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National Security and Terrorism

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RAND conducts a broad array of national security research for the U.S. Department of Defense and allied ministries of defense. Our federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) explore threat assessment, military acquisition, technology, recruitment and personnel management, counterinsurgency, intelligence, and readiness. RAND is a world leader in terrorism research. Studies address such topics as terrorism financing and strategies to undermine violent extremism.

Report
Examples of Why Gender Diversity Matters in Military Missions
Studies suggest that peace and security efforts are more likely to succeed when women play a role in them. Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) is the recognition of women's impact on peace and security decisionmaking, and the disproportionate impact that conflict has on women. WPS principles and gender perspectives have been applied in DoD mission areas.
Oct 18, 2023
Report
Could Artificial Intelligence Be Misused to Plan Biological Attacks?
Previous biological attacks that failed because of a lack of information might succeed in a world in which AI tools like large language models could bridge that gap. And given the rapid evolution of AI and biotechnology, governmental capacity to understand or regulate them is limited.
Oct 16, 2023

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Report
Revisiting RAND's Russia Wargames After the Invasion of Ukraine: Summary and Implications
This report summarizes reexamined RAND tabletop exercises involving Russia from the past eight years in a review of wargaming methods and analysis and presents implications for future potential conflicts involving major powers.
Nov 21, 2023
Report
Improving Acquisition and Sustainment Outcomes for Military Commercial Derived Aircraft: The KC-46A Pegasus Experience
The authors of this report examine improvement in acquisition and sustainment of commercial derivative aircraft using a case study of the KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker.
Nov 21, 2023
Report
Life Cycle Management of Military Commercial Derivative Aircraft: Improving FAA Certification, Implementation of Digital Engineering and Sustainment Strategy
Drawing on interviews with U.S. Air Force, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and industry experts, the authors assess the benefits and challenges of (and propose best practices for) commercial derivative aircraft acquisition.
Nov 21, 2023
Visualization
Logic Model for Non-Lethal Weapons in the U.S. Department of Defense
This logic model is intended to help characterize the impact of Non-Lethal Weapons (NLWs) within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and is based on a RAND project that assessed the impact of diverse Intermediate Force Capabilities (IFCs).
Nov 20, 2023
Report
Identifying and Prioritizing Systemically Important Entities: Advancing Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
This report helps the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency codify the concept of systemically important critical infrastructure by documenting the work surrounding systemic risks and cyber risks in software supply chains.
Nov 20, 2023
Blog
'Israel's 9/11,' Promoting the 988 Hotline, the Future of Space: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on why the Oct. 7 attack wasn't Israel's 9/11, humanity's future approach to space, the pressing need to ensure more people know about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and more.
Nov 17, 2023
Commentary
Improving Behavioral Health Care in the Military Health System
What can be done to ensure service members have timely and equitable access to high-quality behavioral health care?
Nov 16, 2023
Brochure
RAND Research on Harmful Interpersonal Behaviors
The U.S. Department of the Air Force seeks to prevent harmful interpersonal behaviors among airmen and guardians and keep victims of these behaviors safe. This document provides an overview of selected work that RAND has conducted in this area.
Nov 16, 2023
Report
An Assessment of U.S.-Allied Nations' Industrial Bases in Quantum Technology
The authors assess the quantum industrial bases of several U.S.-allied nations that are major players in the development of quantum technology, beginning with a global look and then focusing on Australia, the UK, Germany, and Japan.
Nov 16, 2023
Commentary
The West's Incoherent Critique of Israel's Gaza Strategy
The battlefield geography of Gaza means that any operation there would turn into a bloody, highly destructive ground operation, with a lot of civilians caught in the crossfire. While Israel can mitigate some of these effects, neither Israel nor any other military can prevent them entirely. In this war, there is no happy medium.
Nov 16, 2023
Report
Logistics and Sustainment Issues of the Russian Armed Forces
Failures in the Russian logistics and maintenance system have been identified as a key factor in Russia's underperformance in Ukraine in 2022. A review of dozens of unclassified documents and articles provides insights into Russia's military problems before and in the early stages of its invasion.
Nov 15, 2023
Commentary
Ideas for Humanity's Future Approach to Space
In its first 75 years, RAND helped shape how humankind thought about and used space for the benefit of humanity. And it intends to have a similar impact on the next 75 years of space sustainability, security, and governance. Researchers identified concepts worthy of future study.
Nov 14, 2023
Research Brief
Impact of Eligibility Requirements and Propensity to Serve on Demographic Representation in the Department of the Air Force
This brief summarizes RAND Project AIR FORCE research on a process that provides relevant benchmarks for assessing Department of the Air Force demographics and that accurately reflects important gender and racial and ethnic differences.
Nov 14, 2023
Multimedia
A New Approach to Power Projection: Reversing the Erosion of U.S. and Allied Military Power and Influence
The RAND National Security Research Division hosted a discussion focused on emerging approaches to projecting power against the United States' most capable adversaries and the implications of these new approaches for defense planning.
Nov 14, 2023
Report
Quantifying Vulnerability Lifespans for U.S. Marine Corps Joint Cyber Weapons
The authors generated novel vulnerability life span and software update cadence datasets. Datasets were used to quantify cost and operational time uncertainties, and estimate life-cycle costs of the U.S. Marine Corps Joint Cyber Weapons program.
Nov 14, 2023
Testimony
Ways to Enhance the U.S. Coast Guard's Interdiction Efforts
Effective partnerships and investment in technology are essential for successful drug and migrant interception and international fisheries law enforcement. The U.S. Coast Guard's efforts could be improved through better information-sharing and leveraging of existing technology, and further interagency and international collaboration and cooperation.
Nov 14, 2023
Commentary
Biden Should Call China's Bluff on Responsible AI to Safeguard the 2024 Elections
Few in the Biden administration will be surprised to learn that Beijing is lying about its intentions and activities when it comes to influence operations. But lies, maybe even especially blatant ones, present diplomatic opportunity.
Nov 14, 2023
Commentary
Cherish Allies While You Can: What Should the U.S. Do To Support the Incoming Polish Government?
Plenty has been said about what lessons Poland's recent elections hold for pro-democracy forces across the wider West, as well as the message this election sends about a feared inevitability of autocracy, and the significance of this opposition win for European security. But what does the election of an opposition alliance mean for U.S. relations with Warsaw?
Nov 14, 2023
Brochure
RAND Research on Military Recruiting
The Department of the Air Force seeks more diversity and technical knowledge in its recruits and the pool of eligible candidates who have a desire to serve is shrinking. This document provides an overview of work that RAND has conducted in this area.
Nov 13, 2023
Commentary
Why the Oct. 7 Attack Wasn't Israel's 9/11
There are some basic strategic lessons to be learned from the U.S. response to 9/11 that are applicable to Israel's unfolding operation in Gaza. But in many key ways, the two conflicts couldn't be further apart.
Nov 13, 2023

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RAND Topic:
National Security and Terrorism

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Nolan Yager

M.Phil. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND

Nolan Yager is an M.Phil. student at Pardee RAND and an assistant policy analyst at RAND. His research interests include national security policy, U.S. Grand Strategy, international relations, gray-zone warfare, cybersecurity, high-value healthcare reform, undersea cables, health policy,…
Caitlin Lee

Director, Acquisition and Technology Policy Program

Caitlin Lee is the director of the Acquisition and Technology Policy Program (ATP), part of the RAND National Security Research Division (NSRD). She is a political scientist with a research focus on innovation, force planning, emerging technology and organizational culture. In her previous role…

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