K. Jack Riley

Vice President, RAND National Security Research Division; Director, RAND National Defense Research Institute

Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. in public policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; M.S. in foreign service, Georgetown University; B.A. in economics and Russian, University of Michigan

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

Jack Riley is vice president and director of RAND's National Security Research Division (NSRD), which conducts research and analysis for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Commands, the defense agencies, the Department of the Navy, the U.S. Intelligence Community, the U.S. Department of State, allied foreign governments, and foundations. He leads a team of professionals who collectively conduct over 300 projects and produce hundreds of publicly available reports each year for top leadership in the national security community.

From 2008 to 2010, Riley was associate director of NSRD. Before that, he served as associate director of RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment (ISE). Prior to joining RAND, Riley worked as a senior civil servant at the U.S. Department of Justice where he focused on crime, immigration reform, drug epidemiology, and domestic terrorism.

Riley has testified before Congress on multiple occasions and has served as a trial observer in Guantanamo. He is a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, and a board member at the National Defense University Foundation. A supporter of educating the next generation of national security professionals, Riley has guest lectured at the University of Michigan's Ford School on the role of policy analysis in national security, and given a commencement address at the University of Pennsylvania's Department of Criminology. He is also on the board of the Fern Hollow Nature Center.

As a researcher, he has led and co-led numerous projects on national and homeland security topics, including an evaluation the DOD program providing excess equipment to law enforcement agencies; assessments of passenger rail and airport security; police and security sector reforms in Israel, Mexico, and Afghanistan; and gun violence reduction and police/community relations in Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Dallas, and elsewhere. In addition to scholarly reports and journal articles, Riley has written commentaries that have been published in such outlets as The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, and the New York Daily News. He's also given interviews with NPR, CBS, the New York Times, and Bloomberg Radio.

Riley has a Ph.D. in public policy analysis from Pardee RAND Graduate School, an M.S. in foreign service from Georgetown University, and a B.A. in economics and Russian from the University of Michigan.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

