T I E R 3 The findings and recommendations directlylead to improvements policy and in decisionmaking.

reach key T I E R 2 results The and decisionmakers the broader public, quality the improving of policy discussions and deliberations.

- N O I T A R O P R O C T I E R 1 and The research address analysis issues at or near the of top the pol help agenda or icy agenda. that shape This Year in Review profiles inspiring examples of RAND of examples inspiring profiles Review in Year This and research 3 impact—our Tier achieving research not could We a difference. make to used being analysis the including RAND community, entire the without this do RAND of investments expertise and and commitment donors. and grantors, clients, our from Rich D. Michael A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT2020 AND CEO in Review Year reflecting by years 24 past the of each concluded have We those helped have analysis and RAND research how on acutely more stakes the felt we 2020, serve. In to strive we vital pandemic, effects a global of unprecedented the amid aspects all in equity and race of matters on reckonings to urgent: was mission Our decay. truth and society, of partisanship, intense transcend problems, right the tackle debates, policy inform that insight and evidence provide that decisions make to leaders and—ultimately—empower a apply we accomplishments, our identify To lives. improve from more requiring tier each with impact, for test three-tier one: previous the us than President and CEO

IMPACTRAND’S PANDEMIC RESEARCH IN REAL TIME The COVID-19 pandemic defined much of 2020, dramatically chang- ing how people live, work, socialize, and care for their families. As the scientific evidence accumulated and new questions arose, RAND responded quickly to disseminate objective research, action- able recommendations, and practical tools to decisionmakers and communities.

Protecting Critical National age of critical workers, or a surge in Functions in a Global demand that exceeds capacity. For Pandemic example, in the lead-up to the 2020 elections, the RAND team’s analysis As COVID-19 forecasted a shortage of poll work- began to spread ers, a potential vulnerability that across the would not have been detected as United States, early under previous protocols. The the National Risk National Risk Management Cen- Management ter had enough time to coordinate Center in the U.S. Department of with local officials and ensure that Homeland Security asked RAND polling places would be adequately to develop a system to actively staffed on Election Day. monitor the risk to all 55 critical national functions—those so vital The utility of RAND’s risk assess- that their disruption would pose a ment framework extends beyond grave threat to national security, the current pandemic. It was the economy, or public health and designed with the flexibility to high- safety. RAND quickly assembled a light vulnerabilities and risks to crit- team of more than 50 analysts to ical national functions from a range design a risk assessment frame- of crises, including natural disas- work and conduct the necessary ters, cyberattacks, and economic assessments. Within six weeks, the downturns. team had collected an expansive data set and populated a series of dashboards to provide decision- Preparing Hospitals for a makers with risk ratings at a glance. Surge in Cases

The team is continually enhanc- Just a few ing the dashboards and updates weeks after the them weekly to enable timely mon- first stay-at- itoring of such potential threats as home orders supply chain disruptions, a short- were issued in

RAND’S IMPACT | 2 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 the United States, an easy-to-use the Managed Emergency Surge to know how to prepare hospitals RAND tool went live to help hos- for Healthcare Coalition, a non- for a surge in patients, what state- pitals, health systems, and gov- profit public-private partnership wide guidance to issue, how to ernments prepare for a surge in that provides services and training respond to localized hot spots, and COVID-19 patients. Drawing on les- in preparedness and resilience to how to reopen safely. Building on sons learned from past outbreaks, the health care sector. Amid new insights from a RAND-developed publicly available data, input from surges in infections and hospitaliza- decision-support tool and other critical care physicians and pub- tions, an ability to rapidly estimate resources, researchers helped Vir- lic health experts, and decades of capacity under various scenarios ginia’s public health officials better RAND support to governments is helping to support critical care understand asymptomatic spread preparing for large-scale emergen- resource sharing, increase pre- of the virus, the risk posed by inter- cies, the tool estimates the number paredness across the health care state travel, and the implications of of patients a hospital could accom- sector, and save lives. various policy interventions, as well modate and shows how it could as anticipate demand for ventila- increase its critical care capacity. tors, intensive care beds, and other Modeling the Pandemic resources. Importantly, RAND’s The pandemic’s early days were to Support State-Level assessments clarified the limits of characterized by extreme uncer- Responses modeling when it comes to fore- tainty about whether the necessary As the pandemic casting the rate and spread of a resources—including staff, hospi- began, the Com- novel virus, as well as the effects of tal beds, and ventilators—were in monwealth of specific policy options. Communi- place to help communities meet the Virginia turned ties across Virginia continue to ben- need for critical care. The American to RAND to efit from RAND’s rigorous, real-time Hospital Association included the assess rapidly evaluation of multiple models and RAND tool in its list of pandemic evolving models of COVID-19 infec- their underlying data as policymak- models for health care providers. tion rates and spread to inform pol- ers prepared for the winter’s surge The tool has also been adopted by icy decisions. Policymakers needed in cases and hospitalizations.

