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Military Command and Control

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To accomplish their missions, military leaders must be able to command and control the many activities of their forces. RAND has applied strategic analysis since its earliest work on game theory to develop scenarios and guide military and civilian decisionmakers on the most effective employment of command and control (C2) principles and technologies, and continues to do so with C4I (command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence).

Report
Unraveling Entanglement: Policy Implications of Using Non-Dedicated Systems for Nuclear Command and Control
Recent arguments have emphasized the increased risk of inadvertent escalation from integrating and comingling conventional and nuclear command and control (NC2) systems. In this report, the authors argue that these concerns are overstated. However, they also point out that certain risks associated with using non-dedicated systems for NC2 warrant more-focused attention.
Mar 9, 2023
Report
Leveraging Complexity in Great-Power Competition and Warfare: Volume I
The United States should aim to minimize the element of complexity for itself while maximizing it for its adversary in great-power competition and warfare. But what does complexity mean in an Air Force context? And how can it be used as a method of attack?
Aug 26, 2021

Explore Military Command and Control

Report
Advancing Combat Support to Sustain Agile Combat Employment Concepts: Integrating Global, Theater, and Unit Capabilities to Improve Support to a High-End Fight
This report presents a framework to assess necessary elements of the combat support enterprise — including base, theater, and global resources — for operating in a hybrid push-pull system as a means to mitigate uncertainty and adversary actions.
May 23, 2023
Report
Lead Forward: Mobility Air Force Command Nodes for Complex Operations
Motivated by the future threat to air force command and control networks and forces, the authors identify the demands of future conflicts and consider alternative options for the design of wing-level command and control elements.
May 15, 2023
Report
Assessment of Joint All Domain Command and Control Requirements and the Use of Live, Virtual, and Constructive Capabilities for Training
This report presents research findings addressing the use of live, virtual, and constructive simulation capabilities for continuation training at air operation centers in the U.S. Air Force, in support of Joint All Domain Command and Control.
Mar 2, 2023
Report
Universal Command and Control Language Early System Engineering: Performance Effects of a Universal Command and Control Standard
In a multiyear effort, RAND researchers analyzed the challenges of creating a universal command and control language to facilitate the evolution of systems and interoperability of systems-of-systems for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Feb 21, 2023
Journal Article
What Russia Got Wrong: Can Moscow Learn From Its Failures in Ukraine?
Russia's struggles in Ukraine cannot be explained only as endemic military problems. Is Russia capable of learning from its failures?
Feb 15, 2023
Report
What Is JADC2, and How Does It Relate to Training? An Air Force Perspective on Joint All Domain Command and Control
Given anticipated changes in warfare, Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) is a critical new concept that is still developing. For JADC2 to be effective, it must be clear across all echelons, and there must be consistent communication.
Jun 14, 2022
Report
Enhancing the Mission Command Training of Army Functional and Multifunctional Brigade Headquarters for Large-Scale Combat Operations
The authors examine the effectiveness of mission command training conducted by different types of functional and multifunctional brigade headquarters in preparation for large-scale combat operations.
Apr 26, 2022
Report
The Role of Standards in Fostering Capability Evolution: Does Design Matter? Insights from Interoperability Standards
This report presents the findings of a review of two military standards that have enabled significant interoperability and evolution in warfighting to better understand paths toward successful interface standard design in the military environment.
Mar 2, 2022
Report
Wing-Level Mission Assurance for a Cyber-Contested Environment
The authors offer ways to help wings assure their missions despite cyber attacks, focusing on how wings can maintain situational awareness, defend their systems, and respond to and recover from attacks to survive and operate when under cyber attack.
Dec 9, 2021
Tool
Command Narrative Smart Guide
This quick reference provides the big-picture basics for successful command narrative development and deployment.
Nov 15, 2021
Report
Developing, Disseminating, and Assessing Command Narrative: Anchoring Command Efforts on a Coherent Story
Drawing on the scientific literature and lessons learned from the joint force, the authors of this report describe best practices for the effective use of command narrative.
Nov 15, 2021
Report
Organizational and Cultural Causes of Army First-Term Attrition
The U.S. Army invests significant resources in new soldiers. When a soldier does not complete a full contract term, the Army views this as a net loss. This report assesses the organizational mechanisms that could be driving attrition.
Oct 5, 2021
Report
Army Theater Fires Command: Integration and Control of Very Long-Range Army Fires
The U.S. Army is developing a new generation of surface-to-surface fires with very long ranges. To help with integration, the Army proposed creating the Theater Fires Command, which will need to operate as part of a joint force.
Aug 30, 2021
Report
Leveraging Complexity in Great-Power Competition and Warfare: Volume II
The Air Force should apply a complexity lens through which to review ongoing and future efforts to best leverage complexity to U.S. decision advantage. The technical companion to an initial exploration includes a literature review and a user manual.
Aug 26, 2021
Report
Exploring the Feasibility and Utility of Machine Learning-Assisted Command and Control: Volume 2, Supporting Technical Analysis
This volume serves as the technical analysis to a report concerning the potential for artificial intelligence systems to assist in Air Force command and control (C2).
Jul 15, 2021
Report
Exploring the Feasibility and Utility of Machine Learning-Assisted Command and Control
Is there potential for artificial intelligence (AI) systems to assist in Air Force command and control (C2) from a technical perspective? An analytical framework assesses the suitability of a given AI system for a given C2 problem.
Jul 15, 2021
Journal Article
The Evolution of Special Operations as a Model for Information Forces
This article draws an analogy between special operations and information forces and suggests the history and evolution of SOF could serve as a model and provide lessons for the development of information forces.
Feb 19, 2021
Report
Command and Control in U.S. Naval Competition with China
The navies of the United States and China will likely face challenges as they shift to new missions unless they adapt their existing concepts of command and control. Their willingness to adapt could prove to be decisive in maritime rivalry, and perhaps in the overall balance of strategic competition between the two nations.
Dec 17, 2020

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RAND Topic:
Military Command and Control

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Robert S. Tripp

Senior Management Scientist

Robert S. Tripp is a senior management scientist at the RAND Corporation. He has more than 35 years of experience in the areas of military logistics systems design, development, management, and evaluation. At RAND, Tripp has led research projects for the Air Force, Army, Office of the Secretary…
Matthew Sargent

Codirector, RAND Center for Applied Network Analysis

Matthew Sargent is a management scientist at RAND, codirector of the Center for Applied Network Analysis, and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, where he teaches the core course in social network analysis. His research spans a variety of subject areas, often focusing on command and…

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