An Evaluation of the Department of Defense's Excess Property Program

Commentary

Now's the Time to Act on Guantanamo
Most of the 41 terror suspects who remain confined at Guantanamo Bay are unlikely to be released from custody any time soon. But the possibility that new detainees may soon be sent to the facility argues for early action to accelerate the legal proceedings against those already being held.
Apr 16, 2018 The Hill
What Should Trump Do About Gitmo?
The new administration has options to deal with the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay. It could maintain the status quo, make improvements to speed the trials, close the facility and relocate the remaining inmates, or accept new detainees.
Jan 11, 2017 Newsweek
How to Fix Guantanamo's Broken Justice
Replacing military judges with federal judges would expedite the process of resolving the Guantánamo cases in ways that would reflect better on the credibility and legitimacy of the U.S. justice system, while serving the interests of Congress, the president, survivors, and victims' families.
Mar 7, 2016 Newsweek
In the Interest of Justice
As the line between criminal justice and national security continues to blur, K. Jack Riley offers three principles that can help young criminology practitioners and scholars.
Jun 26, 2015
Tunisia in the Crosshairs
The open-ended nature of the Islamic State group's threat against Tunisair suggests that it intends to target Tunisia for the long haul. The United States should counter the threats with steadfast and sustained cooperation and assistance.
Jun 22, 2015 U.S. News & World Report
Are Airport Security Screeners Looking for the Wrong Things?
An investigation revealed that the TSA has failed in contraband testing, at a 95 percent rate. This shouldn't be perceived as an indictment of TSA workers. But it may be an indictment of the particular assignments they've been given.
Jun 4, 2015 Newsweek
Shinzo Abe Visit Caps New Dawn in U.S.-Japan Relations
A shift toward “collective self-defense” will allow Japan to take joint military action with its allies even when it is not directly attacked and thereby participate in security measures beyond its borders. Prime Minister Abe's trip to Washington this week is intended to cement Japan's deepening bilateral security alliance with the U.S.
Apr 30, 2015 U.S. News & World Report
Djibouti: Outpost of Stability in an Unstable Region
The collaborative role being played by the United States and Djibouti represents the kind of partnerships that are now required in the battle against terrorism, because little-known places like Djibouti are one arena where the battle could be won or lost.
Apr 10, 2015 The Hill
Data Key to Tackling Racial Profiling in Ferguson
Authorities in Ferguson would be wise to consider following Cincinnati's example in dealing with mistrust between police and citizens after the police shooting of a young black man. The city embarked on a thorough examination of racial profiling by its police force and took steps to deal with the perception that bias was influencing the way police officers performed their duties.
Aug 21, 2014 Cincinnati Enquire
The Facts About the Metadata 'Menace'
Metadata from a phone call include information such as the direction (who called whom), length, date and time. The program does not record the location or the name associated with a call. No one is listening to the call and no content is recorded.
Jan 26, 2014 Los Angeles Times
Border Security Is Key to Immigration Reform
Two important aspects of border security bear continued attention: strategy must be developed as one part of a holistic system of immigration management and any progress on improving this system is reliant on having concrete and sensible objectives and measures of success.
Jul 15, 2013 Houston Chronicle
Firearms and Gun Control: Many Questions, Some Answers
President Obama's task force on gun violence has raised the stakes in the policy debate on gun control and policy in the wake of the recent shootings in Colorado and Connecticut. Some of RAND's top researchers share what is, and what isn't, known about firearms and gun control.
Jan 17, 2013 The RAND Blog
Fake Boarding Pass Fears Inflated
Instead of ratcheting back the PreCheck program because of manufactured fears about security lapses, TSA should be encouraged to expand this program to more airlines, more airports and more infrequent travelers, write Jack Riley and Lily Ablon.
Dec 12, 2012 USA Today
Three Ways to Improve Airport Screening
The TSA's pilot “Pre-check” program that pre-screens travelers who volunteer for it is an overdue advance in security, but it does not address some larger issues surrounding America's airports, writes K. Jack Riley.
Mar 7, 2012 USA Today
Blog
The Unmentionable Costs of Airline Security
For most of the past decade, the U.S. has pursued policies with very little regard to the costs they impose on travelers or the net reduction in risk that they generate, writes K. Jack Riley.
Sep 13, 2011 Bloomberg Government
Blog
Police Need to Do a Better Job of Explaining Stop-and-Frisk
Good relations between the police and the public are a cornerstone of civil society. Everyday interactions between cops and citizens are at the heart of what defines those relations, write Jack Riley and Greg Ridgeway.
Dec 6, 2007 New York Daily News
Blog
Racial Profiling Won't Stop Terror
Published commentary by RAND staff: Racial Profiling Won't Stop Terror, in Washingtonpost.com.
Oct 11, 2006 Washingtonpost.com
Blog
Speed Low-Risk Travelers Through Increased Security
Published commentary by RAND staff: Speed Low-Risk Travelers Through Increased Security, in Los Angeles Business Journal.
Sep 4, 2006 Los Angeles Business Journal
Blog
Forum: Are We Prepared? Not Quite
Published commentary by RAND staff: Forum: Are We Prepared? Not Quite, in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Aug 27, 2006 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Blog
Mississippi Comeback
Published commentary by RAND staff: Mississippi Comeback, in the Los Angeles Times.
Aug 20, 2006 Los Angeles Times
Blog
Measuring Racial Profiling by Police
Published commentary by RAND staff.
Jul 6, 2004 Law Enforcement News
Blog
No Retreat, No Surrender; A Challenging Agenda for the New Drug 'Czar'
Published commentary by RAND staff
May 20, 2001 San Diego Union Tribune