RAND’S IMPACT | 3 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 SUPPORTING COMMUNITY HEALTH AND RESILIENCE With the pandemic dominating headlines and stoking public fears, public health experts grew increasingly concerned that people were postponing or forgoing routine and preventive care. Although the pandemic’s effect on deaths from other health conditions remains unclear, RAND research has already strengthened the public health foundations for a prospective return to normal daily life.

Collaborating with cation program for family members Policymakers to Prevent and caregivers of veterans with Veteran Suicides mental health disorders.

RAND’s Con- Established in 2019 with philan- gressional Fel- thropic support from RAND donors, lowship Pilot the Congressional Fellowship Pilot Program played Program enhances policymak- a significant role ers’ access to RAND’s nonparti- in shaping new san expertise as they prepare leg- evidence-based legislation aimed islation and gives researchers a at stemming the tide of veteran firsthand view of the policymaking suicide. The program enables a process. Lessons from the pro- RAND researcher to work along- gram’s first year are helping RAND side U.S. congressional committee researchers better address the staff to help improve understanding needs of legislators and their staffs. between policy research and poli- For many years, RAND researchers cymaking in real time. have worked on temporary assign- ment in the executive branch of the The RAND fellow drew on a portfo- U.S. federal government to facili- lio of prior RAND analysis to inform tate knowledge sharing and to help the Veterans Comprehensive Pre- meet strategic needs. The Con- vention, Access to Care, and Treat- gressional Fellowship Pilot Program ment (COMPACT) Act of 2020, builds on those efforts. which became law in December. The law establishes a program to deliver acute crisis care for emerg- Preventing Early Colorectal ing suicide risk symptoms, a pilot Cancer Deaths program to increase information sharing between the U.S. Depart- Research by a ment of Veterans Affairs and desig- team of health nated relatives and friends to better care experts, reach veterans in need of assis- including a tance and benefits, and a new edu- RAND biostat-

