Paul DeLuca

Director, Navy and Marine Forces Program; Senior Engineer

Pittsburgh Office

Education

Ph.D. in engineering, Northwestern University; M.S. in engineering, Ohio State University; B.S. in physics, U.S. Naval Academy

One Page Bio

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Paul DeLuca is director of the Navy and Marine Forces Program, part of the RAND National Security Research Division, and a senior engineer at the RAND Corporation. He focuses on technology issues for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, SOCOM, U.S. Air Force, and Australian DoD. His recent research includes a series of analyses of alternatives for the Special Operations community and the U.S. Coast Guard. Other study topics include an analysis of methods to sustain nuclear submarine design skills in the United States, implementing open architecture systems within the AEGIS combat system, and exploring options for improved air-naval cooperation.

Prior to joining RAND, DeLuca worked as the director of engineering for Kopin Corp's optical device group. He has experience in crystal growth of nanometer scale electronic materials and holds several patents related to GaAs and GaN devices. As a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, DeLuca served five years in the submarine community.

DeLuca holds a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Northwestern University.

Research Focus

Commentary

Military Ships and Naval Vessels

Australian Naval Shipbuilding: First Things First
Australia will soon begin production of Attack-class submarines and Hunter-class frigates, ostensibly bringing more than $100 billion in new naval ship construction to domestic industry. While many in political and labour circles see this as a boon for Australian companies, actual domestic spending may be far less than imagined.
Jan 22, 2021
Australian Defense
Border and Port Security

A Changing Cuba May Create Risks for Maritime Border Security
A changing Cuba may contribute to less secure maritime borders for the United States. The U.S. should plan accordingly to stop mass movements of both drugs and people.
Nov 5, 2016
U.S. News and World Report
United States Navy

Egypt's Suez Canal: An Attenuated Lifeline
The U.S. Navy has enjoyed the luxury of being able to transit the Suez Canal without hindrance for decades. However, the risk of losing access — perhaps quickly and unexpectedly — should inform Navy strategic and operational planning.
Sep 14, 2016
The National Interest

