Michael G. Shanley

Senior Policy Researcher

Off Site Office

Education

Ph.D. in public policy analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School; M.A. in urban and regional planning, Cornell University; B.S. in industrial management, Purdue University

One Page Bio

Overview

Michael Shanley is a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation working on training, education and veteran employment issues. With regards to training and education, his recent research addresses distributed learning (DL), the cost of training, training effectiveness, and educational and training technologies. Other recent work includes issues of training evaluation in the area of largely intangible skills, such as "adaptability." With regards to veteran employment, his research addresses methods to document transitioning service members essential non-technical skills, like leadership and team building, that are relevant to civilian employment. A long-time RAND employee, Dr. Shanley received his Ph.D. in Policy Analysis from the RAND Graduate School.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Hardison, Chaitra M., Tracy C. Krueger, Michael G. Shanley, Anna Rosefsky Saavedra, Angela Clague, James C. Crowley, Jaclyn Martin, Jonathan P. Wong, and Paul S. Steinberg, What Veterans Bring to Civilian Workplaces: A Prototype Toolkit for Helping Private-Sector Employers Understand the Nontechnical Skills Developed in the Military, RAND Corporation (TL-160-1), 2017

Straus, Susan G., Michael G. Shanley, James C. Crowley, Douglas Yeung, Sarah H. Bana, and Kristin J. Leuschner, Developing Army Leaders: Lessons for Teaching Critical Thinking in Distributed, Resident, and Mixed-Delivery Venues, RAND Corporation (RR-321), 2014

Straus, Susan G., Michael G. Shanley, Maria C. Lytell, James C. Crowley, Sarah H. Bana, Megan Clifford, and Kristin J. Leuschner, Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills for Army Leaders Using Blended-Learning Methods, RAND Corporation (RR-172), 2013

Shanley, Michael G., James C. Crowley, Matthew W. Lewis, Susan G. Straus, Kristin J. Leuschner, and John Coombs, Making Improvements to The Army Distributed Learning Program, RAND Corporation (MG-1016), 2012

Straus, Susan G., Michael G. Shanley, Douglas Yeung, Jeff Rothenberg, Elizabeth D. Steiner, and Kristin J. Leuschner, New Tools and Metrics for Evaluating Army Distributed Learning, RAND Corporation (MG-1072), 2011