Publications

Research Brief
Research Brief
Evaluation Finds Excess Property Program Is Efficient and Effective, but Perceptions About Militarized Police Persist
The Law Enforcement Support Office program is efficient and effectively reuses excess Department of Defense property, but perceptions persist that the program contributes to the militarization of police.
May 21, 2018
Report
An Evaluation of the Department of Defense's Excess Property Program: Law Enforcement Agency Equipment Acquisition Policies, Findings, and Options
The Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) program is efficiently run and effectively reuses excess Department of Defense property, but this is unlikely to resolve perceptions that the program contributes to the militarization of police.
May 14, 2018
Multimedia
The Evolving Terrorist Threat: Implications for Global Security
These video conference proceedings present panel discussions from a daylong conference on the evolving terrorist threat, which took place on June 27, 2017, in the Washington office of the RAND Corporation.
Jul 12, 2017
Testimony
Testimony
Strategic Planning for Border Security: Addendum
Document submitted on September 18, 2014 as an addendum to testimony presented before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Research and Technology and Subcommittee on Oversight on July 31, 2014.
Sep 18, 2014
Testimony
Strategic Planning for Border Security
Testimony presented before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Research and Technology and Subcommittee on Oversight on July 31, 2014.
Jul 31, 2014
Report
Effective Policing for 21st-Century Israel: Dual English and Hebrew edition
This report (available in both English and Hebrew) describes a study to address how the Israel Police might institute changes enabling it to better serve the needs of modern Israel.
May 2, 2014
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 2, Summer 2011
Stories discuss America after 9/11, Afghan-based solutions, Al Qaeda's narrative, air passenger security, victim compensation, military families, health insurance, entrepreneurship, unemployment, sex, Katrina families, Arab Spring, and a new RAND.
Sep 1, 2011
Report
The Long Shadow of 9/11: America's Response to Terrorism
In a series of essays, this book addresses the question of how America has responded in the ten years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and suggests options for more effectively dealing with the terrorist threat in the future.
Jul 26, 2011
Brochure
Brochure
Air Travel Security Since 9/11
The author explores air travel security performance since 9/11, identifies missed opportunities and innovations, and considers potential next steps.
Apr 12, 2011
Report
Reducing Gun Violence: Results from an Intervention in East Los Angeles
Describes an intervention designed to reduce youth gun violence in an East Los Angeles neighborhood.
Dec 22, 2010
Report
Report
Developing a Defense Sector Assessment Rating Tool
The lack of a comprehensive tool to assess a country's defense sector and its ability to counter a range of internal security threats led to the development of the Defense Sector Assessment Rating Tool, which can be customized for a variety of goals.
Sep 17, 2010
Brochure
Brochure
Moving Toward a Sustainable U.S. Defense Budget: Speech Given June 15, 2010, at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
There may be potential to reduce defense spending if intelligence, law enforcement, and aid organizations can assume more of the counterterrorism mission or if the ability of partner nations to ensure their own security can be increased.
Sep 13, 2010
Research Brief
Research Brief
What Are U.S. Policy Options for Dealing with Security in Mexico?
A RAND study identified three U.S. policy options for dealing with Mexico's deteriorating security situation, assessing their impact in terms of four priority areas and likely Mexican responses.
Apr 23, 2009
Report
Report
Security in Mexico: Implications for U.S. Policy Options
The security situation in Mexico has deteriorated in recent years. To help inform debate on the future of U.S.-Mexico relations, this study examined a set of U.S. policy options and potential policy priorities that hold promise for Mexico's security.
Apr 20, 2009
Report
Police-Community Relations in Cincinnati
As part of a 2002 agreement between the Cincinnati Police Department (CPD), the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Fraternal Order of Police, the RAND Corporation annually assesses whether police-community relations in Cincinnati are improving.
Jan 16, 2009
Report
Police-Community Relations in Cincinnati: Year Three Evaluation Report
In 2002, the Cincinnati Police Department, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the ACLU joined together in a collaborative agreement. This is the third of five annual progress reports on their efforts to improve police-community relations.
Dec 7, 2007
Research Brief
Research Brief
A Framework for Planning Cost-Effective Rail Security Against a Terrorist Attack
This research brief explains a framework to guide cost-effective passenger-rail security planning and applies it to a notional rail system that characterizes rail systems typically found in the United States.
Dec 3, 2007
Report
Report
Securing America's Passenger-Rail Systems
