Stephen Webber

Defense Analyst

Washington Office

Education

M.A. in security studies, Georgetown University; B.A. in war studies, Norwich University

Overview

Stephen Webber is a defense analyst at RAND where his research spans a range of topics including strategy, military operations, force design, and security assistance. Webber is also an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve where his assignments have included operational planning, partner capacity building, and amphibious operations. Prior to joining RAND, he worked as a contractor supporting OPNAV in the area of strategy development. Webber is currently a doctoral student in the Royal Military College of Canada War Studies Program, as well as a graduate of Norwich University (BA 2011), Georgetown University ( MA 2015) and Marine Corps University Command and Staff Distance Seminar (2019).

Research Focus

Commentary

Operational Readiness

The Future and Past of War and Disease
The U.S. government is actively reviewing its efforts to counter biological attacks and the Department of Defense is taking steps that could allow it to perform day-to-day operations during a pandemic, but it might not be preparing adequately for a future large-scale operation during a more-transmissible and lethal pandemic.
Jan 27, 2022
United Press International

Publications

Report
Connector Survivability in the Current Operating Environment
Current operating concepts and an evolving threat environment demand that the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps reevaluate survivability in their analysis of the current and future fleet of Navy amphibious connectors.
Oct 4, 2023
Report
A Review of U.S. Army Non-Materiel Capability-Development Processes
This report analyzes non-materiel DOTLPF-P (doctrine, organization, training, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, policy) processes to help identify issues and changes to improve how the Army implements non-materiel solutions.
Aug 3, 2021
Report
Running the Joint: Air Force Efforts to Build a Joint Task Force Headquarters
The authors examine U.S. Air Force efforts to develop a capability to carry out a Joint Task Force Headquarters (JTF HQ) mission. The findings will be relevant to anyone interested in Air Force efforts to stand up a JTF HQ.
Jul 13, 2021
Report
Command and Control in U.S. Naval Competition with China
The authors of this report explore how command and control (C2) is exercised in the U.S. Navy and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, and how these C2 concepts support and challenge each nation's shift to new maritime missions.
Dec 17, 2020
Commentary
Unlocking NATO's Amphibious Potential: Lessons from the Past, Insights for the Future
Researchers analyze the past, present, and future employment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's amphibious forces, highlight ongoing initiatives, and identify several efforts that should be pursued to advance its amphibious capabilities.
Nov 9, 2020