RAND’S IMPACT | 4 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 istician specializing in cancer pre- Congress—the American Cancer RAND researchers provided ODR vention, was critical to informing Society began advising those with with a clearer picture of how many new government recommendations an average-level risk of colorectal individuals in the Los Angeles to lower the age when colorectal cancer to begin routine screenings County jail mental health popula- cancer screenings should begin, a at age 45. tion were legally suitable and clin- change particularly important for ically eligible for such programs. Black Americans, who are at higher They found that around 61 percent risk of developing colorectal cancer Supporting the Mental were appropriate candidates for early and have lower survival rates. Health of Incarcerated diversion and an additional 7 per- Populations cent were potential candidates. The Thanks to routine screening, col- RAND research county has since opted to close orectal cancer deaths have been has helped a facility once slated to become declining, but the lifetime risk Los Ange- a “mental health jail,” and voters of developing the disease is still les County— approved a November ballot initia- more than 4 percent in the United with a popu- tive allocating resources to expand States. The prevailing recommen- lation of more this “care first” model of criminal dation has been that screening than 10 million—determine how to justice reform. should begin at age 50, yet around scale its community-based treat- 12 percent of people diagnosed ment programs to reduce incarcer- each year are younger, and their Bridging the Early Learning ation, with one official calling the risk continues to rise at an alarm- Gap for Low-Income Children effort “transformative.” Los Ange- ing rate. The researchers evalu- in the UK les County’s Office of Diversion and ated various screening regimens, Reentry (ODR) was created to bet- RAND Europe including beginning screening at a ter support the needs of the large research younger age. Taking the evidence and rapidly growing segment of prompted a sig- into account, the U.S. Preventive the Los Angeles County jail popu- nificant govern- Services Task Force, an indepen- lation with a serious mental illness, ment investment dent panel of physicians convened with the goal of connecting them in a program by the Agency for Healthcare Qual- with community-based services in to address disparities in early lan- ity and Research, issued a revised lieu of incarceration. This approach, guage learning, as well as the pro- recommendation to begin rou- known as diversion, can alleviate jail gram’s rollout to thousands of chil- tine screenings at age 45 instead overcrowding, reduce rates of recid- dren whose education has been of 50. Even before the task force ivism, and improve health outcomes disrupted by the COVID-19 pan- posted the recommendation for for those who are diverted from the demic. public comment—the final require- criminal justice system. ment before it can be submitted to

RAND’S IMPACT | 5 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 Researchers conducted an empir- Promoting Media Literacy resilient to . Whereas ical evaluation of the Nuffield Early previous studies defined and mea- RAND research- Language Intervention (NELI), a sured media literacy in different ers envisioned, small-group program designed ways, making it difficult to study the and then helped to improve language acquisition effects of increased media literacy realize, an inter- among four- and five-year-olds. and assess its utility in countering disciplinary Interventions that target spoken Truth Decay, the RAND team saw commission language skills in children’s early an opportunity to strengthen com- to develop a shared definition of years have the potential to nar- munication and collaboration and media literacy and a set of com- row the achievement gap between bridge a divide between educa- petencies by which to measure disadvantaged students and their tors and policymakers. This project resilience to disinformation and more-affluent peers. was made possible by philanthropic changes in media habits. Formed investments, which support innova- in response to RAND’s recommen- The study showed that NELI partic- tive ideas for solving intractable or dations, the National Media Liter- ipants made the equivalent of three underappreciated policy problems. acy Alliance has brought together a additional months of progress in RAND is continuing to support diverse group of educators, activ- language skills, on average, com- the alliance’s mission by develop- ists, and students to promote inter- pared with children who did not ing media literacy standards that it disciplinary strategies that are participate in the program. Citing could adopt. the findings, the UK Department improving media literacy and pre- for Education committed £9 million paring students to navigate the to expand the program to around increasingly complex information Guiding Health-Focused 5,000 primary schools as part of a ecosystem. Policymaking Across Sectors £1 billion COVID-19 response pack- The RAND team drew on evi- With a popula- age. The program’s rollout is prior- dence indicating that media liter- tion facing ele- itizing schools that serve high per- acy is a skill that can be taught and vated rates of centages of low-income students, that users, equipped with the right chronic health bringing critical support to chil- competencies, can change how problems, com- dren whose learning has been most they consume, create, and share pounded by affected by the pandemic. information—and become more an inefficient health care system

RAND’S IMPACT | 6 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 and a pandemic that has exacer- bated underlying inequities, Prince George’s County, Maryland, turned to RAND for support in implement- ing holistic policies that prioritize individual and community health.

Health in All Policies is a cross- sector policymaking approach addressing health care access and delivery, education, public safety, social services, residential over- crowding, mitigation of environ- mental toxins, access to healthy food, opportunities for physical activity, and more. RAND research- ers helped the county identify ways to determine the health return on investment in relevant policies and outlined detailed recommendations to guide planning and implemen- tation, break down funding silos, improve coordination, and increase transparency.

