Maria McCollester

The authors analyze how statutes, personnel policies, and resource policies constrain how Air Reserve Component (ARC) personnel are utilized to perform frequent or long-term active component operational requirements; suggest potential changes that would make accessing the ARC more efficient; and suggest specific strategic solutions for an operational ARC.

The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) conducts background investigations for federal personnel. It collects criminal history record information (CHRI) from federal and state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) law enforcement and criminal justice agencies that may be unaware of DCSA's role, responsibilities, and authorities. This report presents research and materials to promote more effective and efficient CHRI sharing.

The U.S. Army has been working toward achieving a clean financial audit for decades but has yet to show significant progress in doing so. RAND conducted a study of Army financial management organizations to identify opportunities for change.

Climate-driven natural hazards will continue to affect Department of the Air Force (DAF) installations and missions for the foreseeable future. There is a need for the DAF to consider how installation infrastructure projects that improve hazard resilience may be prioritized. A new approach allows comparison of infrastructure projects based on their ability to improve installation resilience to climate-related hazards.

This report examines whether the assumption that jointness--the combination of cross-service activities, capabilities, operations, and organizations that enhances and increases the capabilities of individual services beyond their organic contributions--is valuable to the U.S. military is correct. Understanding which aspects of jointness are most valuable and why can help the Department of Defense compete more effectively against its adversaries.

At the request of Congress, RAND researchers assessed the progress that the commercial spaceflight industry has made in adopting voluntary safety standards, the industry's progress in meeting key industry metrics set out by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2017, and whether the industry has reached a level of maturity such that certain areas identified in previous Federal Aviation Administration reports are ready for regulatory action.

This report presents findings that identify (1) unmet needs for transitioning reserve component members, (2) the impact of current reserve component Transition Assistance Program (TAP) requirements on individuals and units, and (3) potential improvements to TAP. Drawing from these findings, the authors present recommendations for improving TAP's effectiveness in addressing reserve component members' transition needs.

Reported here is an investigation into the current baseline level of intellectual property (IP) support at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and its components. The results suggest that IP initiatives offer greater opportunities for operational improvement than department leadership currently recognizes. The research revealed several examples of overlooked IP issues that are currently exposing programs to substantial risk.