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Student-Authored Publications on Technology, Innovation, and Data Science

American School District Panel Interactive Survey Results Tool: Fall 2022 Survey Results 2023

Gerald P. Hunter, Melissa Kay Diliberti, Heather L. Schwartz
A total of 300 leaders from school districts and charter management organizations took the sixth American School District Panel survey in fall 2022. This online tool allows users to select individual survey questions and view weighted survey results that are nationally representative of school districts in the United States. Color-coded charts display survey results by locale, student race and ethnicity, and district poverty level.
Russia's Asymmetric Response to 21st Century Strategic Competition: Robotization of the Armed Forces 2023

Krystyna Marcinek, Eugeniu Han
The authors explore Russian views on the military applications of robotics and artificial intelligence and the motivations for the development of those capabilities. They investigate the degree of autonomy that Russians might be willing to delegate to machines and to what extent Moscow plans to replace (versus augment) human soldiers with robots. They also assess whether Moscow has delivered — or can deliver — its robotization vision.
An Assessment of the U.S. and Chinese Industrial Bases in Quantum Technology 2022

Edward Parker, Daniel Gonzales, Ajay K. Kochhar, Sydney Litterer, Kathryn O'Connor, Jon Schmid, Keller Scholl, Richard Silberglitt, Joan Chang, Christopher A. Eusebi, et al.
This report presents a flexible and repeatable set of metrics—specifically, focused on scientific research, government support, private industry activity, and technical achievement—for assessing a nation's industrial base in quantum technology. The authors apply these metrics to the United States to assess the current state of its industrial base, and they apply most of the metrics to the People's Republic of China as a comparative case study.
Commercial Space Capabilities and Market Overview: The Relationship Between Commercial Space Developments and the U.S. Department of Defense 2022

Emmi Yonekura, Brian Dolan, Moon Kim, Krista Romita Grocholski, Raza Khan, Yool Kim
As the commercial space industry continues to grow in capability, capacity, and diversity, opportunities for the U.S. Space Force (USSF) and the U.S. Department of Defense to leverage commercial space capabilities are expanding. In this review of commercial space capabilities that could support the USSF's future space architecture and innovation ecosystem, the authors characterize capabilities and trends in the commercial market through mid-2020.
Disrupting Deterrence: Examining the Effects of Technologies on Strategic Deterrence in the 21st Century 2022

Michael J. Mazarr, Ashley L. Rhoades, Nathan Beauchamp-Mustafaga, Alexis A. Blanc, Derek Eaton, Katie Feistel, Edward Geist, Timothy R. Heath, Christian Johnson, Krista Langeland, et al.
The authors examined potential implications of emerging technologies for deterrence in the context of U.S. national security policy. They identified long-term effects on two major aspects of the deterrence dynamic — effectiveness and stability. They found that collections of emerging technologies have dramatic implications for both aspects, and new ways of warfare pose more general risks to U.S. deterrent policies than do emerging technologies.
Improving Defense Acquisition: Insights from Three Decades of RAND Research 2022

Jonathan P. Wong, Obaid Younossi, Christine Kistler LaCoste, Philip S. Anton, Alan J. Vick, Guy Weichenberg, Thomas C. Whitmore
In this report, researchers describe overarching trends that affect defense acquisition, outline challenges in the defense acquisition process, and suggest improvements that might help address those challenges. The study is informed by open-source documents and insights from publicly available RAND Corporation defense acquisition research, especially reports published since 1986, when a similar review of RAND research was published.
Is the National Nuclear Enterprise Workforce Postured to Modernize the Triad? Insights and Options from a Quick-turn Assessment 2022

Laura Werber, Frank G. Klotz, Brian Phillips, Noah Johnson, Lucas Greer, Brittany Clayton, Mark V. Arena, Chaitra M. Hardison
This report presents the results of a quick-turn, 90-day assessment of the health of the national nuclear enterprise workforce, with a focus on federal personnel in the acquisition and the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Researchers reviewed recruiting, retention, and other factors in response to evolving talent demands to sustain existing nuclear weapon systems while also developing more-modern capabilities.
Reimagining Defense Advisory Boards: Lessons Learned for Leaders in the U.S. Department of Defense 2022