The county council unanimously approved a resolution to adopt Health in All Policies and has pur- sued the next step in the RAND study’s recommendations to align cross-sector spending in ways that promote health and health equity. The county is also working with partners to reform the health care system to better serve uninsured residents and Medicare recipi- ents. Other recent changes have included resolutions to phase in healthy meals on children’s menus at restaurants and provide tax incentives to bring grocery stores to underserved communities. The study continues to inform inte- grated budget and policy think- ing in Prince George’s County and holds potential lessons for other communities, particularly as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

RAND’S IMPACT | 7 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 STRENGTHENING NATIONAL SECURITY RAND’s contributions in the national security domain, enabled through decades of rigorous and objective research and trusted partnership with senior decisionmakers, run deep. Our researchers are both helping shape at high levels and develop- ing new ways to support members and their families in their daily lives.

Informing National Defense strategy to harness the potential Priorities of new technologies in support of national defense. Research from across RAND • Citing RAND research conducted was foundational over two decades, Congress to the House called for an independent study and Senate and an update on the status and Armed Services effectiveness of the Department Committees’ efforts to develop of Defense’s response to recom- several sections of the National mendations in a RAND report on Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal barriers to minority participation Year 2021. The influence of RAND’s in special operations forces. analysis was wide-ranging: • On the basis of findings and rec- • A RAND study to support the ommendations from a RAND launch of national security space study on gender differences in assets, such as high-value mil- personnel retention, the legisla- itary satellites, determined that tion directs the U.S. Coast Guard three space launch providers to report on efforts to increase would provide the lowest-risk the gender diversity of its force. solution, yet the U.S. Air Force is required to use only two provid- ers. This finding led to a require- Assessing U.S. Strategic ment for the Air Force to enter Sealift Readiness into agreements with three space RAND’s analysis launch providers. was foundational • Underscoring a RAND recom- to a decision mendation, the legislation directs by the Office the U.S. Department of Defense of the Secre- to increase the visibility of its tary of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, to reallocate the U.S. Navy’s sealift the focal point of an ambitious capabilities to improve its readi- ness to move large amounts of mil-

RAND’S IMPACT | 8 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 itary cargo across vast distances major sealift operation in a crisis. foundation of partnerships, acquisi- when needed to support operations To better meet the need for these tion and modernization plans, rapid and combatant command require- assets, the Office of the Secretary technology development, workforce ments. The Navy maintains a fleet of Defense opted to transfer Military and training enhancements, legal of 61 commercial-standard ships Sealift Command ships to the Mari- and ethical parameters, and ongo- known as the strategic sealift fleet, time Administration. ing assessments of opportunities which must be maintained to a cer- and challenges. tain level of readiness to respond when the need arises. Strategic Supporting the Australian RAND continues to support the sealift is overseen by two Navy Navy’s Strategic Innovation Navy in implementing the strategy, which includes establishing mile- organizations: Military Sealift Com- Innovation is stones and developing an action- mand and the Maritime Adminis- a key compo- able plan that supports the adop- tration. nent of Aus- tion of robotic, autonomous, and tralia’s recently A 2019 RAND study highlighted artificial intelligence systems across announced stra- multiple areas for improvement to the joint force. tegic realign- strategic sealift readiness—from ment of its armed forces. The Royal a need for investment in mainte- Australian Navy drew on RAND’s nance to a lack of clarity on the Realizing U.S. Light Attack expertise in developing a plan to fleet’s dual management. RAND Aircraft Capabilities leverage technological advances to researchers recommended a test ensure its readiness into the future. In February, U.S. of the fleet’s readiness and put Special Opera- forward suggestions to align it RAND Australia developed the ana- tions Command with the capability requirements it lytic underpinnings and assisted announced its needed to meet. When U.S. Trans- the Navy in crafting its Robotics, intention to portation Command conducted the Autonomous Systems and Artificial acquire 75 light recommended test of the sealift Intelligence Strategy, a framework attack planes, in line with RAND fleet’s readiness, the conclusions for effectively integrating these recommendations to establish ded- aligned with the RAND study’s emerging capabilities into maritime icated special operations units of findings. The command reported mission sets. The strategy offers these aircraft. Although special that only around 40 percent of the both a 20-year vision and imme- operators have long cited a need fleet would be fully prepared for a diate steps to establish a critical for light attack aircraft to support

