Jonathan P. Wong

Jonathan P. Wong
Associate Director, Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program, RAND Arroyo Center; Policy Researcher; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; M.Phil in policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; M.A. in security studies, Georgetown University; B.A in poltical science, University of California San Diego

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

Jonathan Wong (he/him) is associate director of the Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program of the RAND Arroyo Center, a policy researcher at RAND Corporation, and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. His research focuses on the role of new technologies and operational concepts, and processes in shaping how militaries fight. He also contributes to other force design and development research and RAND's military logistics, manpower, intelligence policy, and strategy portfolios.

Previously, Wong was a consultant at Boston Consulting Group, providing strategic advice for clients in industrial goods and and nonprofit sectors. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an enlisted infantryman and infantry officer from 2001–11, deploying multiple times to Iraq and the Western Pacific.

Wong holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School, an M.A. in security studies from Georgetown University, and a B.A. in political science from the University of California, San Diego.

Concurrent Non-RAND Positions

Non-Resident Fellow, Krulak Center for Innovation & Future Warfare

Recent Projects

  • Alternative Concepts for Land Forces in the Indo-Pacific
  • Strengthening the Defense Innovation Ecosystem
  • Understanding the Performance of the Adaptive Acquisition Framework Pathway through Metrics
  • Accelerating Modernization and Innovation: Use of Other Transactions for Prototype Projects Authority
  • Digital Engineering’s Impact on Air Force Weapon System Cost Estimates

Selected Publications

Wong, Jonathan P., Obaid Younossi, Christine Kistler LaCoste, Philip S. Anton, Alan J. Vick, Guy Weichenberg, and Thomas C. Whitmore, Improving Defense Acquisition: Insights from Three Decades of RAND Research, RAND Corporation (RR-A1670-1), 2022

Fleming, Joslyn, Jonathan P. Wong, Matthew W. Lewis, Duncan Long, Angelena Bohman, Kathryn Connor, Rick Eden, and Michael J. Gaines, Equipping the 21st Century Marine Corps: Alternative Equipping Strategies for Task-Organized Units, RAND Corporation (RR-2822-USMC), 2021

Mayer, Lauren A., Mark V. Arena, Frank Camm, Jonathan P. Wong, Gabriel Lesnick, Sarah Lovell, Edward Fernandez, Phillip Carter, and Gordon T. Lee, Prototyping Using Other Transactions: Case Studies for the Acquisition Community, RAND Corporation (RR-4417-AF), 2020

Jonathan P. Wong, "Bad Idea: Overly Focusing on Development and Acquisition Speed," CSIS Defense 360, 2020

Honors & Awards

  • Hogaboom Leadership Writing Award, Marine Corps Association

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: Aerospace International, UK; NPR News; Sea Control

Commentary

Publications