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Civilian Military Workforce

Civilian personnel frequently support military troops in their national security missions and participate in stabilization and reconstruction efforts around the world. RAND research has provided policymakers with assessments and recommendations on how to utilize the civilian workforce effectively in areas of planning, development, performance, talent management, accountability, and personnel benefits.

Report

Report

An Assessment of Gaps in Business Acumen and Knowledge of Industry Within the Defense Acquisition Workforce: A Report Prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense in Compliance with Section 843(c) of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act

RAND researchers assessed gaps in business acumen and knowledge of industry present within the defense acquisition workforce. They identified apparent knowledge gaps, possible reasons for their existence, and potential approaches to closing them.

May 28, 2019
Report

Representation of Persons with Targeted Disabilities: An Analysis of Barriers to Employment in the Department of Defense Civilian Workforce

This report identifies employment barriers within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that persons with targeted disabilities (PWTD) may experience and recommends actions DoD can take to increase employment of PWTD in its civilian workforce.

Dec 13, 2018
Report

Report

Analyses of the Department of Defense Acquisition Workforce: Update to Methods and Results Through FY 2017

To aid the Department of Defense in managing its acquisition workforce, this volume provides analysis of the workforce and describes data-based tools to support further analysis.

Nov 29, 2018
Report

Report

Career Paths in the Army Civilian Workforce: Identifying Common Patterns Based on Statistical Clustering

This report examines what the career of a "typical" Army civilian looks like. It identifies seven common career patterns among individuals who entered the Army civilian workforce between 1981 and 2000 as General Schedule employees.

Oct 31, 2018
Report

Report

Support for DoD Supervisors in Addressing Poor Employee Performance: A Holistic Approach

In this report, authors identify ways to address poor Department of Defense employee performance by developing, supporting, and professionalizing supervisors in conjunction with assessing and reporting key performance-related outcomes.

Sep 24, 2018
Report

Career Development for the Department of Defense Security Cooperation Workforce

This study informs the development of career models for the Department of Defense security cooperation workforce. It assesses potential requirements for competencies and experience and identifies potential job families within the workforce.

Feb 8, 2018
Report

Report

Human Capital Needs for the Department of Defense Operational Contract Support Planning and Integration Workforce

This comprehensive review of the U.S. Department of Defense operational contract support (OCS) planning and integration workforce identifies gaps between doctrine and practice, recommending several options to address these shortfalls.

Oct 2, 2017
News Release

RAND Corporation Administering 2017 Air Force Community Feedback Tool

Researchers from the RAND Corporation are administering an Air Force-sponsored survey to provide members of the Air Force community an opportunity to speak out on the challenges they face and the services they find most helpful.

Sep 5, 2017
Report

Report

Hispanic Representation in the Department of Defense Civilian Workforce: Trend and Barrier Analysis

Hispanics are less represented in the Department of Defense civilian workforce than in the federal civilian workforce and the civilian labor force. This report assesses what factors might account for Hispanic underrepresentation in the department.

Aug 28, 2017
Dissertation

Dissertation

Projecting the Structure of the Air Force Civilian Workforce in Light of Concerns about a Possible Retirement Wave

Explores the extent of a possible retirement wave within the Air Force civilian workforce and which areas are most likely to be affected.

May 11, 2017
Report

Current and Future Challenges to Resourcing U.S. Navy Public Shipyards

To better understand recent trends at U.S. Navy public shipyards, RAND researchers explore how shipyard work is changing, whether more personnel are now required to perform it, and what risks shipyards may wish to address through additional hiring.

May 2, 2017
Report

Report

Enhancing Professionalism in the U.S. Air Force

This report considers the U.S. Air Force definition of professionalism as a starting point to address the question: What can the Air Force do to increase the professionalism of its personnel?

Apr 14, 2017
Dissertation

Dissertation

The Defense Acquisition Workforce Growth Initiative: Changing Workforce Characteristics and the Implications for Workforce Retention

Examines the U.S. defense acquisition workforce growth initiative and estimates how it has influenced overall cohort-level retention rates.

Mar 23, 2017
Report

Report

2016 Assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project: Executive Summary

This executive summary presents the key findings of the fiscal year (FY) 2016 assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2011.

Feb 15, 2017
Report

2016 Assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project

This report accomplishes the fiscal year (FY) 2016 assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2011.

Feb 14, 2017
Report

Report

An Enhanced Capability to Model How Compensation Policy Affects U.S. Department of Defense Civil Service Retention and Cost

Researchers extend RAND's dynamic retention model for Defense Department civil service workers, add costing capability, and simulate the effects of mandating workers to pay a larger share of contributions into the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Dec 6, 2016
Report

Report

Workforce Downsizing and Restructuring in the Department of Defense: The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Program Versus Involuntary Separation

Assesses the cost-effectiveness for the U.S. Department of Defense of using incentives for voluntary separations, together with or instead of imposing involuntary separations, to reduce the size of its civilian workforce.

Oct 13, 2016
Report

Report

Air Force Management of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund: Opportunities for Improvement

Using insights from interviews, legislation, and policy, this report develops a decision framework that will help the U.S. Air Force's Director of Acquisition Career Management improve management of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund.

Aug 23, 2016
Report

Report

An Independent Assessment of Air Force Compliance with Headquarters Reduction Goals

RAND researchers assess the Air Force's response to Secretary of Defense direction to reduce headquarters spending, compare the Air Force's approach with practices from literature and industry, and identify opportunities for further reductions.

Aug 8, 2016
Report

Report

U.S. Department of Defense Experiences with Substituting Government Civilian Employees for Military Personnel: Executive Summary

This report summarizes research on recent patterns in military-to-civilian conversion -- that is, converting military positions to government civilian positions -- to identify the primary impediments to such conversions.

Jun 29, 2016

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RAND Topic:
Civilian Military Workforce

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Richard S. Girven

Director, Cyber and Intelligence Policy Center

Rich Girven is the Director of the Cyber and Intelligence Policy Center, and a Senior International Defense Research Analyst. He came to RAND from the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where he served as the Director of Analysis. A former career Army Foreign Area Officer focusing…
John D. Winkler

Director, Forces and Resources Policy Center, RAND National Security Research Division

John D. Winkler is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation and director of the Forces and Resources Policy Center of the RAND National Security Research Division. The Center's mission is to improve policy and decisionmaking governing personnel management and use of defense…

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