RAND Project Air Force

Abstract

This program provides for continuing analytical research across a broad spectrum of aerospace issues and concerns. The Project AIR FORCE (PAF) research agenda is focused primarily on mid to long-term problems; in addition, PAF provides quick response assistance for senior Air Force officials on high priority, near term issues. Within these areas, PAF addresses difficult and complex, far-reaching and inter-related questions linked to future strategies, approaches and policies, in order to enhance Air Force senior leadership's deliberations and decisionmaking on major issues. The Air Force Steering Group, chaired by the Vice Chief of Staff, reviews, monitors, and approves PAF annual research efforts. Each project is initiated, processed, and approved IAW PAF Sponsoring Agreement which requires General Officer (or SES equivalent) sponsorship and involvement on a continuing basis. PAF is organized in four primary research program areas: strategy and doctrine; force modernization employment; manpower, personnel and training; and resource management. Integrative research projects are also conducted at the division level with direct support provided through the most applicable program. Research programs address organizational crosscutting issues as defined by specific research themes approved by the Air Force Steering Group. These research themes encompass a wide spectrum of topics including external challenges to national security; terrorism and homeland defense; joint and coalition operations; integrated roadmap for ISR capabilities; enhancing, tailoring and reducing infrastructure to meet new force requirements; potential changes to the Active/Reserve/National Guard/Civilian/Contractor manpower mix; and improved weapon system costing. The research program will continue to build upon research foundations, examining the evolving security environment, emerging threats, national and military strategy, transformation approaches including investment strategies to provide capabilities within changing Defense budgets, operational concepts to meet evolving and increasingly joint missions, exploiting advanced technologies, increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of combat support, and developing the total force (Active/Reserve/National Guard/Civilian/Contractor). These efforts will continue to inform and support the senior Air Force leadership regarding personnel management and training; improving logistical efficiencies and force sustainment; ongoing conflicts and joint operations; force structure capabilities, limitations, and operational concepts; and making force structure tradeoffs within resource constraints to meet future national security and Air Force needs. Future research will build upon earlier work to continue to help the Air Force to rapidly and appropriately adapt to the changing world environment and emerging threats; continue to modernize and employ its force structure to provide capabilities within changing DoD budgets; assess lessons learned from recent and ongoing conflicts; develop and utilize its total force; and enhance the support of our aerospace forces, ranging from sustainment of the force structure to agile combat support. PAF research spans functional and organizational boundaries and is managed in a manner to facilitate independence and freedom from organizational bias thereby providing perspectives and insights to senior Air Force leaders free from parochial influences not necessarily in the best interest of the Air Force at large. Benefits of independent non-Department of Defense analysis of complex present day and emerging issues are shared beyond the immediacy of the Air Force. PAF study results are given wide dissemination within the DOD on a routine basis and are deposited with the Defense Technical Information Center available to a broad range of qualified government and commercial-sector individuals and activities. This program is in Budget Activity 6, RDT&E Management and Support because this budget activity includes research, development, and test and evaluation efforts and funds to sustain and/or modernize the operations required for general research, development, test and evaluation.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2014
Source ID
0605101F_6_3600_PB_2014
Change Summary Explanation
FY12 funding increase of $4.478M resulted from a BTR which supported additional RAND PAF study efforts and the FY12 Need for Fee. FY14 increases PE funding by $6.697M to a 90 STE level of effort which allows for sustainment of the RAND Project Air Force contract. Lower funding levels jeopardize the continuation of the four study areas under RAND Project Air Force: Strategy and Doctrine, Force Modernization and Employment, Manpower, Personnel and Training and Resource Management. Currently, the Air Force has noted a need to continue all four study areas.
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Budgets
  • Business Administration
  • Combat Support
  • Department Of Defense
  • Doctrine
  • Employment
  • Force Structure
  • Lessons Learned
  • Management Personnel
  • Manpower
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Resource Management
  • Security
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.

Technology Areas

  • Space

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