Obituary: RAND Economist Charles Robert Roll, Former Pentagon Official

Charles Robert Roll Jr., a longtime RAND Corporation economist and former Pentagon official, died April 22. He was 64.

Roll first joined RAND, a nonprofit research organization, in 1972 and served in a number of posts where he conducted research about military manpower and economic issues in China. His latest position had been as director of the Resource Management Program in RAND Project AIR FORCE in RAND's Washington office.

From 1983 to 1987, Roll served as principal deputy director of program analysis and evaluation in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense. He is a recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the highest civilian award given by the Department of Defense.

“Bob Roll made significant contributions in helping the shape the all-volunteer U.S. armed forces and ensuring that the military's combat support systems were effective in wartime,” said RAND President and CEO James A. Thomson. “He also mentored many young researchers and challenged his colleagues to pursue new ideas.”

Roll had been a fellow of the Center for International Affairs, a certified cost analyst, and a member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the 1970s, with assignments in the Air Force Security Service and the Strategic Air Command. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University.

Roll is survived by his wife, Ginger; a son, Steven; a daughter, Karen; and a granddaughter, Emily. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday (April 28) at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls, Va.