Publications

Report
Quantifying Potential Cost Avoidance Implications of Outcomes Reported in Behavioral and Social Science Research
This report summarizes and develops utility functions for a series of behavioral and social science studies to help senior leaders translate the research results into estimates of cost avoidance or other desired benefits.
Feb 22, 2023
Report
End-of-Pilot Assessment of the U.S. Army's Consolidated Recruiting Program
The Army conducted a pilot test of a program in which recruiters were authorized to recruit individuals into any of its three components. This analysis found that the program's effects were small and not statistically meaningful.
Jun 15, 2022
Research Brief
Evolving the Practice of Evaluating Research-Portfolios
Researchers appraised metrics that medical research entities use to evaluate research portfolios. The work can help organizations select, develop, and revise metrics for their portfolios. This brief summarizes the findings and recommendations.
Nov 12, 2019
Report
Research-Portfolio Performance Metrics: Rapid Review
Researchers reviewed metrics for evaluating research portfolios used by medical research organizations and appraised their characteristics. Organizations can use their results to help select, develop, and revise metrics for research portfolios.
Nov 12, 2019
Report
Prospective Outcome Assessment for Alternative Recruit Selection Policies
To help the Army select recruits more likely to complete their first term and avoid adverse outcomes, this report describes a tool that estimates how changes in a variety of recruit characteristics affect first-term outcomes and costs to the Army.
Jul 6, 2018
Tool
Essential Nontechnical Skills Service Members Gain During On-the-Job Experience: A Resource for Veterans and Transitioning Service Members
Provides information to help veterans and transitioning service members communicate to civilian employers about the nontechnical skills they have developed through military training and education programs and on-the-job experience.
Dec 4, 2017
Tool
Essential Nontechnical Skills Service Members Gain During On-the-Job Experience: A Resource for Leaders and Hiring Managers
This reference booklet provides information to help civilian employers understand the nontechnical skills that transitioning service members and veterans have developed through on-the-job experience in the military.
Dec 4, 2017
Report
Methodology for Translating Enlisted Veterans' Nontechnical Skills into Civilian Employers' Terms
Describes a methodology for describing the nontechnical skills developed through military training, education, and on-the-job experiences in ways that can help veterans explain to civilian employers the full value they bring to organizations.
Dec 4, 2017
Tool
What Veterans Bring to Civilian Workplaces: A Prototype Toolkit for Helping Veterans Communicate to Private-Sector Employers About the Nontechnical Skills Developed in the Military
Presents a prototype toolkit that describes the nontechnical skills developed through military training, education, and on-the-job experiences, to help veterans communicate about the value they can bring to civilian workplaces.
Dec 4, 2017
Tool
What Veterans Bring to Civilian Workplaces: A Prototype Toolkit for Helping Private-Sector Employers Understand the Nontechnical Skills Developed in the Military
Presents a prototype toolkit that describes the nontechnical skills developed through military training, education, and on-the-job experiences, to help civilian employers understand the full value veterans can bring to their organizations.
Dec 4, 2017
Report
Review of Army Total Force Policy Implementation
This report reviews the implementation of the Army's Total Force Policy. The Army has made progress in integrating the Regular Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve, but budget constraints have limited implementation.
Oct 24, 2017
Report
Helping Soldiers Leverage Army Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities in Civilian Jobs
Discusses the results of occupation surveys administered to soldiers in ten of the most populous Army military occupational specialties (MOSs) to develop improved crosswalks between military and civilian occupations.
Jan 23, 2017
Research Brief
Improving Employment Prospects for Soldiers Leaving the Regular Army
Discusses the results of a new approach to develop an improved crosswalk between Army military occupational specialties (MOSs) and civilian occupations, highlighting ten of the Army's most populous combat and noncombat MOSs.
Jan 23, 2017
Tool
Essential Skills Veterans Gain During Professional Military Training: A Resource for Veterans and Transitioning Service Members
This reference card helps veterans and military personnel translate the nontechnical skills they learned in the services into language that civilian employers can understand.
Apr 29, 2016
Tool
Essential Skills Veterans Gain During Professional Military Training: A Resource for Leaders and Hiring Managers
Reference card that identifies many of the potential skills that transitioning service members and veterans have learned in formal, in-residence professional military training programs.
Apr 29, 2016
Infographic
Translating Veterans' Training into Civilian Job Skills
Military forces are trained in both technical specialties and "soft" skills that are vital to success in the civilian sector. This infographic translates examples of soft skills taught in the military into essential civilian workforce competencies.
Oct 12, 2015
Research Brief
Evaluating Innovative Leader Development in the U.S. Army
This brief summarizes an assessment of an Army program to enhance adaptability in leaders and promote innovative solutions in training for and conducting unified land operations.
Nov 19, 2014
Report
Innovative Leader Development: Evaluation of the U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Adaptive Leader Program
This report presents the results of a systematic evaluation of the U.S. Army's Asymmetric Warfare Adaptive Leader Program.
Nov 19, 2014
Report
Changing the Army's Weapon Training Strategies to Meet Operational Requirements More Efficiently and Effectively
Outlines directions the Army could take to improve its weapon training strategies and how they are developed to better support operational requirements and unit readiness processes, capitalize on training technologies, and increase efficiency.
Jun 25, 2014
Report
Developing Army Leaders: Lessons for Teaching Critical Thinking in Distributed, Resident, and Mixed-Delivery Venues