Cortney Weinbaum, Diana Y. Myers, William Shelton
On January 30, 2021, the Secretary of Defense halted all the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD's) external advisory boards and committees. RAND Corporation authors embarked on this exploratory study to reveal lessons learned for how DoD can improve its advisory boards. The authors conducted 16 interviews with current and former DoD officials to learn what worked well, what could be enhanced or dispensed with, and how boards might be reconfigured.
Addressing Emerging Technology Adoption in Food Production through Digital Games 2021

Patricia A. Stapleton, Padmaja Vedula, Jalal Awan, Jonathan Lamb, Timothy R. Gulden, Jonathan W. Welburn
Examines how blockchain, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence with machine learning, and satellite imaging are being or could be implemented to decrease uncertainty and mitigate risks to support agricultural production and distribution.
A Comparison of National and International Approaches to COVID-19-Related Measures 2021

Mahshid Abir, Megan K. Beckett, Wenjing Huang, Hamad Al-Ibrahim, Joan Chang, Florian F. Schmitzberger, Kirstin W. Scott, Peter S. Hussey
To track how well different countries and U.S. states are responding to the pandemic—and to make valid cross-country and cross-state comparisons of key outcomes—uniform measures are needed. The authors of this report evaluate the comparability of commonly used COVID-19-related measures and make recommendations for the use and development of measures that would allow for more standardized and valid comparisons.
Compensation and Benefits for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Workers: A Comparison of the Federal Government and the Private Sector 2021

Kathryn A. Edwards, Maria McCollester, Brian Phillips, Hannah Acheson-Field, Isabel Leamon, Noah Johnson, Maria C. Lytell
How do salary and benefits for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers in the federal government compare with those for private-sector STEM workers? Using a labor market analytic approach, the authors describe STEM workers in the two sectors, note differences from non-STEM counterparts, compare STEM salary and benefits, and make recommendations to improve data collection and evaluation for STEM hiring and retention.
Cost Evaluation of Integrating Local HIV and Housing Data to Facilitate Service Coordination in Four Demonstration Sites 2021

Michele Abbott, Ryan K. McBain, Lisa Wagner, Harry H. Liu
As part of the evaluation of a federal initiative to integrate HIV medical and housing data at four local jurisdictions in the U.S., we estimated the financial costs of implementing data integration occurring from June 2016 to August 2018.
Countering Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections 2021

Marek N. Posard, Hilary Reininger, Todd C. Helmus
This report, the fourth in a series on election threats, describes research from focus groups and individual interviews on responses to memes sourced in Russia that were designed to breed dissension and to a public service announcement warning about such online manipulation. It then outlines a strategy to counter such interference that involves coordinating with social media companies and releasing simple PSAs for use during election cycles.
Exploring the Feasibility and Utility of Machine Learning-Assisted Command and Control: Volume 1, Findings and Recommendations 2021

Matthew Walsh, Lance Menthe, Edward Geist, Eric Hastings, Joshua Kerrigan, Jasmin Léveillé, Joshua Margolis, Nicholas Martin, Brian P. Donnelly
This report, which describes the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) systems to assist in Air Force command and control (C2) from a technical perspective, presents an analytical framework for assessing the suitability of a given AI system for a given C2 problem. The authors also provide metrics that can be used to evaluate AI systems and to demonstrate and socialize their utility.
Exploring the Feasibility and Utility of Machine Learning-Assisted Command and Control: Volume 2, Supporting Technical Analysis 2021

Matthew Walsh, Lance Menthe, Edward Geist, Eric Hastings, Joshua Kerrigan, Jasmin Léveillé, Joshua Margolis, Nicholas Martin, Brian P. Donnelly
This volume serves as the technical analysis to a report concerning the potential for artificial intelligence systems to assist in Air Force command and control (C2). The authors present their analysis of the problem characteristics and solution capabilities described in Volume 1. They provide details about the expert panel used to gather data and three technical case studies that demonstrate a wide range of solutions to various C2 problems.
Fighter Basing Options to Improve Access to Advanced Training Ranges 2021

Bradley DeBlois, Patrick Mills, Anu Narayanan, Dara Gold, Anna Jean Wirth, John A. Ausink, Bart E. Bennett, Ronald G. McGarvey, Rahim Ali, James Syme, et al.
The U.S. Air Force has determined that its fighter pilots do not currently have sufficient access to training ranges with airspace, threat emitters, targets, and electronic support measures capable of representing advanced potential adversaries. The authors explore squadron restationing and range upgrade options that can maximize access to advanced live training ranges while evaluating cost and risk measures associated with these options.
Health Services and Primary Care Research Study: Comprehensive Report 2021

