David Stebbins

International/Defense Researcher

Washington Office

Education

M.A. in international affairs, Columbia University; B.A. in social science, Castleton State College

One Page Bio

Overview

David Stebbins is an international/defense researcher working on intelligence policy, nation state, and non-state actor issues for the U.S. government. Stebbins has experience engaging with leadership across the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. He has regional expertise on the Levant and Sahel regions, a working proficiency in Arabic, and substantive historical and current knowledge of global conflict. Stebbins is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Conflict Resolution at George Mason University's S-CAR program. He holds an M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University (SIPA) where he concentrated on International Security Policy and specialized in International Conflict Resolution. He earned his B.A. in Social Science from Castleton State College. Prior to joining RAND, Stebbins worked for the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau’s Terrorist Threat Analysis Group (TTAG) and performed extensive policy work as a National Security Legislative Staff Member for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Stebbins gained military experience through the Vermont Army National Guard, where he served as an Infantry Combat Medic attached to the 2/172nd M1A2 Abrams Armor Division.

Research Focus

Languages

Arabic

Commentary

Violent Extremism

Implications of Domestic Terrorist Group Designations for Combating Homegrown Extremism
It is not clear that an official designation of domestic extremists as terrorists would confer additional benefits that would outweigh potential risks to U.S. civil liberties. A combined government effort that facilitates mitigation strategies to preempt violence by hate groups, while also actively stemming the flow of online disinformation, may be a good first step in reducing homegrown extremism.
Mar 2, 2021
The Hill
Threat Assessment

What the Capitol Siege Means for the Future of Security Clearances
Some people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6 had or have a national security clearance and thus trusted access to classified information. And some might apply for a security clearance in the future. If they are not identified and prosecuted, then they won't have a criminal record that could be detected in a background check.
Feb 2, 2021
The Hill
Cybercrime

What Is the Adversary Likely to Do with the Clearance Records for 20 Million Americans?
The state actor that hacked the Office of Personnel Management could use the stolen information to further its domestic control against dissidents, enhance its foreign intelligence, and improve its position in the global military and economic order.
Jan 20, 2017
Inside Sources

Publications

Report
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Resources: Financial Management Programming Evaluation
The authors examined how the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has programmed its resources, focusing on the reasons for changes over time and the results of the changes.
Jun 8, 2022
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
Frameworks for Assessing USEUCOM Efforts to Inform, Influence, and Persuade
It can be challenging to assess the progress, performance, and effectiveness of efforts to inform, influence, and persuade in support of U.S. national security objectives. This report presents robust and flexible frameworks to enhance assessment.
Jul 2, 2020
Report
Literature on Personnel Vetting Processes and Procedures: Annotated Selected Bibliography
To help inform the U.S. government in its efforts to improve the vetting processes for public trust and national security positions and protect its assets and information, the authors assembled a selected bibliography of relevant literature.
Oct 14, 2019
Report
Assessing Continuous Evaluation Approaches for Insider Threats: How Can the Security Posture of the U.S. Departments and Agencies Be Improved?
This exploratory project examines various continuous evaluation approaches to detecting insider threats that are available to the U.S. government and assesses the relevance of these approaches to the challenges posed by such insider threats.
Aug 5, 2019
Report
When the Islamic State Comes to Town: The Economic Impact of Islamic State Governance in Iraq and Syria
This report assesses the impact that Islamic State control and governance have on local economies in Iraq and Syria, offering detailed evidence of electricity shortages, refugee flows, and other changes in economic activity inside the caliphate.
Sep 13, 2017
Report
Development and Pilot Test of the RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism
The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism helps programs assess their activities and identify needed improvements. This report is a companion to the toolkit and provides background on its development and testing.
Mar 13, 2017
Tool
RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism
The RAND Program Evaluation Toolkit for Countering Violent Extremism uses checklists, worksheets, and templates to help programs assess whether their activities have met their goals and identify needed improvements.
Mar 13, 2017
Report
Developing an Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation Framework for U.S. Department of Defense Security Cooperation
This report explores the creation of a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) system for security cooperation assessment, monitoring, and evaluation (AME) by analyzing existing AME practices inside and outside DoD and proposing an implementation framework.
Oct 6, 2016
Report
Strengthening Prior Service–Civil Life Gains and Continuum of Service Accessions into the Army's Reserve Components
This report combines quantitative and qualitative methods to understand service member decisions upon exiting the Regular Army, particularly the decisions of whether, when, and how to affiliate with the Reserve Component.
Sep 27, 2016
Report
Defense Institution Building: An Assessment
Presents an analysis of defense institution building (DIB), recommends goals and objectives, identifies partner nation and DIB activity selection criteria, develops a strategy for coordinating activities, and recommends accountability procedures.
Jun 7, 2016
Report
A Rapidly Changing Urban Environment: How Commercial Technologies Can Affect Military Intelligence Operations
Commonplace commercial technologies are changing the way we conduct business, diplomacy, intelligence operations, and war, the future of which is likely to be increasingly urban in nature.
Jun 6, 2016
Report
Defense Institution Building in Africa: An Assessment
This report assesses U.S. efforts in defense institution building in Africa and suggests possible improvements to planning and execution.
Jan 4, 2016
Report
Lessening the Risk of Refugee Radicalization: Lessons for the Middle East from Past Crises
The exodus from Syria raises questions about whether refugee concentrations will become incubators for violent extremist groups. This Perspective examines how past situations were managed and the factors most likely to contribute to radicalization.
Dec 28, 2015
Research Brief
The Conflict in Syria: Understanding and Avoiding Regional Spillover Effects
Researchers examined the literature of armed conflict to determine the main factors that are likely to contribute to or impede the spread of violence from civil war and insurgency, then examined how they apply to Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan.
Aug 27, 2014
Report
Spillover from the Conflict in Syria: An Assessment of the Factors that Aid and Impede the Spread of Violence
This report examines the main factors likely to contribute to or impede the spread of violence from civil war and insurgency in Syria, and then examines how they apply to neighboring states.
Aug 27, 2014
Report
Assessment of Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Training Activity
This report assesses whether the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization's programs and functions may be duplicative with those of the military Services, U.S. Special Operations Command, and other agencies.
Dec 11, 2013