Skip to section navigation
Skip to page content

RAND > Topics >

United States Department of Defense

Report

Women's Representation in the U.S. Department of Defense Workforce

When compared with the civilian labor force, there is less women's representation among those who work for the U.S. Department of Defense. What accounts for this gap? And what could be done to address it?

Nov 7, 2018
Report

Frequent Moves Affect Military Family Stability

About one-third of military service members experience a permanent change of station every year. Sometimes the moves have a positive effect, such as moving to a more desirable location, but they can also disrupt family stability. The DoD offers programs, policies, and services to address the disruptions.

Oct 18, 2018
Commentary

Are We Truly Prepared for a War with Russia or China?

The U.S. Department of Defense will likely need a strategy to overcome a war with either Russia or China. As threats from Moscow and Beijing grow, what can the United States do now to prepare for major conflict?

Oct 9, 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

Report

Expanding Operating and Support Cost Analysis for Major Programs During the DoD Acquisition Process: Legal Requirements, Current Practices, and Recommendations

The Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation is required to perform a broad set of cost analysis duties related to major defense acquisition programs but does not always have the resources to fulfill its duties.

Sep 17, 2018
Report

Report

Restoring U.S. Power Projection Capabilities: Responding to the 2018 National Defense Strategy

This Perspective can help to inform upcoming decisions to improve U.S. military abilities (which have been eroding vis-à-vis those of China and Russia) to deter aggression and intimidation, assure allies, and influence events in East Asia and Europe.

Aug 16, 2018
Commentary

Reshaping U.S. Military Forces: Getting the Process Right

War gaming and analysis show that American forces face serious operational challenges. What steps could be taken to ensure the United States can defeat aggression by its greatest adversaries?

Jul 20, 2018
Report

Improving U.S. Force Development

The U.S. armed forces are larger than needed to fight a single major war. But at the same time, the military is failing to keep pace with adversaries and is poorly postured to meet key challenges in Europe and East Asia. How can the Department of Defense respond?

Jul 9, 2018
Report

Report

Using the Person-Event Data Environment for Military Personnel Research in the Department of Defense: An Evaluation of Capability and Potential Uses

Researchers seek to determine whether RAND's federally funded research and development centers can effectively use the Person-Event Data Environment (PDE) to support manpower and personnel research and identify potential improvements to the PDE.

Jul 6, 2018
Report

Report

Comprehensive Deterrence Forum: Proceedings and Commissioned Papers

On October 30, 2015, U.S. Army Special Operations Command facilitated a forum to explore the concept of comprehensive deterrence. Part I of this report delivers a summary of the forum proceedings, and Part II includes papers examining the concept.

Jun 7, 2018
Research Brief

Research Brief

Evaluation Finds Excess Property Program Is Efficient and Effective, but Perceptions About Militarized Police Persist

The Law Enforcement Support Office program is efficient and effectively reuses excess Department of Defense property, but perceptions persist that the program contributes to the militarization of police.

May 21, 2018
Report

DoD's Excess Property Program Works, but Perceptions About Militarized Police Persist

The Department of Defense provides excess equipment—everything from desks to rifles to airplanes—at little or no cost to law enforcement agencies across America. This program is efficient and effective, but there are perceptions that it contributes to the militarization of police.

May 14, 2018
Commentary

Toward One Understanding of Multiple Domains

The U.S. defense community can and should do what it can to get the most benefit from operating across domains. It just needs to remember to proceed carefully to discern between actual benefits and falsehoods that may do more harm than good.

May 2, 2018
Report

Report

Needs of Male Sexual Assault Victims in the U.S. Armed Forces

This report reviews research on sexual assault against men and describes interviews with military service providers and civilian experts. It concludes with recommendations for improving support to male sexual assault victims in the U.S. military.

May 1, 2018
Commentary

The More Things Change: Explaining Continuity in Defense Strategy

United States presidential administrations from Clinton to Trump have championed different approaches to military and defense policy. The verbiage of the National Defense Strategy, however, remains relatively the same and the numbers reflect more incremental rather than monumental shifts.

Apr 25, 2018
Commentary

Stabilization Is Essential to Accomplishing the Mission

There's good reason to hope that the forthcoming policy on stabilization in places like Iraq will get the United States to the right middle road. But this new effort will fall short if Congress doesn't maintain the necessary funding for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Apr 24, 2018
Report

What Should DoD's Role in Stabilization Be?

The U.S. military has historically shied away from stabilization activities, only to find itself tasked with performing that role. The experience of the past 15 years provides insights into what DoD should and should not be expected to undertake and into how a more effective approach to stabilization might be developed.

Apr 5, 2018
Commentary

On RAND's Research Findings Regarding Transgender Military Personnel Policy

In September 2015, the Department of Defense asked RAND to initiate a study on the implications of allowing transgender personnel to serve openly. Since its publication, the research has been widely viewed as the most comprehensive and authoritative analysis on this topic. RAND stands by the study's research approach, analysis, and findings.

Mar 27, 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

Defense Planning in a Time of Conflict: A Comparative Analysis of the 2001–2014 Quadrennial Defense Reviews, and Implications for the Army — Executive Summary

This summary highlights findings from a comparative analysis of the four Quadrennial Defense Reviews conducted after 1997, identifying trends, implications, and recommendations for the Army and Defense Department to help improve future reviews.

Jan 31, 2018

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Next

RAND Topic:
United States Department of Defense

Topic Synonyms:
Department of Defense