Laura Werber

Senior Management Scientist; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School

Off Site Office

Education

Ph.D. in organizational behavior, Stanford University; B.S. in economics, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania

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

Laura Werber is a senior management scientist at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. She applies organizational theories and methods to a wide array of policy issues, including talent management, performance management, organizational design, veteran reintegration, and military families.

Her recently completed military projects include several related to defense civilian workforce management. She is currently leading projects about civilian employment of reserve and guard personnel, military child care program staffing, and veteran social connectedness. Her domestic research projects have focused on issues facing urban communities, such as law enforcement recruiting. Across policy areas, Werber is routinely tapped to assist program assessments and process improvement efforts involving issues such as structure, culture, and coordination.

Werber received her Ph.D. in organizational behavior from Stanford University and her B.S. in economics (cum laude) from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Research Focus

Commentary

Military Veterans

Amid an Epidemic of Loneliness, Nonprofits Are Helping Keep Veterans Connected
Many nonprofit organizations in the United States seek to support veterans and foster social connection. The connections and sense of community these programs are building can help to combat the loneliness epidemic that is affecting veterans and non-veterans alike.
Jun 5, 2023
The Hill
Veterans Health Care

Faith-Based Organizations as Force Multipliers
Faith-based organizations are an important community-based resource for veterans who are adjusting to civilian life. What current and potential roles can they play in reintegration?
Jun 2, 2015

