David Stebbins

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.

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.

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.

Report

A Diverse and Trusted Workforce: Examining Elements That Could Contribute to the Potential for Bias and Sources of Inequity in National Security Personnel Vetting­

The authors explore the potential for bias or sources of inequity related to race or ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or neurodivergence within the security clearance vetting process.

Report

National Security Employment: Improving the Candidate Experience Journey Through the Personnel Vetting Process

This report explores how existing U.S. government security, suitability, and credentialing mechanisms might benefit from a formalized candidate experience strategy and framework to create a more positive vetting experience.

Report

Decision Aid Framework Development to Inform the Application of Federal Assistance: Improving Sharing of Criminal History Record Information for Personnel Vetting

Researchers identified factors inhibiting the provision of information to the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency from law enforcement agencies and developed a framework to help assess which areas might benefit from federal assistance.

Report

Harnessing Mobile Technology to Enable U.S. Personnel Vetting

The authors examined how U.S. government vetting could be enhanced with mobile technologies and platforms for the Security, Suitability, and Credentialing Performance Accountability Council Program Management Office.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

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.

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.

Commentary

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.

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.

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.

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.