2013 RAND Annual Report

C O R P O R A T I O N ANNUAL REPORT 2013 4 36 38 Research and Analysis 2013 by the Numbers News 42 44 46 Outreach Events Pardee RAND Graduate School 52 60 66 Investing in People and Ideas Advisory Boards Clients and Grantors NONPROFIT NONPARTISAN COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST RAND DEVELOPS SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC POLICY CHALLENGES TO HELP MAKE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD SAFER AND MORE SECURE, HEALTHIER and MORE PROSPEROUS. Message from the Chair and the President RAND tackles critical issues in security, health, education, sustainability, growth, and development—helping people and organizations throughout the world devise solutions to the most vital public policy matters. In 2013, with most of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act about to take full effect, RAND experts were at the forefront of some of the biggest questions, projecting the long-term benefits of Medicaid expansion and crafting plausible solutions to a projected shortage of physicians in the United States. When the U.S. Department of Defense faced budget cuts such as the ones mandated under sequestration, RAND experts were proposing alternative scenarios (and calculating projected savings) to accommodate such reductions—and presenting their recommendations to policymakers. In the Middle East, when the use of chemical weapons in Syria escalated a pervasive turmoil that has shown no signs of abating, RAND experts were evaluating the risks of using U.S. and allied airpower to intervene. And while U.S. lawmakers debated various measures intended to prevent military sexual assault, RAND was creating new ways to detect sexual misconduct and recommending how to improve survivors’ access to physical and psychological care. We are pleased to share with you these and many other highlights from the past year, each illustrating the ways RAND develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous. Thank you for your continuing interest and support. Karen Elliott House Michael D. Rich Chair, RAND Board of Trustees President and Chief Executive Officer Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have presented ongoing challenges for those who serve, as well as their families and support networks. In 2013, RAND was at the forefront of research on the needs of caregivers; the effects of deployments on marriages; and the physical, psychological, and financial ramifications of sexual assault in the military. Just as the nation’s longest period of “wartime has posed challenges for the military, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have created hardships Military Caregivers on the family members and others who provide care to the Spouses, family members, and others the signature wound of the Iraq and wounded warriors who care for U.S. military members after Afghanistan conflicts. These service once they return home. they return home from conflict often toil members and veterans often suffered long hours with little support, putting from multiple health conditions, such as RAND has estimated them at risk for physical, emotional, and musculoskeletal problems, hearing loss, the number of—and financial harm, according to a 2013 RAND respiratory problems, and post-traumatic burdens faced by— project commissioned by the Elizabeth stress disorder. This means that Dole Foundation. caregivers must often navigate multiple these caregivers systems of health care and benefit Researchers estimate that there are and identified ways providers on behalf of their loved ones. about 1 million men and women who are to better support providing care or have provided care for Many caregivers reported having them. military members or veterans who served insufficient time or energy to devote in Iraq or Afghanistan. Caregivers include to parenting and feared those spouses, children, and parents of military circumstances would have negative ” members and veterans. consequences for their children. As part of this project, caregivers shared This research is part of an ongoing, larger firsthand insights about the challenges body of RAND work that will provide a they face. Many of the wounded veterans more comprehensive understanding of cared for by project participants had the needs of military caregivers and the experienced a traumatic brain injury, gaps in services to support them. Terri Tanielian Senior Social Research Analyst RAND CORPOraTION AnnUAL REPORT 2013 5 Effects of Deployments on Military Marriages The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have risk of divorce among military couples, been hard on U.S. military marriages, and the risk of divorce was higher for with the risk of divorce rising directly hostile deployments than for nonhostile in relation to the length of time service deployments. members have been deployed to combat These and other findings about the effects zones, according to RAND findings of deployments on marriage shed light published in the Journal of Population on how departments and agencies might Economics. better tailor resources to the specific While researchers found that any needs of military families. deployment increases the risk of divorce among military members, the negative consequences were higher for those deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. The negative effects of deployment were also found to be largest among female military members, with women facing a greater chance of divorce than men. In addition, more cumulative months of deployment increased the 6 RAND CORPOraTION AnnUAL REPORT 2013 RAND IMPACT DETECTING MISCONDUCT After the conviction of 26 U.S. Air Force personnel for sexual misconduct, many questioned the Air Force’s ability to ensure the safety and well-being of its personnel, particularly its vulnerable junior enlisted population. The Commander of Air Education and Training Command requested assistance from RAND Project AIR FORCE, which responded Sexual Assault in the Military immediately with on-site expertise and advice. Over the next year, a larger RAND team worked closely with Air Force staff to design, test, and implement a set Awareness of sexual violence within the In addition, service members report of survey tools to more effectively monitor U.S. military has grown over the past concerns that they will appear weak the basic training environment and decade. In 2012 alone, almost 3,400 service to leadership and that seeking help help Air Force leaders detect incidents members—women and men—formally will harm their careers. Concerns of abuse, harassment, unprofessional reported that they had been victims of about the availability of mental health relationships, and sexual assault. Since a sexual assault. records to the chain of command may October 2013, the surveys have been be particularly problematic for victims, According to RAND researchers, service administered to each class of Air Force given that the perpetrator is within the members who have been sexually basic military trainees—thousands, so far. victim’s chain of command in about a assaulted and develop a mental health At RAND’s recommendation, respondents quarter of the cases. condition encounter multiple barriers are able to complete the online surveys when trying to access psychological health Beyond the indisputable physical without using any identifying access care, such as long wait times, shortages and mental devastation suffered by cards or personalized information. Such of well-qualified mental health service victims, RAND researchers found that a fully anonymous process has very providers, and a limited availability of care military sexual assaults have real rarely been used in a military setting and in rural regions. Active-duty personnel financial costs for individuals and for represents a significant breakthrough in are often unable to take time off during society, including medical and mental eliciting the candid feedback necessary standard work hours to seek care. And care, days missed from work, and other for revealing potential problems and worries about confidentiality may prevent tangible and intangible financial costs. facilitating intervention. Air Force leaders some from getting help. view these tools as a critical part of their strategy to detect and deter future misconduct in basic training. Moreover, the survey instruments and their rapid, innovative implementation are sparking wider interest within the U.S. Department of Defense. RAND CORPOraTION AnnUAL REPORT 2013 7 The Era of Austerity? What are the strategic and financial alternatives that military forces should weigh as they strive to uphold high levels of security while cutting hundreds of billions of dollars from defense budgets over the next decade? As decisionmakers confront the budgetary realities of fiscal austerity, RAND is helping them understand the risks and trade-offs. The defense cuts have been driven by the “need to reduce large budget deficits—not by a change in the nature of external threats. NATO and U.S. Strategies ” In 2013, the boiling points for defense • pooling and sharing resources budgets came after years of percolating • “leapfrogging” to new capabilities pressures that have spanned the by investing heavily in emerging Atlantic Ocean. In the United States and technologies throughout Europe, governments ran • forming ad hoc coalitions to conduct the risks of imposing deep cuts without missions beyond Europe’s borders F. Stephen Larrabee applying deep thought to what should Distinguished Chair in • encouraging Britain and France to be cut and why. According to

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