Jonathan Welch

Policy Researcher

Off Site Office

Education

M.A. in international relations and international economics, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; B.E. in marine engineering, State University of New York Maritime College

One Page Bio

Overview

Jonathan Welch is a policy researcher at the RAND Corporation who works on a broad range of defense and intelligence matters. His areas of expertise include maritime operations, joint operations, information operations, security cooperation, wargaming, and manpower issues. Before joining RAND, he served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). In that capacity he deployed to Iraq in infantry and advisor roles, trained new officers, and served as an aide-de-camp. He then transitioned to the USMC Reserves where he trained advisors, led USMC information operations in Europe and Africa, and served as a planner for the Indo-Pacific region. He currently heads talent management efforts for the newly formed Marine Innovation Unit.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Marine Engineering, from the State University of New York Maritime College and a Master of Arts in International Relations and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

The Future of Tri-Marine Compatibility
Exploring Differences in Organizational Culture within the Department of Defense
Assessing Foreign Malign Influence
Operationalizing Operations Security

Selected Publications

James Ryseff, Jonathan Welch, Lewis Schneider, Exploring Differences in Organizational Culture within the Department of Defense (DRR-A2049-1)

Christopher Paul, Ben Connable, Jonathan Welch, Nate Rosenblatt, Jim McNeive, Conducting an Information Warfighter Exercise Wargame: Rules, Tools, and Development Processes, RAND Corporation (DRR-A495-1)

Michael Schwille, Jonathan Welch, Scott Fisher, Thomas M. Whittaker, Christopher Paul, Handbook for Tactical Operations in the Information Environment, RAND Corporation (DRR-A732-1)

Jackson, John C., Lisa M. Harrington, Jeffrey S. Brown, Bradley DeBlois, Katherine C. Hastings, Jeannette Gaudry Haynie, Duncan Long, Max Steiner, Jonathan Welch, and John D. Winkler, Assessment of Deployment- and Mobilization-to-Dwell Policies for Active and Reserve Component Forces: An Examination of Current Policy Using Select U.S. Joint Force Elements, RAND Corporation (RR-A670-1), 2023

Marquis, Jefferson P., Jennifer D. P. Moroney, Pauline Moore, Rebecca Herman, Jonathan Welch, and Reid Dickerson, Defense Security Cooperation University Expert Course of Instruction: Content, Design, Implementation, RAND Corporation (RR-A572-1), 2020

Schwille, Michael, Anthony Atler, Jonathan Welch, Christopher Paul, and Richard C. Baffa, Intelligence Support for Operations in the Information Environment: Dividing Roles and Responsibilities Between Intelligence and Information Professionals, RAND Corporation (RR-3161-EUCOM), 2020

Dunigan, Molly, Michelle Grisé, Kimberly Jackson, John J. Drennan, Sandra Kay Evans, Ashley L. Rhoades, Eric Robinson, Meagan L. Smith, and Jonathan Welch, Gaining the Edge: Identifying and Leveraging Frameworks for Enabling Army Contributions to Competition, RAND Corporation (RR-A1235-1), 2023

Wong, Jonathan P., Michael J. Mazarr, Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Michael Bohnert, Scott Boston, Christian Curriden, Derek Eaton, Gregory Weider Fauerbach, Joslyn Fleming, Katheryn Giglio, Dahlia Anne Goldfeld, Derek Grossman, Timothy R. Heath, John C. Jackson, Michael E. Linick, Eric Robinson, Lisa Saum-Manning, Ryan A. Schwankhart, Michael Schwille, Stephan B. Seabrook, Alice Shih, and Jonathan Welch, New Directions for Projecting Land Power in the Indo-Pacific: Contexts, Constraints, and Concepts, RAND Corporation (RR-A1672-1), 2022

Honors & Awards

RAND Silver Medal Award, 2022
RAND Bronze Medal Award, 2022
RAND Bronze Medal Award, 2016