RAND’S IMPACT | 9 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 small teams in isolated locations, frequent relocations can make valuable program.” The change procurement has been repeat- education and career advance- was subsequently included in the edly delayed by competing priori- ment difficult for military spouses. National Defense Authorization ties. RAND took a fresh look at the The spouses of U.S. service mem- Act for Fiscal Year 2020, along with issue, finding that light attack air- bers earn less, on average, than the other program enhancements. craft would be both strategically spouses of civilians and are more important and cost-effective. The likely to be unemployed or under- RAND is also helping the Army Office of the Secretary of Defense, employed. The U.S. Department increase opportunities and sup- citing RAND’s analysis, recom- of Defense created the My Career for spouses. In 2018, RAND mended shifting funding to Special Advancement Account (MyCAA) researchers surveyed 8,500 Army Operations Command to rapidly Scholarship to help military spouses to learn what challenges procure the aircraft. The National spouses pursue associate’s degrees they faced, the types of help they Defense Authorization Act for Fis- and certificates and licenses. In needed, their experiences in seek- cal Year 2020 echoed this decision, 2018, RAND researchers found that ing support, and how well avail- and the command is moving for- the scholarships were successful in able resources aligned with their ward with acquiring the aircraft. reaching military spouses and that needs. More than half of Army their employment and earnings out- spouses reported being stressed, comes improved. Recipients’ ser- overwhelmed, or tired, along with Connecting Military Spouses vice member spouses were also problems achieving work-life bal- with the Support They Need more likely to remain on active duty. ance. Feedback from the survey has helped the Army better tailor its A portfolio of At a House Appropriations Sub- career, education, relocation, and RAND research committee on Homeland Security mental health support resources, is helping con- hearing in February, Representa- and RAND is currently conducting nect military tive Joe Cunningham cited RAND’s a follow-up survey to measure the spouses with findings while advocating for an progress of these efforts. career and other expansion of MyCAA to include support. Military life places extraor- U.S. Coast Guard spouses so that dinary demands on families, and they “are able to benefit from this

RAND’S IMPACT | 10 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 A LOOK AHEAD TO IMPACT ON THE HORIZON Excellent research can often take years to achieve significant impact. Here are RAND projects and programs that we believe are poised for impact in 2021 and beyond.

Advancing Racial Equity in priority of its $400 million fundrais- Policymaking ing campaign, Tomorrow Demands Today. The center will usher in a Throughout its new phase of RAND research and history, RAND action that goes deeper into the has conducted policies that underlie systemic rac- research with a ism and what it will take to build focus on racial future systems and policies that inequity and advance racial equity. Sign up to eliminating disparities in housing, receive future newsletters on the education, health care, and the jus- center’s homepage on rand.org. tice system and within and across other sectors. Its research has also informed efforts by the U.S. military Exposing Disparities in the and government agencies to build Cost of Health Care more diverse and inclusive work- forces. But as calls for racial justice The pandemic grew across the country and the arrived at a time COVID-19 pandemic had dispro- of heated policy portionately negative impacts on debate on the communities of color, it became cost of health clear that RAND should contribute care, surprise more to dismantling systemic ineq- bills, prescription drug prices, and uity and structural racism. the future of protections for pre- existing conditions, including dia- In August, RAND launched the betes. The complexity and lack Center to Advance Racial Equity of transparency in medical bill- Policy to support a growing portfo- ing practices have long obscured lio of innovative, high-impact racial the cost burden on private insur- equity research and analysis; cre- ance. In 2017, RAND research- ate a clearinghouse to help coor- ers found that hospital rates billed dinate related efforts; and collab- to employer-sponsored insur- orate with other mission-driven ance in Indiana were an average of organizations. The new center is 358 percent higher than the rate a critical part of RAND’s ongoing charged to Medicare. That study commitment to advancing diver- has since expanded to include sity, equity, and inclusion and is a nearly half of community hospi-

