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Melissa Shostak

Melissa Shostak

Adjunct Research Assistant

Off Site Office

Education

B.S. in economics, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus; B.A. in Russian, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

One Page Bio

Overview

Melissa Shostak (she/her) is an adjunct research assistant at RAND. She is interested in issues related to Russian security, private military contractors (PMCs), and strategic competition.

Research Focus

Languages

Russian

Commentary

Arms Proliferation and Control

How China Is Building Influence Through Arms Sales
China may be using arms sales to strengthen alliances around the South China Sea and counter the United States' regional alliances. Beijing's security relationships around the South China Sea could be a harbinger of what it might replicate in Africa and possibly Latin America.
Dec 9, 2022
The National Interest

Publications

Tool
Mapping Chinese and Russian Military and Security Exports to Africa
RAND researchers analyzed which African countries received military arms and private military and security contractors from China and Russia in 2018-2021. This visualization maps China's and Russia's influence across Africa.
Dec 13, 2022
Report
Understanding Russian Coercive Signaling
Russia has consistently engaged in signaling activities toward the United States and its allies in recent years. The authors analyze this behavior to provide a better understanding of its drivers and practical guidelines for assessing future events.
Sep 29, 2022
Tool
China's Weapons Exports and Private Security Contractors
RAND researchers provide a visualization of China's military and security influence around the world through the country's exports of weapons and private security contractors during 2018-2021.
Aug 19, 2022
Report
Implications of a Coercive Quarantine of Taiwan by the People's Republic of China
The authors examine how China might enact a quarantine of Taiwan, potential U.S. and allied responses to the crisis, and implications related to economic interdependencies and supply chain challenges.
May 23, 2022
Report
Security Cooperation in a Strategic Competition
In this study, RAND researchers examined the current role of security cooperation efforts as a tool in the emerging strategic competition among the United States, Russia, and China.
Apr 6, 2022
Report
Deterrence and Escalation in Competition with Russia: The Role of Ground Forces in Preventing Hostile Measures Below Armed Conflict in Europe
In this report, the authors seek to understand how the United States might use its military posture in Europe -- particularly focusing on ground forces -- as part of a strategy to deter Russian malign activities in the competition space.
Jan 20, 2022
Report
Deterrence and Escalation in Competition with Russia: Executive Summary
In this report, the authors seek to understand how the United States might use its military posture in Europe -- particularly focusing on ground forces -- as part of a strategy to deter Russian malign activities in the competition space.
Jan 20, 2022
Report
Managing Intellectual Property Relevant to Operating and Sustaining Major U.S. Air Force Weapon Systems
The authors identify opportunities to improve policy on technical data, data rights, and intellectual property associated with operating and sustaining Air Force major weapon systems.
Sep 14, 2021
Report
Data Rights Relevant to Weapon Systems in Air Force Special Operations Command
The Air Force needs better access to contractors' technical data to sustain core military aircraft assets and subsystems. For this to happen, the U.S. government needs the appropriate license rights and actual possession of the data.
Sep 2, 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