Peter Mendel, Courtney A. Gidengil, Andrada Tomoaia-Cotisel, Sean Mann, Adam J. Rose, Kristin J. Leuschner, Nabeel Qureshi, Vishnupriya Kareddy, Jessica L. Sousa, Daniel Kim
This report provides an independent assessment of the breadth, scope, and impact of health services and primary care research funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from FYs 2012 to 2018. The authors identify research gaps and offer recommendations for maximizing the outcomes and value of future investments in health services and primary care research by federal agencies.
Modeling Agent Behaviors for Policy Analysis Via Reinforcement Learning 2021

Osonde A. Osoba, Raffaele Vardavas, Justin Grana, Rushil Zutshi, Amber Jaycocks
This paper examines the value of reinforcement learning models as adaptive, high-performing, and behaviorally-valid models of agent decision-making in Agent-based Models.
Primary Care Productivity: Findings from the Literature and Perspectives from a Stakeholder Panel 2021

Susanne Hempel, Idamay Curtis, Stephan D. Fihn, Annie Brothers, Marjorie Danz, Karin M. Nelson, Aneesa Motala, Lisa V. Rubenstein
To advance understanding of primary care clinic productivity, the authors reviewed relevant literature and convened a diverse set of stakeholders to explore definitions of productivity, input, and output in primary care; identify relevant tools; and establish consensus on key aspects of primary care productivity.
Rapid Analysis of Foreign Malign Information on COVID-19 in the Indo-Pacific: A Proof-of-Concept Study 2021

Ryan Andrew Brown, William Marcellino, Erik Van Hegewald, Elicia M. John, Adrian Salas, Miriam Matthews
Researchers used news and blog data to understand efforts by foreign countries to spread malign information regarding COVID-19 in the Indo-Pacific region. The authors used RAND's proprietary lexical analysis platform, RAND-Lex, to explore whether news and blog data could provide some initial insights on the reach of, content of, and tactical strategies used in foreign malign information about COVID-19 in the Indo-Pacific.
Responsible Space Behavior for the New Space Era: Preserving the Province of Humanity 2021

Bruce McClintock, Katie Feistel, Douglas C. Ligor, Kathryn O'Connor
The past two decades have seen the start of a New Space Era characterized by more spacefaring nations and companies and a growing risk of collisions and conflict, yet the basic mechanisms for governing space activities have only marginally changed since their creation 50 years ago. The authors of this Perspective assess problem areas and barriers to progress and offer suggestions to improve space governance and responsible space behavior.
Stress Topped the Reasons Why Public School Teachers Quit, Even Before COVID-19 2021

Melissa Kay Diliberti, Heather L. Schwartz, David Grant
In the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, about 8 percent of public school teachers left the profession annually. Very high rates of teacher burnout and low levels of morale during the 2020–2021 school year portend elevated teacher attrition by the end of it. The authors of this report show how important stress has been—more so than pay—in public school teachers' reasons for quitting, and that COVID-19 has exacerbated the high levels of stress.
Transforming Public Health Data Systems: White Papers to Inform Commission 2021

Anita Chandra, Laurie T. Martin, Joie D. Acosta, Christopher Nelson, Douglas Yeung, Nabeel Qureshi, Tara Laila Blagg
RWJF commissioned RAND to produce a series of white papers that describe the current landscape, emerging innovations, and opportunities for transforming and transitioning to a new public health data system.
Water Planning for the Uncertain Future: An Interactive Guide to the Use of Methods for Decisionmaking Under Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Water Resources Planning 2021

David G. Groves, Nidhi Kalra, James Syme, Edmundo Molina-Perez, Chandra Garber
Recent climatic shifts likely will continue to affect water resources management in significant but uncertain ways. This tool provides information about decisionmaking under deep uncertainty methods—specifically, Robust Decision Making—through five case studies. These case studies focus on three river basins, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Monterrey, Mexico.
An Analysis of Education and Training Programs in Advanced Manufacturing Using Robotics 2020

Megan Andrew, Timothy Marler, Jesse Lastunen, Hannah Acheson-Field, Steven W. Popper
As industrial robots grow more sophisticated, there likely will be a shortage of human workers with the necessary technical and nontechnical skills to work with, program, and repair their machine counterparts. In this report, researchers assess the state and future of education and training for technicians who work in advanced manufacturing using robotics, with a special focus on the U.S. Midwest region and the adjoining state of Pennsylvania.

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