RAND’S IMPACT | 11 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 tals in the United States and has in the cost of pharmaceutical drugs Insurance Act, introduced in the revealed similar cost differences. continue to be a focus of efforts to U.S. House of Representatives in The research provides a clearer bring down health care costs for May, proposes incentives for insur- idea of what to expect under a new U.S. consumers. ance companies to offer coverage U.S. Department of Health and for pandemic-related interruptions Human Services rule requiring and losses. The bill is modeled hospitals to share information Shaping a Pandemic Risk on the Terrorism Risk Insurance about their cash prices and negoti- Insurance Program Act (TRIA), passed in response to ated rates. The COVID-19 the September 11, 2001, terrorist pandemic has attacks. RAND researchers pro- A second RAND study exposed been costly for vided analysis and recommenda- similarly dramatic disparities: Insu- businesses, yet tions to shape TRIA legislation and lin prices are eight times higher in existing busi- its subsequent renewals. Policy- the United States than in 32 other ness insurance makers have again reached out to high-income countries combined. policies typically exclude pandemic RAND for support as they develop RAND’s study presents the most coverage. This gap has prompted similar protections for businesses comprehensive evidence to date on federal action to mitigate economic affected by future pandemics. how these pricing disparities can risk in the event of a future dis- add up over a lifetime. Differences ease outbreak. The Pandemic Risk

RAND’S IMPACT | 12 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 Countering the Deadly Bringing Wargaming to the Fentanyl Epidemic Classroom Policymakers In 2018, under took steps this high stakes and year toward pre- time constraints, venting a nation- U.S. National wide expansion Defense Strat- of the synthetic egy developers opioid epidemic by drafting bipar- needed to test a large set of candi- tisan legislation aimed at interna- date strategies. With its long history tional trafficking in synthetic opi- of wargame design, RAND was well oids. RAND researchers provided positioned to create a novel tool evidence and advised on the bill’s that could compress years of geo- language, having conducted the political change and military activity most comprehensive research to into a few hours. Whereas a typical date exploring the contours of this wargame focuses on a single complex public health emergency or set of scenarios, RAND offered and holistic policy approaches to the strategy’s developers a broad address it. The findings reveal just view of trade-offs among force how different the nation’s synthetic structure, posture, modernization, opioid crisis is from previous drug and readiness decisions in light problems; RAND researchers have of resource availability, adversary helped characterize the synthetic actions, and world events. opioid crisis as more akin to a mass poisoning than a traditional drug Later, RAND researchers saw the epidemic. Perhaps most problem- game’s potential to help intro- atically, fentanyl is inexpensive and duce students at colleges relatively easy to procure on the and other academic institutions to internet, primarily from poorly regu- defense policy—an idea that led to lated vendors in China. the creation of RAND’s first war- game oriented to nonspecialists. Additional RAND research recom- The team adapted the game to fit mending detection of emerging fen- into a box and be played without a tanyl hot spots in real time through RAND facilitator. The game’s name, wastewater monitoring was part of Hedgemony, is a play on the word a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill that hegemony and the need to hedge the U.S. House of Representatives against competing demands under passed over the summer. Forth- uncertain conditions. Demand has coming research calls for additional far exceeded RAND’s original pro- innovative policy responses to mit- jections, and the game is already igate fatal overdoses and to pilot reaching the next generation of new forms of treatment. Several of defense strategists. these projects were made possi- ble by philanthropic investments to support innovative ideas for solv- ing intractable or underappreciated policy problems.

