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United States Department of Defense

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Report

How Well Is DoD Positioned for AI?

Dec 17, 2019

The U.S. Department of Defense has articulated an ambitious vision and strategy for artificial intelligence. But if it wants to get the maximum benefit from AI-enhanced systems, then it will need to improve its posture along multiple dimensions.
Commentary

Defense Budget Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Apr 7, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a dramatic toll on the U.S. economy. This could have significant medium-term implications for the U.S. defense budget. The U.S. Department of Defense will need to find efficiencies that are of at least the same magnitude as the recent sequestration.

Explore United States Department of Defense

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
Report

Report

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

This report presents a comparative historical analysis of the four Quadrennial Defense Reviews (QDRs) conducted after 1997 and identifies trends, implications, and recommendations for the Army and Defense Department to help improve future reviews.

Jan 31, 2018
Report

Report

Issues with Access to Acquisition Data and Information in the Department of Defense: Considerations for Implementing the Controlled Unclassified Information Reform Program

This report provides a closer look at the current state of the Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) program as well as how the new CUI rules might affect DoD acquisition data management.

Jan 24, 2018
Report

Report

Application of Logic Models to Facilitate DoD Laboratory Technology Transfer

This report describes a method that can help the Department of Defense monitor and track technology transfer from laboratories to customers and assess the success of efforts that may lead to capability improvements.

Jan 19, 2018
Commentary

How the Pentagon Should Deter Cyber Attacks

Foreign hackers are not afraid to launch attacks on the United States in cyberspace that they would not dare risk in a real theater of war. As cyber aggression gets worse and more brazen, the U.S. must figure out how to deter foreign actors in cyberspace as effectively as it does in nuclear and conventional warfare.

Jan 10, 2018
Commentary

The Chairman the Pentagon Needs

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dunford says that to fight and win 21st century wars, the department should find a way to globally integrate below the secretary of defense. To do so, the chairman's role would have to expand to allow him to advise the secretary on the allocation and transfer of forces for transregional, multi-functional, and multi-domain operations.

Jan 5, 2018
Report

Report

Assessing Bid Protests of U.S. Department of Defense Procurements: Identifying Issues, Trends, and Drivers

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 called for a study of "the prevalence and impact of bid protests on DoD acquisitions," including the systematic collection and analysis of information on their characteristics and outcomes.

Jan 4, 2018
Brochure

Saving the Government Money: Examples from RAND's FFRDCs

RAND's federally funded research and development centers apply research capital they have developed over the years to help decisionmakers solve problems and often save money as well. This publication lists and briefly summarizes some RAND projects undertaken over the past several years that have helped save the government money or that have identified ways to do so.

Dec 20, 2017
Multimedia

Recommendations for a Future National Defense Strategy

Drawing from his expertise and war-game experience, David Ochmanek provides recommendations to inform a future national defense strategy. He explains that while U.S. forces are currently misaligned with challenges from the country's greatest adversaries, including China and Russia, gaps can be overcome with investments in existing technology to protect our forward bases; reach into contested areas; and identify, track, and engage enemy forces.

Nov 30, 2017
Testimony

Recommendations for a Future National Defense Strategy

War games and analysis suggest that U.S. forces could lose the next war they are called upon to fight. The nation must invest in new field systems and military capabilities to create a robust defensive posture vis-à-vis China, Russia, and other adversaries.

Nov 30, 2017
Dissertation

Dissertation

Accelerating the Transition of Technologies Created through the U.S. Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research Program

This dissertation gains to understand the contextual effects on the success of the transition of technologies generated through the U.S. Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research program.

Nov 16, 2017
Report

Report

Human Capital Needs for the Department of Defense Operational Contract Support Planning and Integration Workforce

This comprehensive review of the U.S. Department of Defense operational contract support (OCS) planning and integration workforce identifies gaps between doctrine and practice, recommending several options to address these shortfalls.

Oct 2, 2017

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RAND Topic:
United States Department of Defense

Topic Synonyms:
Department of Defense