Publications

Report
Supply Chain Interdependence and Geopolitical Vulnerability: The Case of Taiwan and High-End Semiconductors
The authors conducted a tabletop exercise to assess the geopolitical implications of Taiwan's semiconductor dominance and the vulnerabilities of the semiconductor supply chain using two scenarios in which China attempted to unify with Taiwan.
Mar 13, 2023
Report
Implications of a Coercive Quarantine of Taiwan by the People's Republic of China
The authors examine how China might enact a quarantine of Taiwan, potential U.S. and allied responses to the crisis, and implications related to economic interdependencies and supply chain challenges.
May 23, 2022
Report
Establishing a Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise for Australia: International and Domestic Lessons Learned
The authors describe the relevance of five international case studies in relation to Australia's creation of a Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise, identified as a key priority by the government in its 2020 Defence Strategic Update.
Mar 21, 2022
Testimony
RAND's Insights on Australia's Naval Shipbuilding Capability
Testimony presented before the Economics References Committee of the Australian Senate on November 13, 2020.
Nov 12, 2020
Report
Extending Russia: Competing from Advantageous Ground
As the U.S. National Defense Strategy recognizes the United States is currently locked in a great-power competition with Russia. This report analyzes how the United States can compete to its own advantage and capitalize on Russia's weaknesses.
Apr 24, 2019
Research Brief
Overextending and Unbalancing Russia: Assessing the Impact of Cost-Imposing Options
This brief summarizes a report that comprehensively examines non-violent, cost-imposing options that could be pursued to overextend and unbalance the Russian regime.
Apr 24, 2019
Report
Advancing Autonomous Systems: An Analysis of Current and Future Technology for Unmanned Maritime Vehicles
In this report, RAND researchers explore current and potential military applications of autonomous systems, focusing especially on unmanned undersea vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles.
Jan 4, 2019
Report
Improvements to Air Force Strategic Basing Decisions
Examines the Air Force's basing decisionmaking process and assesses the quality of the underlying data.
Apr 15, 2016
Research Brief
Chinese Attacks on U.S. Air Bases in Asia: An Assessment of Relative Capabilities, 1996–2017
Discussion about China's military modernization has included little comparative analysis of Chinese and U.S. military capabilities. This brief focuses on improvements to China's ability to disrupt or degrade U.S. operations by attacking air bases.
Sep 14, 2015
Research Brief
Chinese Threats to U.S. Surface Ships: An Assessment of Relative Capabilities, 1996–2017
Discussion about China's military modernization has included little comparative analysis of Chinese and U.S. military capabilities. This brief focuses on improvements to China's ability to target U.S. surface ships, especially aircraft carriers.
Sep 14, 2015
Research Brief
Tallying the U.S.-China Military Scorecard: Relative Capabilities and the Evolving Balance of Power, 1996–2017
Discussion about China's military modernization has focused on new weapon systems, with little comparative analysis of Chinese and U.S. military forces and development. This brief summarizes a RAND Project AIR FORCE study that seeks to fill this gap.
Sep 14, 2015
Research Brief
U.S. and Chinese Air Superiority Capabilities: An Assessment of Relative Advantage, 1996–2017
Discussion about China's military modernization has included little comparative analysis of Chinese and U.S. military capabilities. This brief focuses on improvements to China's ability to contest U.S. air superiority in an Asian conflict.
Sep 14, 2015
Report
The U.S.-China Military Scorecard: Forces, Geography, and the Evolving Balance of Power, 1996–2017
A RAND study analyzed trends in the development of Chinese and U.S. military capabilities in two scenarios (centered on Taiwan and the Spratly Islands) and multiple types of operations from 1996 to 2017.
Sep 14, 2015
Report
U.S. Navy Employment Options for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)
Assesses in what ways and to what degree unmanned surface vehicles are suitable for supporting U.S. Navy missions and functions.
Nov 1, 2013
Report
Implications of an Air Force Budget Downturn on the Aircraft Industrial Base: An Exploratory Analysis
The U.S. Air Force is facing a number of challenges as a result of the current defense budget downturn. RAND examined the challenge of modernizing the Air Force's aircraft fleet while trying to sustain the industrial base with limited funding.
Nov 1, 2013
Report
Assessing Aegis Program Transition to an Open-Architecture Model
To reduce costs and take advantage of commercial technology, the U.S. Navy is pursuing open-architecture software and other improvements to its Aegis combat system. This report examines the potential benefits and challenges of this new approach.
May 3, 2013
Report
Lightening Body Armor: Arroyo Support to the Army Response to Section 125 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011
Summarizes a congressionally directed study of how the weight of the body armor worn by combat soldiers in Afghanistan can be reduced.
Mar 7, 2012
Report
Characterizing and Exploring the Implications of Maritime Irregular Warfare
An assessment of the maritime component of a series of historical and ongoing operations reveals that current notions of irregular warfare would benefit from increased recognition of potential maritime contributions to such campaigns.
Feb 20, 2012
Research Brief
Australia's Domestic Submarine Design Capabilities: Options for the Future Submarine
To design a new naval submarine domestically, Australia's industry and Government will need about 1,000 skilled draftsmen and engineers. Cultivating this workforce could take 15-20 years; partnering with foreign designers could expedite the process.
Dec 22, 2011
Report
Australia's Submarine Design Capabilities and Capacities: Challenges and Options for the Future Submarine
Assesses the domestic engineering and design skills that Australian industry and government will need to design a new submarine, identifies the skills they currently possess, and evaluates how best to fill any gaps between the two.
Dec 15, 2011
Report
Sustaining U.S. Nuclear Submarine Design Capabilities
Given a lack of demand for nuclear submarine design resources in the near future, workforce and workload management options are analyzed to suggest ways to constrain the cost, schedule, and risk involved in the design of the next submarine class.
May 1, 2007
Research Brief
Sustaining the Ability to Design Nuclear Submarines
This research brief summarizes an analysis of workforce and workload management options to suggest ways to constrain the cost, schedule, and risk involved in the design of the U.S. Navy's next nuclear submarine class.
Apr 25, 2007
Report
Sustaining U.S. Nuclear Submarine Design Capabilities: Executive Summary
Given a lack of demand for nuclear submarine design resources in the near future, workforce and workload management options are analyzed to suggest ways to constrain the cost, schedule, and risk involved in the design of the next submarine class.
Apr 18, 2007