RAND’S IMPACT | 13 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 Eliminating Gaps in Air Base major companies are pursuing to Defense advance 5G networks and develop- ing a road map that links U.S. policy The grow- levers and resources with near- and ing threat from long-term policy goals. The findings ballistic and and recommendations aim to sup- cruise mis- port policymakers in developing an siles to U.S. Air effective plan to reap the expected Force bases in technological and economic bene- Europe has prompted a reassess- fits of 5G while mitigating security ment of how roles and responsibili- vulnerabilities. ties for air base defense are allo- cated between the Air Force and the U.S. Army. RAND researchers Fostering the Organizational conducted a broad assessment of Development of the U.S. threats, defense options, and con- Space Force straints, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of several poten- In the year since tial courses of action. After being the National briefed on the findings, the Air Defense Autho- Force Chief of Staff called for an rization Act internal review of air base defense for Fiscal Year roles and missions, and the topic 2020 officially was a key priority at a fall 2020 established the U.S. Space Force meeting of senior Air Force lead- within the Department of the Air ers. The service appears poised to Force, RAND has been support- demonstrate its commitment to air ing the planning task force and base defense. U.S. Air Force and Space Force leadership on many aspects of the new service’s development. Next, Securing the 5G Future RAND researchers could shape its organizational structure. Space The next gener- Force leadership has tasked sev- ation of wireless eral “go-teams,” including one communica- from RAND, with developing the tion standards— headquarters, with an emphasis known as 5G— on interoperability, leanness, and promises to agility. RAND researchers are also transform industries and societ- assessing options for the appro- ies through expanded bandwidth priate component mix of active, and higher data-transfer speeds. reserve, and guard forces. When it But U.S. defense and security offi- comes to Space Force personnel, cials are concerned that the United the RAND team is exploring alter- States is falling behind as Chinese native hybrid career field structures companies dominate key parts of that would be organic to the Space the 5G supply chain, potentially Force, have viable career paths, posing a risk to U.S. national secu- and support the development of rity assets and intellectual prop- senior Space Force leaders. These erty. RAND researchers are con- initiatives have all been of interest ducting a sweeping study of the to Congress as it evaluates the ser- strategies that leading nations and vice’s funding.

RAND’S IMPACT | 14 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 Preparing the United States into RAND’s support for the devel- for Great Power Competition opment of a new joint warfight- ing concept, strategies to counter The 2018 homeland security threats, and National other high-profile projects. Defense Strat- egy cited long- term strate- Assessing the Implications gic competition of Climate Change for UK with Russia and China as its prin- cipal priority. RAND conducted a comprehensive assessment of RAND Europe the state of competition between researchers have the United States and China in the been support- Indo-Pacific, with a focus on key ing the UK Min- “I thank the entire RAND countries of interest. The study con- istry of Defence community for another cluded that, overall, China has more as it develops a strategy to enhance the military’s inspiring year. Taking economic influence and the United on the toughest prob- operational capability in chang- States has more diplomatic and lems, being transpar- ing climatic conditions and adopt military sway, but partners gener- ent about our methods, ally value economic development more-sustainable practices going and making RAND’s over security concerns. A second forward. The strategy is part of a findings widely avail- RAND team assessed asymmetric national effort to recover from the able are central to our policy options—those that impose COVID-19 pandemic while achiev- public service mission and our drive to help a higher cost on China than on the ing net-zero greenhouse gas emis- individuals, commu- United States—to help the United sions by 2050. RAND Europe’s nities, and nations be States compete economically, mil- analysis of the implications of cli- mate change for defense logistics is safer and more secure, itarily, and geopolitically with a ris- healthier and more informing a broad range of initia- ing China. The resulting menu of prosperous. In a year feasible and affordable approaches tives that will be announced in the that was disruptive like no is resilient to shifts in U.S. strat- coming months. For example, draw- other, RAND pivoted and egy and a range of potential Chi- ing on the research team’s recom- adapted in the face of nese responses. RAND’s findings mendations, the ministry is devel- uncertainty, yet remained steadfast in our commit- are already informing U.S. Air Force oping plans to offset emissions ment to quality, to objec- and Army leadership, and the mil- through environmental restoration, exploring alternative fuels for mil- tivity, and to making an itary capabilities of both Russia impact.” and China are also figuring heavily itary aircraft, and acquiring a new fleet of electric vehicles. MICHAEL D. RICH PRESIDENT AND CEO

