RAND Project Air Force

The RAND Project Air Force is a research initiative organized into four primary areas: Strategy & Doctrine, Force Modernization & Employment, Workforce Development & Health, and Resource Management. The program's goals are to conduct analytical research across a wide range of aerospace issues, addressing crosscutting organizational challenges as defined by the Department of the Air Force Steering Group. This group is led by senior Air Force and Space Operations officials. The research aims to inform decision-making on national security challenges, joint operations, and the development of military capabilities in air and space.

One of the key objectives is to provide insights into external threats and evolving security environments. This includes examining national and military strategies, operational concepts for joint missions, and investment strategies within changing defense allocations. The program also focuses on exploiting advanced technologies to enhance combat support effectiveness and efficiency while developing a comprehensive total force that includes Active, Reserve, National Guard, Civilian, and Contractor components.

The project emphasizes independence from organizational bias to offer unbiased perspectives to senior Air Force leaders. This approach ensures that insights are free from parochial influences that may not align with the broader interests of the Department of the Air Force. Additionally, the program's findings are widely disseminated within the Department of Defense (DoD) and made available through the Defense Technical Information Center for qualified individuals in both government and commercial sectors.

Future research under this initiative will continue to support the Department of the Air Force in adapting to global changes and emerging threats. It will focus on modernizing force structures within financial constraints, learning from recent conflicts, utilizing total force capabilities effectively, and enhancing aerospace support systems. The RAND Project Air Force's ongoing efforts aim to ensure that strategic decisions are well-informed by comprehensive research across various domains critical to national defense.