Leslie Adrienne Payne

The report tested the assertion that U.S. security cooperation (SC) can help reduce fragility in partner states. Based on an analysis of SC data and state fragility scores for 107 countries in 1991 2008, the study found a correlation between provision of SC by the United States and a reduction in partner state fragility, though the presence and degree of correlation depended on partner country characteristics and the type of SC provided."

The authors identified gaps, ambiguities, inconsistencies, and reported problems in the military racial grievance system through an examination of policies and structures and offer recommendations to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the armed forces.

The authors describe Puerto Rico's communities in terms of population characteristics, community and individual preparedness, and economic pressures leading up to Hurricanes Irma and Maria. They detail the storms' impact in terms of damage, community stress, and migration. The researchers developed courses of action to improve capacity for emergency preparedness, coordination, communication, recovery planning, and research and training.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense, approximately one-third of military service members experience a permanent change of station (PCS) move every year. The authors used a mixed-methods approach to compile a list of PCS-related family disruptions and to understand what programs exist to address these disruptions.

This report describes how to best measure and assess the progress and outcomes of locally focused stability operations (LFSO) the missions, tasks, and activities that create stability by building security, governance, and development. It identifies assessment and foundational challenges and outlines solutions, along with recommendations and implementation guidance. The report concludes with an assessment plan for a notional LFSO scenario."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) ability to successfully mitigate disaster situations depends on having a well-trained and skilled incident workforce (IW), and mentorship can play an important role in helping to develop, support, and sustain IW staff. The authors examine mentorship efforts across the IW and provide recommendations for addressing requirements, gaps, and challenges.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Qualification System (FQS) is a credentialing process that focuses on standardizing personnel abilities through training and applied experience. FEMA's Integration Branch asked the authors of this report to identify existing gaps and areas for improvement and examine ways to measure and monitor the effectiveness of FQS in the future.

Researchers sought to identify the root causes of underrepresentation for women and members of racial/ethnic minority groups in the U.S. Coast Guard; factors shaping representation at each phase of the career life cycle; and facilitators of and barriers to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This report documents the results of a study examining challenges that Air Force civilian women, racial/ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities may face in advancing to higher pay grades as well as factors influencing retention decisions. The study analyzed demographic differences in advancement and retention patterns and conducted focus groups and interviews with close to 300 participants.

The Air Force Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) specialty plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of aircraft pilots, other aircrew, and special warfare operators via training and by engaging in maintenance, inspection, repair, and adjustment of aircrew flight equipment, such as flight helmets, parachutes, and safety rafts. The authors investigate the causes for the decline in AFE proficiency and develop courses of action to mitigate the issue.

Counterterrorism: Mission Critical Skills helps current and future counterterrorism specialists develop skills that are vital for their professional success. The book provides readers with a well-researched argument as to why a particular set of soft skills are indispensable to counterterrorism specialists. It underscores the need for best practices and proficiencies among the extensive network of agencies and entities that fight terrorism.The opening chapter explores the various counterterrorism entities in the United States, highlighting their interconnectedness and illuminating the need for entities to work collaboratively toward a shared goal. Each of the remaining chapters profile a mission-critical soft skill and offer learning demands for guidance, first-person quotes from professional counterterrorism experts, and operational vignettes to demonstrate the importance of each skill. The skills presented include teamwork, imagination, strategic consciousness, cultural mindfulness, discernment, empathy, mutuality, and operational adaptability.Counterterrorism equips readers with the soft skills that, when paired with the hard skills counterterrorism specialists are required to learn, will help them develop into highly capable, well-rounded, and efficient counterterrorism professionals.

Counterterrorism: Mission Critical Skills helps current and future counterterrorism specialists develop skills that are vital for their professional success. The book provides readers with a well-researched argument as to why a particular set of soft skills are indispensable to counterterrorism specialists. It underscores the need for best practices and proficiencies among the extensive network of agencies and entities that fight terrorism.The opening chapter explores the various counterterrorism entities in the United States, highlighting their interconnectedness and illuminating the need for entities to work collaboratively toward a shared goal. Each of the remaining chapters profile a mission-critical soft skill and offer learning demands for guidance, first-person quotes from professional counterterrorism experts, and operational vignettes to demonstrate the importance of each skill. The skills presented include teamwork, imagination, strategic consciousness, cultural mindfulness, discernment, empathy, mutuality, and operational adaptability.Counterterrorism equips readers with the soft skills that, when paired with the hard skills counterterrorism specialists are required to learn, will help them develop into highly capable, well-rounded, and efficient counterterrorism professionals.

Cyberspace capabilities are critical to national security. However, with a shortage of cyber personnel nationwide and high salaries commanded by some, the Air Force is concerned it may face recruiting and retention challenges within its cyberspace operations officer workforce. To understand potential drivers of attraction to and retention in the career field, researchers conducted interviews with the Air Force's cyberspace operations officer workforce. Recommendations are discussed.

This report looks at demographic differences in U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training completion. It presents potential challenges that women and racial and ethnic minorities might face in entering and completing the training, as well as demographic differences in attrition rates, reasons for attrition, and an analysis of whether certain individual characteristics account for differential rates of attrition.

This report documents the results of a qualitative study designed to better understand the factors that female Air Force officers consider when deciding whether to remain in the active duty Air Force. It describes the key retention factors identified through focus groups and provides recommendations for improving Air Force policies and programs to help address potential barriers and improve female officer retention.

The personnel who operate remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) are crucial in the Air Force, but many in the RPA career field are dissatisfied, and it is difficult to train and retain enough pilots to meet the demand. To assist in building a healthy, sustainable RPA career field, RAND has developed a long-term RPA career field planning model. This report explains the model's main features, content, and data inputs and describes key technical aspects.

This report evaluates four recent Air Force Major Defense Acquisition Programs with low cost growth and compares and contrasts their key characteristics to the six programs evaluated with extreme cost growth from a companion RAND Corporation report, which identified the main characteristics of six recent U.S. Air Force acquisition programs with extreme cost growth.