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United States Department of Defense

Commentary

A More Public National Security Strategy Discussion

President Trump has proposed an increase of $54 billion in defense spending, about 10 percent more than the current budget. But what is the national security strategy that supports this reallocation of resources? A comprehensive discussion of threats to U.S. interests and strategies to address them is in order.

Mar 7, 2017
Commentary

Five Simple Strategy Lessons for a New Secretary of Defense

Secretary of Defense James Mattis will need to lay the intellectual groundwork to fulfill President Trump's promise of “a great rebuilding” of the United States military. History suggests that how the strategies are developed may be as important to their success as what they say.

Mar 2, 2017
Commentary

Acquisition in Transition

The DoD acquisition system is complex and ever-changing. It requires a trained and active workforce that has the support of Congress. Allowing some of the reforms to take place in a measured fashion would be a wise choice for the new administration and Congress.

Feb 21, 2017
Report

Report

Improving Implementation of the Department of Defense Leahy Law

The Leahy laws prohibit U.S. assistance to foreign security forces that have committed gross violations of human rights. This report analyzes the vetting process that helps the Department of Defense implement these laws and recommends improvements.

Feb 17, 2017
Testimony

How to Restore the Power Projection Capabilities of the U.S. Armed Forces

To help put the United States back on a path toward fielding forces that can defeat any adversary, the DoD needs money and insight. The latter can help inform decisionmaking. The former would let the DoD develop, acquire, and field new systems and postures.

Feb 16, 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

Assessing the Need for Supercomputing Resources Within the Pacific Area of Responsibility

This report evaluates the capabilities, challenges, and future options for the Maui High Performance Computing Center, providing important context about the center as decisionmakers work toward resolving its budget gap.

Feb 9, 2017
Report

Report

Improving Oversight and Coordination of Department of Defense Programs That Address Problematic Behaviors Among Military Personnel: Final Report

This report makes recommendations for the Office of the Secretary of Defense to better understand the relationships among six problematic behaviors and its oversight and coordination of programs to address those behaviors.

Jan 25, 2017
Commentary

Uncertainty Ahead: Defense Technology and Acquisition Trends in 2017

The change in administration, coupled with the new management structure being imposed by Congress on the Department of Defense's acquisition enterprise is creating a shifting and unpredictable landscape for 2017.

Jan 3, 2017
Report

Report

Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: A Closer Look at the Origins and Implementation of Controlled Unclassified Information Labels and Security Policy

The authors evaluated current Controlled Unclassified Information labeling procedures, practices, and security policies for U.S. Department of Defense acquisition data and recommend improvements.

Dec 19, 2016
Commentary

The Pentagon's New Chief Innovation Officer Should Tread Lightly

The innovation efforts taking place in the Department of Defense are exciting and have much potential. But installing a chief innovation officer with centralized authority who may become just another bureaucratic player among many could spoil those efforts.

Nov 3, 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

Understanding and Assessing the Costs of the Federal Retail Excise Tax on the Department of Defense

This report examines the costs of the 12-percent Federal Retail Excise Tax on certain types of vehicles purchased or refurbished by the U.S. Department of Defense and outlines three prospective reform options that could reduce indirect costs.

Oct 7, 2016
Report

Developing an Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation Framework for U.S. Department of Defense Security Cooperation

This report explores the creation of a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) system for security cooperation assessment, monitoring, and evaluation (AME) by analyzing existing AME practices inside and outside DoD and proposing an implementation framework.

Oct 6, 2016
Report

Report

Promotion Benchmarks for Senior Officers with Joint and Acquisition Service

This report examines ways to improve reporting on promotion objectives for officers who have served on the Joint Staff or in the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff or are joint-qualified officers or Acquisition Corps members.

Sep 14, 2016
Report

Report

Options for Educating Students Attending Department of Defense Schools in the United States

The Department of Defense Education Activity operates or contracts with local agencies to operate schools on 15 contiguous U.S. installations. This report evaluates the options for educating military-connected children on these installations.

Sep 13, 2016
Report

Report

Capabilities for Joint Analysis in the Department of Defense: Rethinking Support for Strategic Analysis

This report stems from a congressional request for an independent report about the U.S. Department of Defense's capabilities for joint analysis and ways to improve them.

Sep 12, 2016
Commentary

In Defense of Defense Analysis

Rather than characterize Robert McNamara's legacy as one of inefficiency, his economic, quantitative analysis of military problems should be portrayed as an innovative, if flawed, first adoption of more sophisticated methods for defense analysis.

Sep 2, 2016
Essay

Transgender Troops: Fit to Serve

The Pentagon's decision to open the ranks to transgender service members was informed by months of RAND research into the costs and numbers involved.

Aug 18, 2016

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RAND Topic:
United States Department of Defense

Topic Synonyms:
Department of Defense

Researcher Spotlight

Michael H. Decker

Senior International/Defense Research Analyst

Mike Decker is a Senior International/Defense Research Analyst. Decker previously served as Director, Marine Forces Programs at RAND. Decker recently served as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight. During this assignment he received the National Intelligence…
Emma Westerman

Director, Acquisition and Development Program, Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC)

Emma Westerman is director of the Acquisition and Development Program (ADP) for the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC). She is a mathematician who specializes in acquisition, logistics, technology, sustainment, cybersecurity, and lifecycle risk management.

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