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Common Core -- the first phase of the U.S. Army's system for developing critical thinking skills in its officer corps -- and the extent of differences among distributed, resident, and mixed-delivery course venues.
Mar 3, 2014
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
Report
Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills for Army Leaders Using Blended-Learning Methods
This report assesses the effectiveness of the Command and General Staff School's Advanced Operations Course for junior field-grade officers when taught in a blended distributed learning environment.
Jul 17, 2013
Report
Adapting the Army's Training and Leader Development Programs for Future Challenges
Examines the adequacy of overall Army Training and Leader Development (ALTD) management processes, identifies areas for improvement, and develops directions that the Army could take to improve its ATLD management process.
Jan 10, 2013
Report
Making Improvements to The Army Distributed Learning Program
Assesses the performance of The Army Distributed Learning Program (TADLP) and looks at ways to strengthen the Army's interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) program by improving both the quality of the product and the efficiency of the process.
Mar 28, 2012
Research Brief
Assessment of Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI) Courseware Can Enhance Army Training
Develops and tests an approach to program-level assessment of interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) courses that identifies strengths and deficiencies in technical, production quality, and pedagogical aspects of IMI courseware.
Nov 17, 2011
Report
New Tools and Metrics for Evaluating Army Distributed Learning
Develops and tests new tools and metrics to assess training and to document the impact of Army distributed learning courses at the program level.
May 9, 2011
Report
Improving the Army's Assessment of Interactive Multimedia Instruction Courseware
Develops and tests an approach to program-level assessment of interactive multimedia instruction (IMI) courses that identifies strengths and deficiencies in technical, production quality, and pedagogical aspects of IMI courseware.
Jul 7, 2009
Report
The Prospects for Increasing the Reuse of Digital Training Content
Critically examines current efforts to reuse digital training content as a strategy to reduce the cost of its development, and provides recommendations regarding how the reuse option might be further encouraged.
Mar 3, 2009
Report
Supporting Training Strategies for Brigade Combat Teams Using Future Combat Systems (FCS) Technologies
Helping the Army identify options to improve its future training strategy in the 2016 timeframe for Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) equipped with Future Combat Systems (FCS) technologies.
Jul 29, 2007
Report
Improving the Effectiveness of Distributed Learning: A Research and Policy Agenda
This paper reviews the state of research on DL and provides recommendations to the Army for a research agenda on DL, methodological strategies to improve DL research, and policies to support DL design, implementation, and evaluation.
Jul 6, 2006
Report
Transformation and The Army School System
Policies and options for The Army School System (TASS) to meet the Army's current and future training demands
Jun 14, 2005
Report
Past and Future: Insights for Reserve Component Use
Documents the background information, research, and analysis RAND was asked to provide in support of a comprehensive Department of Defense Review of the roles and missions of the Reserve Components.
Dec 13, 2004
Research Brief
Army Distance Learning Can Enhance Personnel Readiness
In the latest of a series of recent reports, RAND Arroyo Center researchers continued their analysis of the potential role for DL in tackling two issues that affect personnel readiness: personnel shortages and personnel instability.
2002
Report
Army Distance Learning and Personnel Readiness
Distance learning techniques can improve the efficiency of the Army's processes for educating its officers and NCOs.
2001
Report
Army Distance Learning: Potential for Reducing Shortages in Army Enlisted Occupations
This report examines ways in which distance learning can help the Army more quickly alleviate active component manpower shortages in under strength military occupations.
2001
Report
Enhancing Stability and Professional Development Using Distance Learning
This study looked at the potential effects of distance learning (DL) on the availability of soldiers and leaders to their assigned units, stability of assignments, and some aspects of institutional training costs.
2001
Research Brief
Rebuilding the Schoolhouse: Making Army Training More Efficient and Effective
Competition for scarce resources-both dollars and soldiers-has driven the Army to explore ways to reduce the costs and infrastructure needed to conduct military education and training.
2001
Report
Consolidating Active and Reserve Component Training Infrastructure
This report examines ways to consolidate training infrastructure and augment capabilities across components to gain efficiency and achieve economies of scale in conducting individual training of Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC) soldiers.
1999
Report
The Total Army School System: Recommendations for Future Policy
Summarizes the Arroyo Center's analysis of the Reserve Component (RC) school system and the prototype over two fiscal years (1995 and 1996) in the areas of training requirements and school production, training resources and costs, and training quality.
1999
Research Brief
Improving Performance and Efficiency in the Total Army School System
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance unit readiness while reducing infrastructure and costs, the U.S. Army has taken steps to consolidate its complex system of schools and training centers and to improve training standards.
1999
Research Brief
Improving Training Efficiency: Lessons from the Total Army School System
This research brief describes work documented in Resources, Costs, and Efficiency of Training in the Total Army School System (MR-844-A).
1999
Report
Resources, Costs, and Efficiency of Training in the Total Army School System
This report analyzes the resource use and efficiency of the Reserve Components' (RC's) new prototype school system established in the southeast section of the United States (Region C).
1997
Report
Assessing the Performance of the Army Reserve Components School System
Provides a baseline description of the RC training system and an outline of how the prototype may affect the range of problems described by the data.
1996
Report
