Cecchine Named New Director of RAND Gulf States

July 2012 — Gary Cecchine will become the Director of Research for the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute in August and will lead the RAND offices in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi. Gary is a natural scientist who has been a researcher at RAND since 1999 and was most recently based in RAND's DC office. He has led and conducted technical and policy research in a variety of areas, including science and technology, environment and energy, risk assessment, homeland security, and emergency response.

Gary’s research has included investigating responses to the earthquake in Haiti and to hurricane Katrina, including coastal restoration in the Gulf. Gary earned his Ph.D. in environmental biology and public policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His B.S. from the University of Tampa is in marine biology, with a focus on the estuarine ecosystem of the Gulf. Gary has served as a U.S. Army officer on active duty and has advised and conducted research for the Department of Defense, particularly in the area of military support for disaster response.

RAND vice president Debra Knopman, director of RAND Infrastructure, Safety and Environment, said, "Gary brings a broad range of RAND experience, a background in environmental biology, and a great enthusiasm for advancing the mission of the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute — all of which will serve us well in the region."

Thank you, Sally!

Sally Sleeper stepped down after four years leading RAND Gulf States to return to full-time research. She will next serve on a two-year temporary assignment with the federal government, where she will be analyzing manufacturing and industrial base policy. Knopman noted, "On Sally's watch, RAND Gulf States helped contribute to the region's efforts to tackle persistent challenges in coastal protection and restoration, education, access to health care, public safety, and workforce development."