to applying this background and skills to other non-traditional threats in work at RAND and beyond.

Reininger has studied abroad in Serbia, Kosovo, the United Kingdom, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and Jordan. She has studied and speaks both Arabic and Spanish. She has an M.S. in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University and a B.A. in Middle East studies and Arabic from Brigham Young University.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

Defending Against and Mitigating the Effects of Disinformation
[NCCIC] Strategic Planning Support
Analytic and Conceptual Support to the "Operations in the Information Environment" Capabilities Based Assessment
Countering Information Disorder: A Review of Tools and Ongoing Efforts
Analysis of Active Component General and Flag Officer (G/FO) Requirements

Honors & Awards

James Q. Wilson Dissertation Fellowship, Pardee RAND Graduate School
NSRD Research Award, National Defense Research Institute

Languages

R; VBA; Spanish; Arabic

Publications

Report
Countering Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections
This report describes responses to both Russian memes designed to breed dissension and a public service announcement warning about threats from foreign interference in U.S. elections. This is the fourth report in a series on election security.
Mar 29, 2021
Report
Measuring Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Effectiveness at the United States Central Command
The authors developed a repeatable process to measure the effectiveness of U.S. Central Command intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations; evaluate current performance; and plan for, influence, and resource future operations.
Jan 20, 2021
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
Tool
Determining Staffing Needs for Administrative, Professional, and Technical Workers in the U.S. Secret Service: A User Guide for Workforce Staffing Models
Researchers created a software tool to help determine staffing needs in the U.S. Secret Service's highest-priority administrative, professional, and technical functions. This guide describes the tool and its functions and documents procedures.
Aug 18, 2020
Report
Fighting Disinformation Online: Building the Database of Web Tools
This report describes a database of online tools that are developed by nonprofit, civil society organizations and are designed to reduce the spread of online disinformation.
Feb 18, 2020
Tool
Fighting Disinformation Online: A Database of Web Tools
The tools in this database were created by nonprofits and civil society organizations to help information consumers, researchers, and journalists navigate today's challenging information environment.
Nov 12, 2019
Report
Main Command Post-Operational Detachments (MCP-ODs) and Division Headquarters Readiness
Researchers identify the effects of Focus Area Review Group II headquarters design and its new unit type -- the Main Command Post--Operational Detachment -- on division headquarters readiness.
Jun 3, 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