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Cortney Weinbaum

cortney weinbaum, w0622
Management Scientist
Washington Office

Education

B.S. in physics, University of Michigan

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

Cortney Weinbaum is a management scientist at the RAND Corporation. She has spent 14 years in the intelligence community (IC) and Department of Defense improving policies, practices, and technologies. She has improved analytic and collection tradecraft, identified emerging technologies and their impact on special operations, countering weapons of mass destruction, and intelligence, and facilitated strategic planning with senior executive leadership teams. She has facilitated cross-discipline teams in wargaming and scenario-based planning against both operational and enterprise topics.

Weinbaum led two teams to receive the Director of National Intelligence's Meritorious Unit Citation for advancing the IC's knowledge of two intractable intelligence topics. Since joining RAND, Weinbaum has studied the future of secrecy and the role of millennials in intelligence and national security. Prior to joining RAND, she developed radio frequency and electromagnetic MASINT collection systems, identified emerging technologies for several intelligence and defense agencies, and facilitated senior executive off-sites for national security leadership teams.

Research Focus

Honors & Awards

  • Defense Intelligence Agency Humanitarian Award, 2005
  • Defense Intelligence Agency Sustained Superior Performance Award, 2004
  • General Electric Fellowship and Grant for Women in Physics & Computer Science, 2000

Commentary

  • Cyber illustration of a judge's gavel

    The Future of Cyber Investigations at the FBI Is Unclear

    Evidence presented by the FBI in the case of U.S. v. Jay Michaud was excluded because the agency was unwilling to reveal the software exploit used to collect it. If the FBI exposes its capabilities, other criminals can patch their computers, but concealing its techniques risks the ability to prosecute cyber criminals.

    Aug 24, 2016 Inside Sources

  • Aerographer's mates stand by as an unmanned underwater vehicle leaves the surface to search for mines as part of a training exercise

    The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Intelligence Agencies

    The defense community has already begun a healthy dialogue about the ethics of AI in combat systems. The intelligence community should develop standards for AI risk assessments and assign responsibility for conducting them.

    Jul 18, 2016 The National Interest

  • A person looking at top secret files with a magnifying glass

    Defining a New Paradigm for Government Secrecy

    Technology has afforded the U.S. national security apparatus incredible capabilities, along with equally monumental challenges and risks. The government has the option to choose whether to adjust by taking a proactive approach or to allow external forces to determine the future of its secrets.

    Oct 13, 2015 U.S. News & World Report

Publications