Bradley Martin

Director, RAND National Security Supply Chain Institute; Senior Policy Researcher

Washington Office

Education

Ph.D. in political science, University of Michigan; B.A. in political science, University of New Mexico

One Page Bio

Overview

Bradley Martin is the director of the RAND National Security Supply Chain Institute, and a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. Martin retired from the Navy as a surface warfare Captain after 30 years service, including four command tours.

In addition to his operational tours, he served on the staff of U.S. Forces Japan, the OPNAV staff as an operations analyst, and most recently as the Navy coordinator for participation in Joint Staff and OSD requirements and resources forums. His subspecialties included operations research, operational logistics, and strategic planning. Prior to joining the Navy, he achieved a doctorate in political science from the University of Michigan, while working as a research assistant for the Correlates of War Project.

Research Focus

Commentary

Military Logistics

So Many Questions, So Little Time for Pacific Logistics
The United States has been struggling to “pivot to the Pacific” for over a decade, and one of the major missing pieces is logistics. It is critical that the logistics underpinning a credible military deterrent be figured out now and not wait any longer.
Jun 23, 2023
Breaking Defense
Critical Infrastructure Protection

Ohio's Train Derailment—Not Spy Balloons—Is the Real National Security Threat
The slow degradation of infrastructure and disaster response is less a spectacle than an overflying balloon, but the train derailment and chemical spill in Ohio highlights just how bizarre such a focus on perceived external national security threats has become. The far greater threat may be from within.
Feb 20, 2023
Los Angeles Times
Logistics Management

Will Logistics Be Russia's Undoing in Ukraine?
Russia's experience in Ukraine one year in is an example of what happens when a nation tries to fight a war without fully considering the logistics and sustainment that go alongside such a fight. The consequences for failing to fully consider these concepts drove Russia into a prolonged conflict for which it was already ill-prepared a year ago, with increasingly dire consequences for its future.
Feb 10, 2023
The Hill
Military Ships and Naval Vessels

How Big of a Fleet? A Look at the U.S. Navy's Size and Readiness Needs
Congress is trying to nudge the Navy to expand the size of the fleet. But without comparable levels of funding for personnel, maintenance, technology upgrades, logistics and other support functions, a larger fleet could come at the cost of readiness.
Jan 11, 2023
Defense News
Military Logistics

The Problem of Intra-Theater Lift: Moving Things Around in the Pacific Area of Responsibility
The U.S. joint force's ability to move materiel and people across oceans and continents is unique among militaries. But there are challenges all along the supply chain, addressed by different agencies and military commands in a complicated set of processes, and a collective reluctance to assume responsibility for the mission.
Sep 6, 2022
The RAND Blog
Trade Barriers

Unblocking the Black Sea for Ukrainian Grain
As Russia has been blockading ports around Odesa, Ukrainian grain exports in May were more than 60 percent lower than a year ago. Global hunger has hit a new high while 22 million tons of grain in Ukraine could rot if not exported soon.
Jun 15, 2022
The Hill
Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Disruptions: The Risks and Consequences
With interdependence comes risk, and in the case of supply chains, these risks often are not fully appreciated. A systematic effort, cutting across agencies and public and private sectors, could be one way to ensure that vulnerabilities are understood and mitigated.
Nov 15, 2021
The RAND Blog
Supply Chain Management

Military and Defense-Related Supply Chains
After the Cold War, U.S. logistics planners moved away from a focus on effectiveness to a focus on efficiency in the sense that little is left idle for significant periods and that commodities are delivered at minimum cost. The ability of the system to support the joint force in the event of major conflict is at best untested and could be problematic.
Jun 22, 2021
The RAND Blog
Supply Chain Management

Supply Chains and National Security—the Lessons of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The many pandemic-related shortages that occurred in the United States and elsewhere provide a clear warning. Serious supply-chain vulnerabilities exist. We need to learn much more about this potential threat to national security.
May 11, 2021
The RAND Blog
Supply Chain Management

Supply Chains and National Security
Lessons from the pandemic will be sorted through for years. But one thing seems very clear: The United States is not ready in a policy or infrastructure or even physical-capacity sense to respond to major shocks to its supply chains.
Apr 12, 2021
The RAND Blog
Russia

