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National Security

RAND conducts a broad array of national security research for the U.S. Department of Defense. RAND also carries out an extensive research program in homeland security, homeland defense, and terrorism-related research for the U.S. Government, as well as selected research for key allied governments and ministries of defense. Through its long-term investment in federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), the U.S. government has built a network of institutions with unique analytical and technical capabilities.

National security research is conducted by the following RAND FFRDCs: RAND Project AIR FORCE, sponsored by the U.S. Air Force; RAND Arroyo Center, sponsored by the U.S. Army; RAND National Defense Research Institute, sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

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Resources for Veterans, Their Families, and Policymakers — Nov 9, 2010

In honor of Veterans Day, RAND has created a special web resource with a variety of research-based materials on issues critical to veterans and their families.

Our Foes Cannot Destroy This Nation — Sep 27, 2010

We have come through wars, depressions, natural and man-made disasters, indeed higher levels of domestic terrorist violence than that we face today, writes Brian Michael Jenkins.

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Monitoring and Evaluating Stabilisation Efforts — Sep 16, 2010

An integrated approach is often needed to deal with the range of complex problems and needs which arise from unstable and violent political and security environments. The UK's Stabilisation Unit commissioned RAND Europe to assist in improving the international community's ability to monitor and evaluate (M&E;) these stabilisation efforts, with a particular focus on strategic planning in Afghanistan. As part of this assignment, the research team will first draft a think piece on what is considered state of the art and good practice in M&E; frameworks in stabilisation operations, and then develop guidance to assist strategic planners in the field.

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Cover: Adding Value to Air Force Management Through Building Partnerships Assessment

Adding Value to Air Force Management Through Building Partnerships Assessment — 2010

The U.S. Air Force works to build strong and enduring partnerships with allies and friendly nations, to reinforce their capacity to defend themselves and to work in coalitions, and to ensure U.S. access to foreign territories. This volume evaluates existing Air Force capacity to conduct assessments of its security cooperation programs and describes a framework for improving assessment efforts.

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Afghanistan's Local War: Building Local Defense Forces — 2010

In Afghanistan, local communities have played a critical role in security, especially in rural areas. Afghan national security forces are important to the top-down strategy, but the Afghan government and NATO forces also need to leverage local communities to gain a complementary bottom-up strategy. This analysis discusses the viability of establishing local security forces in Afghanistan and addresses concerns about the wisdom of such policies.

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