This book explains a framework that security planners and policymakers can use for cost-effective rail-security planning. It focuses specifically on terrorism risk, which is a function of threat, vulnerability, and consequences.
Dec 2, 2007
Report
Report
Making Liberia Safe: Transformation of the National Security Sector
Discusses the way forward to security sector transformation for the new government of Liberia.
May 6, 2007
Testimony
Testimony
The Strategic Challenge of Border Security
Testimony presented before the House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism on March 8, 2007.
Mar 6, 2007
Research Brief
Research Brief
Efforts to Improve Police-Community Relations in Cincinnati
This research brief summarizes second-year findings. Although there is no evidence of systematic racial bias in Cincinnati Police Department vehicle stops, other police actions have racially disparate impacts that fuel perceptions of racial bias.
Feb 16, 2007
Report
Police-Community Relations in Cincinnati: Year Two Evaluation Report
In 2002, the Cincinnati Police Department, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the American Civil Liberties Union entered into a collaborative agreement to resolve social conflict, improve community relations, and avoid litigation. This is the second annua
Dec 10, 2006
Testimony
Testimony
Border Security and the Terrorist Threat
Testimony presented to the House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology on August 8, 2006.
Aug 3, 2006
Report
Implementing Security Improvement Options at Los Angeles International Airport
Reasserting the need for reducing the density of people in unsecured areas at Los Angeles International Airport, the authors advise that adding security film to the tempered windows will likely not reduce fatalities in the event of a bomb detonation.
Feb 16, 2006
Report
Report
Border Control
Explains the formidable task of securing the nation's land, sea, and air borders through which millions of people, planes, trucks, and containers pass annually.
Feb 10, 2006
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 30, No. 1, Spring 2006
Addresses a set of shortfalls in U.S. performance in Iraq and identifies options for improvement, particularly with respect to sustaining army forces, promoting reenlistments, and rebuilding Iraqi security.
2006
Report
Report
Police-Community Relations in Cincinnati
In 2002, the Cincinnati Police Department, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the American Civil Liberties Union entered into a collaborative agreement. They contracted RAND to conduct required annual progress evaluations, of which this is the first.
Nov 30, 2005
Research Brief
Research Brief
How Prepared Are State and Local Law Enforcement for Terrorism?
A national survey of state and local law enforcement agencies one year after 9/11 shows that agencies have bolstered their preparedness efforts, but substantial variation exists in the approach to preparedness and the preparedness needs of local agen...
Nov 25, 2005
Research Brief
Research Brief
Building A Successful Palestinian State
This research brief describes work documented in Building a Successful Palestinian State (MG-146-DCR).
Nov 25, 2005
Research Brief
Research Brief
What Have We Learned About Establishing Internal Security in Nation-Building?
Comparing nine nation-building efforts in terms of how successful they were at establishing internal security, we found that, with two exceptions, most efforts were either unsuccessful or mixed. These findings were driven by differences in initial co...
Nov 25, 2005
Report
State and Local Intelligence in the War on Terrorism
Examines how state and local law enforcement agencies conducted and supported counterterrorism intelligence activities after 9/11.
Nov 23, 2005
Report
Report
Establishing Law and Order After Conflict
Examines nation-building efforts in such countries as Iraq and Afghanistan, and assesses the success of U.S. and allied efforts in reconstructing internal security institutions.
Jul 18, 2005
Report
Report
Just Cause or Just Because? Prosecution and Plea-Bargaining Resulting in Prison Sentences on Low-Level Drug Charges in California and Arizona
Examines the characteristics of California and Arizona offenders who ultimately ended up in prison on low-level drug charges.
Jun 7, 2005
Testimony
Testimony
Terrorism and Rail Security
Testimony presented to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee on March 23, 2004.
Dec 21, 2004
Draft
Draft
Homicide in San Diego: A Case Study Analysis
Dec 21, 2004
Draft
Draft
Violence in East and West Oakland: A Descriptive Analysis
Dec 21, 2004
Draft
Draft
Reducing Violence in Hayward, California: Learning from Homicides
Dec 17, 2004
Draft
Draft
Identifying Deportable Aliens in the Los Angeles County Jail: Implementing the HI-CAAP Federal-Local Partnership
Nov 12, 2004
Report
Report
When Terrorism Hits Home: How Prepared Are State and Local Law Enforcement?
Presents the results of a 2002 survey of state and local law enforcement agencies assessing their preparedness for terrorism in the post-9/11 environment.
Nov 9, 2004
Research Brief
Research Brief
Assessing Racial Profiling More Credibly
Working with data from Oakland, California, we demonstrate the effectiveness of more credible methods for assessing racial profiling.
