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United States Air Force

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RAND has performed analyses for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) since it became an independent nonprofit organization in 1948. Today, RAND Project AIR FORCE conducts research on such topics as ways USAF can attract future leaders, how it can best acquire new equipment, and how it can best organize its active and reserve units.

Report

Graph Theoretic Algorithms for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Program

Nov 8, 2021

The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent is a complete replacement for an aging intercontinental ballistic missile system that is currently under development. What are quantitative methods that can be used to make the unified certification process for nuclear systems more rigorous and efficient?
Report

Developing an Air Force Retention Early Warning System

Oct 14, 2021

Which features and indicators inform retention outcomes within the U.S. Air Force? A forecasting model for retention can alert decisionmakers to emerging problems and allow for time to consider adjustments.

Explore United States Air Force

Report

Assessing the Association Between Airmen Participation in Force Support Squadron Programs and Unit Cohesion: An Evaluation of the UNITE Initiative

The UNITE Initiative aims to promote readiness and resilience in the Air Force through events that focus on unit cohesion. The authors describe the results of their evaluation of UNITE and the program's association with unit cohesion.

May 20, 2022
Report

Assessing the Association Between Airmen Participation in Force Support Squadron Programs and Unit Cohesion: Executive Summary

This executive summary encapsulates the findings in Assessing the Association Between Airmen Participation in Force Support Squadron Programs and Unit Cohesion: An Evaluation of the UNITE Initiative (RR-A554-1) 2022.

May 20, 2022
Report

Contractor Risk and Performance Indicators: Prototype Functional Specification and Developer Document

This report presents the technical design and architecture of a RAND-developed software prototype that assesses relative contractor risks in Department of the Air Force acquisition contracts and programs as described in two companion reports.

May 16, 2022
Report

Early Predictive Indicators of Contractor Performance: A Data-Analytic Approach

This report presents initial insights and approaches in exploring and prototyping methods to identify potential contractor performance risks for the Department of the Air Force earlier than would be typically reported via traditional methods.

May 12, 2022
Brochure

Improving Workforce Diversity and Inclusion

This brochure collects RAND Corporation research on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within large organizations, focusing on findings useful to U.S. Department of the Air Force DEI efforts.

May 11, 2022
Brochure

Research on Air Force Health and Health Care

This brochure collects RAND Corporation research on health and health care with a focus on topics that are of interest to the U.S. Department of the Air Force.

May 11, 2022
Report

A Snapshot of the Department of the Air Force Total Force Recruiting Integration: Survey Results and Implications

In this report, the authors discuss the results of the first Total Force Recruiting Panel-Technology and Integration Survey, which was designed to provide baseline data about the state of Total Force Recruiting in the Department of the Air Force.

May 5, 2022
Report

Is Today's U.S. Air Force Fit? It Depends on How Fitness Is Measured

In this report, the authors examine metrics used to monitor the fitness of airmen, and through their analyses of fitness data, they make a case for using multiple measures to gain a more accurate assessment of the health and fitness of the force.

May 2, 2022
Report

Physical Fitness Standards to Support Readiness and Deployability: An Examination of Department of the Air Force Policies and Culture

Through analyses involving the Air Force's Tier 1 fitness assessment (FA), the authors examine whether FA components meet their intended purpose to minimize health risks and maximize readiness of airmen.

May 2, 2022
Report

Harmful Interpersonal Behaviors in the Department of the Air Force: Informing Prevention and Response

This Perspective describes and applies a conceptual model of prevention to such harmful behaviors as sexual harassment, sexual assault, racial/ethnic harassment and discrimination, hazing, and domestic abuse in the Department of the Air Force.

Apr 20, 2022
Report

The Effects of Technology on Strategic Deterrence

Emerging technologies—especially those related to information aggression and manipulation, automation, hypersonic systems, and unmanned systems—hold dramatic implications for both the effectiveness and stability of deterrence. How might the United States prepare for the potential risks?

Apr 14, 2022
Report

Funding Technology-Related Business Initiatives in the Department of the Air Force

This report—one in a series focused on transforming human resource management via information technology and business systems—explores challenges in the budgeting process and offers recommendations for better program advocacy.

Apr 7, 2022
Report

Security Cooperation in a Strategic Competition

Neither China nor Russia has a formal doctrine or strategy for security cooperation. How can the United States enhance its security cooperation policies and activities to its competitive advantage?

Apr 6, 2022
Report

Personnel Needs for Department of the Air Force Digital Talent: A Case Study of Software Factories

The authors conducted a case study to identify digital talent needs for the U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF) in the area of software development by exploring DAF software factories that use modern and agile software development practices.

Mar 30, 2022
Report

U.S. Air Force Enlisted Classification and Reclassification: Potential Improvements Using Machine Learning and Optimization Models

The authors review options for improving processes for classifying and reclassifying enlisted active-duty, non–prior service airmen for initial skills training in the United States Air Force.

Mar 14, 2022
Report

Cyber Mission Thread Analysis: A Prototype Framework for Assessing Impact to Missions from Cyber Attacks to Weapon Systems

A decision to mitigate or accept a risk from a cyber attack to a weapon system depends on the operational mission impact. This proposed method for assessing mission impact is at once comprehensive and simple enough to scale across the U.S. Air Force.

Mar 10, 2022
Report

Cyber Mission Thread Analysis: An Implementation Guide for Process Planning and Execution

Cyber mission thread analysis, which identifies mission-critical systems in a cyber threat environment, requires a disciplined, well-planned process for its execution. This report provides a proposed guide for its planning and implementation.

Mar 10, 2022
Report

Assessing the Effectiveness of Future Concepts in the U.S. Air Force: Application to Future Logistics Concepts

RAND researchers present a Future Logistics Concept Assessment Framework, which is a disciplined, systematic way to assess proposed future logistics concepts to meet the requirements of the National Defense Strategy.

Mar 7, 2022
Q&A

Building Better Government Acquisition Programs: Q&A with William Shelton

In the U.S. Air Force, William Shelton managed hundreds of millions of dollars in acquisition programs. He retired as a colonel then joined RAND as an engineer. One of his recent projects provided the U.S. Space Force with a new approach to acquisition, designed around its unique mission.

Mar 4, 2022
Report

Relative Contractor Risks: A Data-Analytic Approach to Early Identification

The authors prototyped a new way to apply data analysis on a variety of government and commercial data sources to assess the relative contractor performance risks in Air Force acquisition contracts and programs.

Feb 4, 2022

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RAND Topic:
United States Air Force

Topic Synonyms:
U.S. Air Force;
U.S.A.F.

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