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Research Spotlight

  • A 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot in her aircraft during the squadron's deployment in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve at Graf Ignatievo, Bulgaria, March 18, 2016

    How the U.S. Air Force Could Retain More Female Officers

    Women are underrepresented among the Air Force's senior leadership compared with their representation among the lower ranks. Focus groups with female officers identified key retention factors and potential ways to improve Air Force policies and programs to address female officer retention.

Recent Work

  • Japan's Self-Defense Forces F-15 fighter jets (top and bottom) conduct an exercise with U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers above the East China Sea, Japan, September 9, 2017

    China's Military Activities in the East China Sea

    Dec 3, 2018

    China has stepped up its vessel and air activities near the disputed Senkaku Islands. Japan has made posture changes and increased the quantity of aircraft and radar in the region, but it does not have the resources to match Chinese air activity. And since it's an issue of domestic air sovereignty, the U.S. is limited in what it can do to assist Japan.

  • F-35 Lightning aircraft from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., prepare for takeoff at Barksdale AFB

    Creating the Future Aerospace Force: The 4th Annual West Coast Aerospace Forum

    Nov 30, 2018

    The West Coast Aerospace Forum provides a rare chance to engage with some of the U.S. Air Force's most senior and experienced leaders as well as top civilian national security experts in a setting that encourages debate, discussion, and audience interaction.

  • A Xian H-6K bomber landing at Zhuhai Jinwan airport ahead of Airshow China 2018

    The Strategy of China's Bomber Flights

    Nov 14, 2018

    Since March 2015, China's PLAAF has conducted a series of long-range bomber flights in the Asia-Pacific region, including over the South China Sea, near Japan, and around Taiwan. What's driving these flights? And what are the implications for U.S. interests in the region?

  • Refueling operations in a KC-135 Stratotanker

    Is the USAF Flying Force Large Enough?

    Aug 28, 2018

    The U.S. military has mostly operated at a high operational tempo since the end of the Cold War, and there appears to be no significant reduction in demand on the horizon. This report draws on historical data to quantify gaps in the U.S. Air Force's capacity to meet potential future demands.

  • Airmen from the 23d Logistics Readiness Squadron lift a crate

    Evaluation of the Strength Aptitude Test and Other Fitness Tests to Qualify Air Force Recruits for Physically Demanding Specialties

    Aug 10, 2018

    The Air Force uses the Strength Aptitude Test (SAT) to determine whether recruits meet the fitness levels needed to perform the duties of various Air Force specialties with physical strength requirements. However, these duties may have changed since the SAT was developed. A new report evaluates the SAT and related fitness tests to identify strategies for ensuring airmen can meet job-related physical requirements.

  • An MQ-9 pilot

    A Career Field Planning Tool to Build a Healthy MQ-1/9 RPA Pilot Community

    Jan 23, 2018

    The personnel who operate remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) are crucial in the Air Force, but many in the RPA career field are dissatisfied, and it is difficult to train and retain enough pilots to meet the demand. To assist in building a healthy, sustainable RPA career field, RAND has developed a long-term RPA career field planning model.

  • Saving the Government Money: Examples from RAND's FFRDCs

    Dec 20, 2017

    RAND's federally funded research and development centers apply research capital they have developed over the years to help decisionmakers solve problems and often save money as well. This publication lists and briefly summarizes some RAND projects undertaken over the past several years that have helped save the government money or that have identified ways to do so.