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National Defense Legislation

Commentary
Taking the Measure of AI and National Security
Transformative technologies should not be abandoned due to their risks. Instead, we should focus on understanding the threats, implementing necessary countermeasures, and utilizing the tools in a safer and more secure manner.
Sep 20, 2023
Report
An Assessment of Two-Year Probationary Period Usage Within the Defense Civilian Workforce: A Report Prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense in Compliance with Section 1102 of the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act
This report summarizes the results of a congressionally mandated independent review of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)'s use of the two-year probationary period for new appointments to the Senior Executive Service and competitive service.
Jul 19, 2023
Periodical
RAND Review: July-August 2023
Features explore ways to address the opioid crisis with a whole-systems approach and how truth decay — the diminishing role of facts and analysis in public life — is putting U.S. national security at risk.
Jul 5, 2023
Commercial Book
Age of Danger: Keeping America Safe in an Era of New Superpowers, New Weapons, and New Threats
An urgent look at how America's national security machine went astray and how it fails to keep us safe — and what we can do to fix it.
May 24, 2023
Commentary
Preventing Intelligence Leaks: Let's Start Over
The United States badly needs a new secrecy paradigm to protect classified information, and one that also improves government transparency. Our archaic system for keeping classified information secure is terminally flawed, and no amount of triage tinkering can hope to fix it.
May 3, 2023
Commentary
Dementia in the National Security Workforce Could Create a Security Threat
Challenges associated with cognitive impairment in the workplace will increase as people continue to live longer and retire later. Individuals who work in national security and intelligence could become a security threat if they develop dementia and unwittingly share government secrets.
Apr 4, 2023
Commentary
Japan's Long-Awaited Return to Geopolitics
In very short order, Japan moved to change decades of strategic thinking and embark on a new approach to security. The stark reality of geopolitics and the realization that what was once hypothetical is now possible were likely enough to convince Japan that the time for a new approach to its security is now.
Feb 6, 2023
News Release
Food Insecurity Affects Many Active-Duty U.S. Military Families, but Root Causes Remain Unclear
More than a quarter of active-duty military personnel have faced some level of food insecurity, but the underlying causes are not well understood.
Jan 4, 2023
Report
Food Insecurity Among U.S. Service Members and Their Families
Over a quarter of active duty personnel were food insecure in 2018, but only 14 percent of them used food assistance programs. Some said that the military culture of self-sufficiency and pride kept them from seeking help. Other barriers were a lack of knowledge about available resources and eligibility.
Jan 3, 2023
Research Brief
Food Insecurity in the U.S. Military: Responses to Eight Topics Raised by Congress
In response to a congressional query, RAND researchers examined the extent of food insecurity among military service members, their participation in food assistance programs, and the advisability of a basic needs allowance.
Jan 3, 2023
Commentary
Japan's Upcoming Defense Efforts
The Japanese government looks set to release three important documents shortly: a new National Security Strategy and two defense documents that lay out spending priorities over the next ten years and five years. In preparation for the release of these documents, here are six areas that could be candidates not only to receive a greater prioritization of resources, but also greater scrutiny.
Dec 13, 2022
Commentary
The Congressionally Authorized Irregular Warfare Functional Center Is a Historic Opportunity: Will DoD Capitalize on It?
The U.S. Department of Defense may be facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a critical gap in its national security arsenal. Congress has authorized the creation of an institution dedicated to the study and research of irregular warfare. Unfortunately, initial indications are that this opportunity might not be realized.
Nov 7, 2022
Commentary
Weighing the Cost and Necessity of Nuclear Modernization
The United States has fielded a Triad of air-, sea-, and land-based nuclear delivery systems since the 1950s. Major components are nearing the end of their service lives, raising the question of whether to extend or replace them. Meanwhile, Russia and China continue to modernize, diversify, and expand their nuclear arsenals.
Jan 3, 2022
Report
Implementing Variable Cost Pricing in the Transportation Working Capital Fund
In this companion report, researchers identify next steps toward implementing variable cost pricing for selected business lines funded by the Transportation Working Capital Fund.
Dec 16, 2021
Report
Independent Evaluation of the Transportation Working Capital Fund: Assessment and Recommendations to Improve Effectiveness and Efficiency
The authors assess the financial viability and current structure of the Transportation Working Capital Fund, which funds U.S. Transportation Command operations, and recommend ways to restructure the fund to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.
Mar 25, 2021
Commentary
Five Reasons to Be Wary of a New Domestic Terrorism Law
Momentum is building in Congress for legislation to deal with domestic terrorism. Here are five purely pragmatic reasons to be wary of addressing domestic terrorism with a new law.
Feb 24, 2021
Multimedia
Domestic Terrorism in the U.S.: The Need to Rethink Strategy
An overview of testimony by Brian Michael Jenkins presented before the House Committee on Homeland Security on February 4, 2021.
Feb 10, 2021
Blog
National Security Commission on AI Requests New Ideas; RAND Responds
The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence put out an open call for submissions about emerging technology's role in the global order. RAND researchers stepped up to the challenge and submitted a wide range of ideas.
Feb 21, 2020
Report
Force Planning Scenarios, 1945–2016: Their Origins and Use in Defense Strategic Planning
This report presents a historical review of defense strategic planning, with a focus on the factors that have shaped defense planning scenarios and strategic analysis in the Department of Defense in an aim to improve scenario use in defense planning.
Sep 5, 2019
Report
Officer Career Management: Steps Toward Modernization in the 2018 and 2019 National Defense Authorization Acts
In this report, the authors summarize departmental views on the military officer career management policies examined in the two reports required by the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act and provide data to inform potential policy changes.
Mar 25, 2019

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National Security Legislation

Researcher Spotlight

Erin Rebhan

Head of Strategic Communications, RAND Homeland Security Research Division

Erin Rebhan (she/her) is head of strategic communications for the Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD) at the RAND Corporation. HSRD operates the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) for the U.S. Department of…
Cortez A. Cooper III

Senior International/Defense Researcher

Cortez A. Cooper III is a senior international/defense researcher at the RAND Corporation and an affiliate faculty member at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He provides assessments of security challenges across political, military, economic, cultural, and informational arenas for a broad range…

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