David A Shlapak

U.S. Interests in Central Asia

Policy Priorities and Military Roles

The republics of Central Asia became more important to United States when U.S. forces were deployed there in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Th...

Aptitude for Destruction, Volume 2

Case Studies of Organizational Learning in Five Terrorist Groups

Better ways are needed to understand how terrorist groups increase their effectiveness and become more dangerous. Learning is the link between what a ...

A Question of Balance

Political Context and Military Aspects of the China-Taiwan Dispute

Evaluates key aspects of the China-Taiwan military balance, including: how are the political dynamics of the cross-strait relationship changing, and h...

The U.S.-China Military Scorecard

Forces, Geography, and the Evolving Balance of Power, 1996–2017

A RAND study analyzed Chinese and U.S. military capabilities in two scenarios (Taiwan and the Spratly Islands) from 1996 to 2017, finding that trends ...

Reinforcing Deterrence on NATO's Eastern Flank

Wargaming the Defense of the Baltics

"Russia's recent aggression against Ukraine has disrupted nearly a generation of relative peace and stability between Moscow and its Western neighbors...

U.S.-China Relations After Resolution of Taiwan's Status

Although the question of Taiwan's status may not be resolved soon, considering various outcomes and their possible effects on U.S.-China relations is ...

The U.S. Army in Asia, 2030–2040

Looking to the 2030–2040 time frame, U.S. policy and military strategy will need to strike a balance among maintaining a cooperative relationship wi...

Shaping the Future Air Force

Examines how U.S national security strategy and the USAF might change to better confront new challenges presented by future major regional conflicts a...

Sample Campaign Plans and Staff Assessments for NATO's Southern Region

This Note is the product of an intensive six-month effort by the RAND Strategy Assessment Center in support of the National Defense University's (NDU)...

Dire Strait?

Military Aspects of the China-Taiwan Confrontation and Options for U.S. Policy

Among the hottest flashpoints in the world today, the Taiwan Strait cannot be ignored by U.S. policymakers and diplomats. China regularly rattles its ...

Dire Strait? Military Aspects of the China-Taiwan Confrontation and Options for U.S. Policy

Even a half century after the birth of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Taiwan Strait remains the locus of one of the most dangerous military...

Enhanced Army Airborne Forces

A New Joint Operational Capability

This report was written as part of a project entitled "Joint Operational Concepts for an Uncertain Future." The focus of the research became an effort...

Technology Innovation, Economic Growth, and Geopolitics Policy Options for South Korea

A Policy Game

This report describes key insights from an analytical policy game that explored policy choices for South Korea regarding its role in the global semico...

Perspectives on Theater Air Campaign Planning

This document reports on independent, exploratory research on air campaign planning and execution. Its purpose is threefold: (1) to provide observatio...

Back to First Principles: U.S. Strategic Forces in the Emerging Environment

For 40 years, U.S. defense planners had the luxury of confronting a geopolitical environment whose basic nature varied little. Now, however, the momen...

The Implications of the Possible End of the Arab-Israeli Conflict for Gulf Security

This report is intended to help the U.S. military--especially the U.S. Air Force--capitalize on changes in the Middle East security environment that m...

NATO's Amphibious Forces

Command and Control of a Multibrigade Alliance Task Force

RAND researchers facilitated three wargaming events to explore command and control of NATO's amphibious forces in major combat operations. The authors...

"Check Six Begins on the Ground"

Responding to the Evolving Ground Threat to U.S. Air Force Bases

Explores the possibility that future adversaries will use ground attacks on U.S. Air Force bases as a countermeasure to overwhelming U.S. air superior...

A Global Access Strategy for the U.S. Air Force

The post-Cold War era has ushered in an unprecedented need for U.S. services' responsiveness to fast-moving, rapidly evolving contingencies around the...

Adapting the RAND Strategy Assessment System to Force Assessment Studies in the Joint Staff

The Capabilities Assessment Division (CAD) of J-8 (Force Structure Resource and Assessment Directorate) in the Joint Staff has long been a participant...

Network Logistics Games

Design and Implementation

Logistics are often ignored or abstracted at a very high level during operational wargames. This report details a logistics game design that reflects ...

America's Strategy-Resource Mismatch

Addressing the Gaps Between U. S. National Strategy and Military Capacity

Significant gaps exist in the ability of the United States and its allies to deter or defeat aggression that could threaten national interests. For ex...