RAND’S IMPACT | 15 | YEAR IN REVIEW 2020 Read the reports behind RAND’s impact—download for free.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from RAND www.rand.org/COVID-19

Approaches to Strategic Assessing Health and Human Los Angeles County Jails Sealift Readiness Services Needs to Support Could Divert More Individuals an Integrated Health in All to Community-Based Mental www.rand.org/t/RR3049 Policies Plan for Prince Health Services George’s County, Maryland www.rand.org/t/RB10111 www.rand.org/t/RRA647-1

Regional Responses to U.S.- The Department of Defense Today’s Army Spouse China Competition in the Indo- Posture for Artificial Survey: How Army Families Pacific: Study Overview and Intelligence: Assessment Address Life’s Challenges Conclusions and Recommendations www.rand.org/t/RR3224 www.rand.org/t/RR4412 www.rand.org/t/RR4229

RESEARCH BRIEF

Assessing the Impact of U.S. Understanding America’s Understanding Exploring Media Literacy America’s Surge in FENTANYL Surge in Fentanyl and and Other Education as a Tool for Air Force National Security SYNTHETIC Space Launch Acquisition Other Synthetic Opioids OPIOIDS Mitigating Truth Decay

ALTHOUGH OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM HEROIN AND PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS HAVE DECLINED, DEATHS INVOLVING SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS ARE ON THE RISE. MUCH OF THE CURRENT WAVE OF OVERDOSES IS Decisions: An Independent LINKED TO ONE SYNTHETIC OPIOID: FENTANYL. Analysis of the Global Heavy www.rand.org/t/RB10091 www.rand.org/t/RR3050

Lift Launch Market C O R P O R A T I O N www.rand.org/t/RR4251

Improving Gender Diversity An Early Evaluation of the A Separate Space: Creating in the U.S. Coast Guard: My Career Advancement a Military Service for Space Identifying Barriers to Account Scholarship for Female Retention Military Spouses www.rand.org/t/RR4263 www.rand.org/t/RR2770 www.rand.org/t/RR2093

Cover: MILANTE/Getty Images; p. 2, left-right: rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock, Bob London/Alamy Stock Photo; p. 3: Feydzhet Shabanov/Adobe Stock; p. 4, left-right: boy-SolStock/Getty Images, Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation, Kateryna_Kon/ Adobe Stock; p. 5, left-right, NADEZHDA/Adobe Stock; p. 6, left-right: terovesalainen/Adobe Stock, rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock; p. 8, left-right: Grady T. Fontana/U.S. Navy, Courtesy of Boeing; p. 9, left-right: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Markus Castaneda/U.S. Navy, Ethan D. Wagner/U.S. Air Force; p. 10: Sgt. Daphney Black/U.S. Army; p. 11, left-right: Hyejin Kang/Adobe Stock, Valerie Potapova/Adobe Stock; p. 12: simarik/Getty Images; p. 13, left-right: Tinnakorn Jorruang/ Getty Images, trans/Adobe Stock, Hedgemony box design by Rick Penn-Kraus/RAND Corporation; p. 14, top-bottom: Elen11/Getty Images, Staff Sgt. Valerie Halbert/U.S. Air Force, yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock; p. 15, top-bottom: SAC Dave Turnbull/MOD, flags-Sunny_Smile/Adobe Stock, Diane Baldwin/RAND Corporation.

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