Ensuring Personnel Readiness in the Army Reserve Components
This project examined the extent of cross-leveling during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the reasons for it and the likelihood of serious personnel shortfalls in future deployments.
1996
Report
Guard and Reserve Participation in the Air Mobility System: Roles and Constraints
This increase in demand has raised the question of whether and how the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard should be utilized for flying peacetime missions. Examines the historical role of the Reserve and the Guard within the mobility system.
1993
Report
Assessing the Structure and Mix of Future Active and Reserve Forces: Cost Estimation Methodology
This report, part of the congressionally mandated active/reserve assessment study, explains and illustrates the methods, assumptions, and data that RAND used to estimate the costs of alternative force mixes and structures for the Army and the Air Force.
1992
Report
Assessing the Structure and Mix of Future Active and Reserve Forces: Final Report to the Secretary of Defense
This study examines the structure and appropriate mix of active and reserve forces. It analyzes policy issues surrounding the Total Force (that is, active and reserve forces), to include history and effectiveness during the Persian Gulf War.
1992
Report
Guidelines for Planning the Cost Analysis of Active/Reserve Force Structure Change
Presents a set of guidelines for fully defining force structure changes and for planning the execution of cost analyses involving force structure change.
1992
Report
Active/Reserve Cost Methodology: Case Studies
During the programming and budgeting phases of the federal budgeting process, military analysts are sometimes asked to evaluate the cost consequences of changing the mix of active and reserve units in the total force.
1991
Report
Cost Element Handbook for Estimating Active and Reserve Costs
This report provides a reference handbook for cost analysts interested in estimating the various elements of costs associated with changes to the active and reserve force structure.
1990
Report
Estimating the Costs of Changes in the Active / Reserve Balance
The authors argue that the key to the usefulness of active/reserve force structure cost studies lies in a proper specification of the problem.
1990
Report
Posttrial Adjustments to Jury Awards
Motivated by national debate on the growth of jury awards, this report examines how jury awards change after trial. It considers not just tort actions, but all civil suits for money damages.
1987
Report
Punitive Damages: Empirical Findings
Based on cases that reached jury verdict in Cook County, Illinois, and San Francisco, California, from 1960 to 1984, this report presents analytically derived answers to questions surrounding the award of punitive damages.
1987
Report
Comparative Negligence and Jury Behavior
Examines the effect of the comparative negligence law with respect to the increase in awards to plaintiffs who take their case to trial.
1985
Report
Variation in Asbestos Litigation Compensation and Expenses
This report analyzes characteristics of individual claims that explain variation in compensation and expenses.
Jan 1, 1984
Report
Comparative Justice: Civil Jury Verdicts in San Francisco and Cook Counties, 1959-1980
In this report, the authors describe San Francisco jury trials and jury verdicts during the 20-year period from 1960 through 1979, and compare trends and patterns with those found in Cook County, Illinois.
1983
Report
Costs of Asbestos Litigation
This report examines the money spent to resolve asbestos-related injury lawsuits: who pays it, who receives it, and for what purposes.
Jan 1, 1983
Report
Monitoring the housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana : April-August 1975
Describes community events, activities, and attitudes in St. Joseph County, Indiana, that may affect HUD's experimental housing allowance program. The Note gives a statistical overview of program operations; summarizes important events affecting the ...
1981
Report
Monitoring the housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana : January-June 1976
Describes community events, activities, and attitudes that may affect the experimental housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana, or bear on research issues addressed by the Housing Assistance Supply Experiment (HASE). The Note first g...
1981
Report
Monitoring the housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana : July-September 1974
Describes community events, activities, and attitudes that may affect HUD's experimental housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana, or bear on research issues addressed by the Housing Assistance Supply Experiment (HASE). The Note firs...
1981
Report
Monitoring the housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana : September 1974-March 1975
A description of community events, activities, and attitudes that may affect HUD's experimental housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana, or bear on research issues addressed by the Housing Assistance Supply Experiment (HASE). The Not...
1981
Report
Monitoring the housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana : September-December 1975
Describes community events, activities, and attitudes that may affect the experimental housing allowance program in St. Joseph County, Indiana, or bear on research issues addressed by the Housing Assistance Supply Experiment (HASE). This Note gives...
1981
Report
Market intermediaries and indirect suppliers : reconnaissance and research design for site I
A reconnaissance of housing-related industries (residential mortgage lending, real estate brokerage, home repair and remodeling, property insurance, home improvement financing) in Brown County, Wisconsin, Site I of the Housing Assistance Supply Exper...
1980
Report
Market intermediaries and indirect suppliers : reconnaissance and research design for site II
A reconnaissance of housing-related industries (residential mortgage lending, real estate brokerage, home repair and remodeling, property insurance, home improvement financing) in St. Joseph County, Indiana, Site II of the Housing Assistance Supply E...
1980
Report
The role of market intermediaries in a housing allowance program
The role of market intermediaries in a housing allowance program
1980
Report
How low-income renters buy homes
Describes home purchases by 250 low-income renters in two sites (Brown County, Wisconsin, and St. Joseph County, Indiana) who became homeowners while enrolled in the experimental housing allowance program. Even with allowance payments, buyers' income...
1979