Russia Is Eyeing the Mediterranean. The U.S. and NATO Must Be Prepared
Russia is seeking more access and freedom of movement in the Mediterranean region, and is bolstering its military footprint to achieve this objective. The United States and NATO could respond by developing a more robust southern strategy, with a reinforced air and naval presence, respectively.
Jun 30, 2020
Newsweek
Russia

No Russian Let-Up on Ukraine
Moscow's seizure of Crimea and war in eastern Ukraine have led the West to sanction Russians and expand aid to Ukraine, and NATO to shift land and air forces eastward. Expanded Russian coercion may draw more NATO naval power closer to Russia’s shores and lead to tougher sanctions.
Dec 7, 2018
Fox News Channel

Publications

Report
The Backbone of U.S. Joint Operations: Army Roles in the Indo-Pacific
The authors of this report seek to provide an engaging and structured illustrated narrative to more clearly describe the U.S. Army's role throughout the Indo-Pacific region in the present day and into 2035.
May 5, 2023
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
Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Outbreak: Preventing and Managing Future Pandemics
This collection of essays describes missteps made and lessons of critical importance learned during the global and U.S. response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with the goal of improving preparedness and preventing future pandemics.
Nov 1, 2022
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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
Readiness Implications of Coronavirus Infections on U.S. Navy Ships
COVID-19 drew attention to the fissures in the U.S. Navy's readiness to respond to major medical events. The authors look at the challenges posed by the pandemic and the Navy's response to examine broader implications for readiness in the Navy.
Sep 21, 2021
Report
Measuring Strategic Readiness: Identifying Metrics for Core Dimensions
The authors explore a more expansive approach to readiness assessments that goes beyond the narrow lens of operational readiness and considers a broader set of dimensions that could affect readiness outcomes.
Jun 14, 2021
Report
Naval Surface Fire Support: An Assessment of Requirements
The authors developed recommendations to improve existing formal requirements and technological solutions regarding naval surface fire support, a way for the U.S. Navy to provide the equivalent of artillery support for forces operating ashore.
Apr 16, 2020
Report
Approaches to Strategic Sealift Readiness
The authors examine the readiness of the strategic sealift fleet and its management. They determine that many factors can be improved to increase readiness and make recommendations toward that end.
Aug 8, 2019
Report
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 note results and implications for future force development.
Jun 27, 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
An Approach to Life-Cycle Management of Shipboard Equipment
The authors analyze trends in the life-cycle management of common shipboard equipment on U.S. Navy surface ships and recommend steps to improve the readiness of this equipment, increase its efficiency, and reduce sustainment costs.
Oct 1, 2018
Report
Future Aircraft Carrier Options
This report is an exploration of possible alternatives to potentially replace the U.S. Navy's legacy aircraft carrier force as it begins reaching expected service life. This is neither a formal analysis of alternatives nor detailed engineering study.
Oct 6, 2017
Report
A Strategic Assessment of the Future of U.S. Navy Ship Maintenance: Challenges and Opportunities
This report assesses possible supply and demand capabilities in the ship maintenance workload for the U.S. Navy and notes long-term challenges facing mitigation efforts.
Sep 18, 2017
Testimony
Amphibious Operations in Contested Environments: Insights from Analytic Work
Testimony presented before the House Armed Services Committee, Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces on May 18, 2017.
May 18, 2017
Tool
Navy Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution: A Reference Guide for Senior Leaders, Managers, and Action Officers
This tool documents key but enduring aspects of how the Navy implements the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process so that action officers and Navy leaders can successfully navigate and effectively contribute to the process.
Aug 22, 2016
Report
Assessment of Surface Ship Maintenance Requirements
This report by the National Defense Research Institute (NDRI) examines the impact of the U.S. government's fiscal challenges on the U.S. Navy's surface ship maintenance and operations requirements.
Dec 21, 2015
Report
Acquisition of Space Systems, Volume 7: Past Problems and Future Challenges
As Department of Defense plans for the next-generation space systems in an increasingly challenging fiscal and security environment, it is important to apply lessons learned from past space acquisition, which had experienced many difficulties.
Mar 30, 2015
Report
Assessment of Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) Training Activity
This report assesses whether the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization's programs and functions may be duplicative with those of the military Services, U.S. Special Operations Command, and other agencies.
Dec 11, 2013