Publications

Report
Anticipating Flashpoints with Russia: Patterns and Drivers
The authors combined quantitative and qualitative modes of analysis to better understand and anticipate flashpoints with Russia.
Sep 25, 2023
Report
Rethinking Jointness? The Strategic Value of Jointness in Major Power Competition and Conflict
This report examines whether the assumption that jointness is inherently valuable to the U.S. military is correct, and if so, in what ways. Understanding how and why jointness is most valuable can help the U.S. military compete more effectively.
Sep 5, 2023
Report
Assessment of Deployment- and Mobilization-to-Dwell Policies for Active and Reserve Component Forces: An Examination of Current Policy Using Select U.S. Joint Force Elements
The authors examine Department of Defense (DoD) policy that governs how much time service members must spend at home relative to time spent deployed or mobilized. They suggest policy changes to inform and optimize DoD's force utilization decisions.
Jul 20, 2023
Report
Exploring Differences in Organizational Culture Within the Department of Defense
The authors of this report analyzed the organizational culture of communities within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to understand how the current culture could be characterized and how DoD's culture varies within the department.
Jun 22, 2023
Report
Gaining the Edge: Identifying and Leveraging Frameworks for Enabling Army Contributions to Competition
This report supports the U.S. Army's effort to rethink its roles and responsibilities to meet the demands of competition with near peers below the threshold of armed conflict.
May 2, 2023
Report
New Directions for Projecting Land Power in the Indo-Pacific: Contexts, Constraints, and Concepts
This report seeks to address how the U.S. Army can most effectively project and employ land power in the Indo-Pacific, during competition and conflict, with a focus on scenarios involving China.
Dec 20, 2022
Tool
Handbook for Tactical Operations in the Information Environment
With its quick-reference format and series of illustrative vignettes, this handbook facilitates problem-solving and highlights how early-career officers in tactical units can contribute to operations in the information environment.
Oct 4, 2021
Tool
The Information Warfighter Exercise Wargame: Rulebook
This document presents the full ruleset for the Information Warfighter Exercise Wargame, which is used by the Marine Corps to provide training for aspects of operations in the information environment.
Aug 24, 2021
Research Brief
Improving Intelligence Support for Operations in the Information Environment
Challenges to effective intelligence support for operations in the information environment (OIE) can be addressed by improving processes, prioritizing support for OIE, training and educating personnel, and optimally allocating personnel.
Dec 9, 2020
Report
Intelligence Support for Operations in the Information Environment: Dividing Roles and Responsibilities Between Intelligence and Information Professionals
Operations in the information environment require close coordination between intelligence and information operations personnel, but this does not often occur in practice. A review of these challenges highlighted a range of potential solutions.
Dec 9, 2020
Report
Defense Security Cooperation University Expert Course of Instruction: Content, Design, Implementation
To develop an expert-level course of instruction for military and civilian security cooperation professionals, the authors of this report identify the needed knowledge and skills and the pedagogical methods that best cultivate them.
Dec 1, 2020
Report
Naval Surface Fire Support: An Assessment of Requirements
The authors developed recommendations to improve existing formal requirements and technological solutions regarding naval surface fire support, a way for the U.S. Navy to provide the equivalent of artillery support for forces operating ashore.
Apr 16, 2020
Report
General and Flag Officer Costs: Annual Cost Estimates for General and Flag Officers and Supporting Personnel
Researchers estimate average annual total costs of typical general and flag officers (G/FOs) as well as the annual total costs of specific G/FO positions in support of the Secretary of Defense's congressional reporting requirement.
Jan 23, 2020
Report
Helping Soldiers Leverage Army Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in Civilian Jobs
Discusses the results of occupation surveys administered to soldiers in ten of the most populous Army military occupational specialties (MOSs) to develop improved crosswalks between military and civilian occupations.
Jan 23, 2017
Research Brief
Improving Employment Prospects for Soldiers Leaving the Regular Army
Discusses the results of a new approach to develop an improved crosswalk between Army military occupational specialties (MOSs) and civilian occupations, highlighting ten of the Army's most populous combat and noncombat MOSs.
Jan 23, 2017
Research Brief
Reserve Component General and Flag Officer Requirements
RAND researchers assessed whether the system, management, and number of reserve component general and flag officers were appropriate.
Oct 14, 2016
Report
Reserve Component General and Flag Officers: A Review of Requirements and Authorized Strength
Increased use of the reserve component has renewed interest in the question of the appropriate number of reserve component general and flag officers. RAND researchers conducted a review of requirements for reserve component general and flag officers.
Feb 8, 2016
Report
Authorities and Mechanisms for Purchased Care at the Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) furnishes purchased care services through an array of programs, each with different requirements and processes. A strategy for purchased care is needed to design an effective purchased care program.
Dec 31, 2015
Report
A Preliminary Assessment of the Regionally Aligned Forces (RAF) Concept's Implications for Army Personnel Management
RAND Arroyo Center explored how the U.S. Army might need to adapt its personnel management policies and practices to support the Regionally Aligned Forces concept.
Nov 11, 2015
Tool
Allocating Marine Expeditionary Unit Equipment to Minimize Shortfalls: Third Edition
In many cases, the available space on a Marine Expeditionary Unit's ships falls far short of what is needed to transport the full set of required equipment. A RAND-developed software tool was designed to help limit the effects of these shortfalls.
May 21, 2015