2004
Journal Article
Journal Article
Law and Order in Palestine
In 2004, the Gaza Strip and West Bank deteriorated into intra-Palestinian violence on several occasions.
2004
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 27, No. 3, Fall 2003
Shows how coordinated efforts among community groups and public agencies can reduce gun violence among inner-city youth; also covers expanding health insurance, defense personnel policies, the nuclear threat, domestic violence, and nanotechnology.
2003
Report
Report
The Implications of the September 11 Terrorist Attacks for California: A Collection of Issue Papers
This collection of issue papers illustrates that there is work to be done to improve our understanding of terrorism's longer-term effects.
2002
Periodical
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer 2002
Surveys RAND research conducted since Sept. 11, 2001, that examines the dimensions of the terrorist threat and potential responses to it, and issues such as global priorities, oversees deployments, homeland security, and state and local initiatives.
2002
Report
Report
Monitoring the Crack Epidemic Through Urine Testing: Establishment of Routine Detection Methods
This paper reports on a project sponsored by the National Institute of Justice that consisted of (1) interviews conducted with and urine specimens collected from 2327 adult arrestees; (2) development and validation of procedures for routine confirmation of crack use; and (3) establishment of standard profiles for two crack pyrolysis products, anhydroecgonine methylester and ecgonidine.
2001
Journal Article
Journal Article
Drug-facilitated Rape: Looking for the Missing Pieces
Summarizes findings about drug-facilitated rape by researchers at the U.S. Department of Justice in response to a request from the Attorney General.
2000
Report
Report
Drug Offenders and the Criminal Justice System: Will Proposition 36 Treat or Create Problems?
Drug Offenders and the Criminal Justice System: Will Proposition 36 Treat or Create Problems?
2000
Journal Article
Journal Article
Drug Screening: A Comparison of Urinalysis Results from Two Independent Laboratories
Urinalysis for detection of drug abuse is widely used in pre-employment screening and correctional administration.
2000
Report
Report
RAND Graduate School Commencement Exercises
On July 15, 1995, the RAND Graduate School held its ninth commencement exercises in Santa Monica, California.
1996
Commercial Book
Commercial Book
Snow Job? The War Against International Cocaine Trafficking
This book examines source country control policies -- policies intended to control the production and export of cocaine from Latin America -- and their limitations.
1996
Report
Report
Domestic Terrorism: A National Assessment of State and Local Law Enforcement Preparedness
This study analyzes states' and municipalities' terrorism preparedness as a means of providing law enforcement with information about the prevention and control of terrorist activities in the United States.
1995
Report
Report
Intervention in Intrastate Conflict: Implications for the Army in the Post-Cold War Era: Supplemental Materials
This report is the supplemental volume to the main report of the study, MR-554/1-A. The bulk of it is devoted to describing six speculative "case studies," drawn from a global survey of actual and potential flashpoints, that describe possible U.S. interventions in intrastate conflict that would involve the Army.
1995
Report
Report
The American Armies: 1993
This report examines the effects of the changing international environment on the U.S. military and the U.S. Army in particular.
1994
Report
Report
A Simple Economic Model of Cocaine Production
This report presents a simple equilibrium model of the cocaine industry in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia.
1994
Report
Report
The Implications of Colombian Drug Industry and Death Squad Political Violence for U.S. Counternarcotics Policy
An analysis of political violence in Colombia reveals that the drug industry has responded to key changes in counternarcotics policies with sharply higher levels of violence, and that death squad political violence is advancing virtually unchecked.
1993
Report
Report
RAND Graduate School Commencement Exercises: July 10, 1993
On July 10, 1993, the RAND Graduate School held its eighth Commencement exercises in Santa Monica, California.
1993
Report
Report
A Simple Economic Model of Cocaine Production
This paper presents a simple equilibrium model of the cocaine industry in Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia.
1993
Dissertation
Dissertation
Snow Job? The Efficacy of Source Country Cocaine Policies
This dissertation presents a dynamic economic model of the cocaine industry and source country drug control policies
1993
Testimony
Testimony
Statement to Subcommittee on Crime, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives
Discusses how cocaine production can be disrupted over the medium term-a period of two to three years.
1993

Multimedia

18:30
Conference Welcome
Jun 27, 2017
43:34
Observations from Guantanamo
Mar 1, 2016
03:56
Flight of Fancy? Air Passenger Security Since 9/11
Jul 26, 2011
57:40
Mexican Security in Decline: Implications and Options for the United States
Jun 17, 2009