David Knapp

The U.S. Army recognizes that the recruiting environment has a significant impact on its ability to recruit, especially when the unemployment rate is lower, casualty rates increase, or operational difficulties mount. This report presents a forecasting model that provides a measure of the recruiting difficulty with up to a 24-month horizon. The resulting model forecasts whether the Army is likely to face a difficult or easy recruiting environment.

The purpose of the project was to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Army's use of available recruiting resources and policies by optimizing the required resource levels and mix to support future recruiting under changing enlisted accession requirements, varying labor market conditions and recruiting environments, and alternative recruit eligibility policies and by enabling the assessment of alternative courses of action.

Researchers extend RAND s dynamic retention model for Defense Department civil service workers by reestimating pay profiles, adding costing capability, obtaining estimates for separate and combined cohorts, and allowing estimates to differ for veterans and nonveterans. They apply the extended model to simulate the retention and cost effects of mandating workers to pay a larger share of contributions into the Federal Employees Retirement System."

Being A Better Friend to Those Experiencing Loss. Knapp draws on his own experience of losing both his first and second wife to cancer to provide insight into some of the unhelpful responses we often make, and presents a repertoire of ideas on how to be a genuine friend and helper to a grieving person.Various chapters in the book deal with different kinds of losses, including the trauma of losing a spouse or child, divorce, loss of pets, and other losses that we sometimes fail to recognize need to be grieved over if healing is to occur. A veteran teacher, Knapp supplements his chapters with practical lists of responses that may be helpful at different points in the grieving process. His book is a wonderful tool for preparing ourselves for the inevitable human experience of dealing with others' grief, or our own.A student of life and processes, David Knapp "leans into" the situation at hand. Whether raising four children, or blending a family with eight teenagers, running a small business or teaching fresh-faced college students, he knows how to communicate effectively. He does not write from theory, but from experience and study.

Gladys Quarre Knapp was a woman ahead of her time as one of the most radiant, successful, behind the scenes Hollywood and political women of the 20th Century. Her unique opportunity and perspective on making the best out of life's offerings prompted her son to document their tales, adventures, and travels from San Francisco, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Palm Beach, and Santa Barbara. With one of her well-known remarks, she would say, "It's not important who you know, what is important is who knows you." One of the first women bridging the gap between emerging Hollywood and Broadway luminaries and California's founding families. A woman ahead of her time, facing challenges with grace, humor, lan, and never afraid to say what was on her mind. With her beauty, personality, and enchanting wit, she very well could have been the inspiration for the character Auntie Mame.