Publications

Report
What Are Organizations Doing to Strengthen Veterans' Social Connections? An Examination of Program Operations and Evaluation Efforts
A national survey, interviews with veteran-serving organizations, and a first-of-its-kind program typology offer new insights into support for veteran social connectedness and how organizations evaluate their programs' effectiveness.
May 22, 2023
Report
Is the National Nuclear Enterprise Workforce Postured to Modernize the Triad? Insights and Options from a Quick-turn Assessment
This report presents the results of a quick-turn, 90-day assessment of the health of the national nuclear enterprise workforce, with a specific focus on federal personnel in the acquisition and the science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
Jun 13, 2022
Report
Assessing the Association Between Airmen Participation in Force Support Squadron Programs and Unit Cohesion: An Evaluation of the UNITE Initiative
The UNITE Initiative aims to promote readiness and resilience in the Air Force through events that focus on unit cohesion. The authors describe the results of their evaluation of UNITE and the program's association with unit cohesion.
May 20, 2022
Report
Assessing the Association Between Airmen Participation in Force Support Squadron Programs and Unit Cohesion: Executive Summary
This executive summary encapsulates the findings in Assessing the Association Between Airmen Participation in Force Support Squadron Programs and Unit Cohesion: An Evaluation of the UNITE Initiative (RR-A554-1) 2022.
May 20, 2022
Report
Performance Management and Assessment of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers: Lessons from Academic Literature and Practitioner Guidance
In this report, the authors discuss insights drawn from academic literature and practitioner guidance that are applicable to the effective oversight, management, and performance assessment of federally funded research and development centers.
Jan 31, 2022
Tool
A Guide to Evaluating Marine and Family Division Programs, Services, and Capabilities
The goal of this program evaluation toolkit is to help those responsible for implementing U.S. Marine Corps Marine and Family Division programs to determine whether those programs are effective and ultimately to guide efficient use of resources.
Sep 30, 2021
Tool
A Guide to Evaluating Marine and Family Division Programs, Services, and Capabilities: An Introduction to Program Evaluation
The U.S. Marine Corps' Marine and Family Program Division (MF) portfolio includes a variety of programs and services. This tool provides a brief introduction to program evaluation, the use of systematic processes to assess a program's effectiveness.
Sep 30, 2021
Report
Managing for Mission Assurance in the Face of Advanced Cyber Threats
This report offers a foundation for better managing, at the enterprise level in the Air Force, efforts to ensure resiliency of missions to adversarial cyber operations, including suggestions for the allocation of roles and responsibilities of tasks.
May 24, 2021
Report
Talent Management for U.S. Department of Defense Knowledge Workers: What Does RAND Corporation Research Tell Us?
A synthesis of results from RAND Corporation research on the U.S. Department of Defense's talent management of knowledge workers features areas for improvement and ways for the department to proactively approach talent management.
Apr 26, 2021
Report
An Assessment of Gaps in Business Acumen and Knowledge of Industry Within the Defense Acquisition Workforce: A Report Prepared for the U.S. Department of Defense in Compliance with Section 843(c) of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act
RAND researchers assessed gaps in business acumen and knowledge of industry present within the defense acquisition workforce. They identified apparent knowledge gaps, possible reasons for their existence, and potential approaches to closing them.
May 28, 2019
Report
Support for DoD Supervisors in Addressing Poor Employee Performance: A Holistic Approach
In this report, authors identify ways to address poor Department of Defense employee performance by developing, supporting, and professionalizing supervisors in conjunction with assessing and reporting key performance-related outcomes.
Sep 24, 2018
Report
Strategic Planning and the U.S. Air Force: Characteristics of Success
The U.S. Air Force has embarked on a new round of strategic planning under the auspices of its 2015 Strategic Master Plan. This report represents a general survey of the state of the art in strategy and planning.
Nov 10, 2017
Research Brief
The Role of Urban Congregations in Addressing HIV
In a series of collaborative studies, RAND researchers sought to better understand urban congregations' capacity for HIV prevention and care, specifically in the areas of stigma reduction and HIV testing. This research brief outlines their findings.
Apr 27, 2017
Report
2016 Assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project: Executive Summary
This executive summary presents the key findings of the fiscal year (FY) 2016 assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2011.
Feb 15, 2017
Report
2016 Assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project
This report accomplishes the fiscal year (FY) 2016 assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project mandated in the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2011.
Feb 14, 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
Report
Air Force Management of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund: Opportunities for Improvement
Using insights from interviews, legislation, and policy, this report develops a decision framework that will help the U.S. Air Force's Director of Acquisition Career Management improve management of the Defense Acquisition Workforce Development Fund.
Aug 23, 2016
Tool
Officer Accession Planning: A Manual for Estimating Air Force Officer Degree Requirements
This tool describes and provides implementation guidance for the process RAND Project AIR FORCE created to develop evidence-based degree requirements for officer accessions.
Aug 1, 2016
Journal Article
US Religious Congregations' Programming to Support Veterans: A Mixed Methods Study
We conducted a mixed methods study using nationally representative congregational survey data and in-depth interviews with congregational leaders about veterans' reintegration needs.
Nov 20, 2015
Report
Faith-Based Organizations and Veteran Reintegration: Enriching the Web of Support
Faith-based organizations are an important resource for veterans as they readjust to civilian life. Interviews reveal how they address diverse areas of veteran health and well-being, and suggest ways to better integrate them into the web of support.
Jun 1, 2015
Report
An Assessment of Fiscal Year 2013 Beyond Yellow Ribbon Programs
RAND researchers conducted a formal review of 13 programs that received Beyond Yellow Ribbon appropriations in fiscal year 2013, helping to identify programs with strong records of success and develop a nationwide set of promising practices.
May 4, 2015
Journal Article
Facilitators and Barriers to HIV Activities in Religious Congregations: Perspectives of Clergy and Lay Leaders from a Diverse Urban Sample
This paper examines facilitators and barriers to HIV activities within religious congregations, the relative internal or external sources of these influences, and suggestive differences across congregational types.
Oct 1, 2014
Journal Article
Social Entrepreneurship in Religious Congregations' Efforts to Address Health Needs
Examines how religious congregations engage in social entrepreneurship as they strive to meet health-related needs in their communities.
2014
Report
Assessment of the Air Force Materiel Command Reorganization: Report for Congress
Assesses the FY 2012 reorganization of the Air Force Material Command, which was undertaken as one of the initiatives to achieve mandated budget reductions by eliminating civilian manpower positions, thus achieving cost savings.
Nov 21, 2013
Research Brief
Reintegration After Deployment: Supporting Citizen Warriors and Their Families
A RAND study of the challenges that reserve component service members and their families face after deployment and the factors that contribute to successful reintegration led to a series of recommendations for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Sep 17, 2013
Report
Support for the 21st-Century Reserve Force: Insights to Facilitate Successful Reintegration for Citizen Warriors and Their Families
This RAND study examined the challenges that reserve component service members and their families face after deployment and identified the factors and support resources that may contribute to their successful reintegration.
Aug 28, 2013
Report
Charting the Course for a New Air Force Inspection System: Executive Summary
An executive summary of a study conducted to assist the effort led by the Inspector General of the Air Force to improve the Air Force inspection system's efficiency and oversight.
Jul 1, 2013
Report
Charting the Course for a New Air Force Inspection System
Presents primary data collected to assist the effort led by the Inspector General of the Air Force to improve the Air Force inspection system's efficiency and oversight.
Jul 1, 2013
Journal Article
Religious Congregations' Collaborations: With Whom Do They Work and What Resources Do They Share in Addressing HIV and Other Health Issues?
This study explores how religious congregations interact with other community organizations to address health and, in particular, HIV-related needs within their membership and/or local communities.
Dec 1, 2012
Report
An Assessment of the Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project
This is a legislatively mandated assessment of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo).
Oct 11, 2012
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 35, No. 1, Spring 2011
Stories discuss gays in the military, police recruitment, home health care, breast cancer, health insurance exchanges, alternative fuels, refinery taxes, alcohol prices, outer space debris, mental illness, diplomatic trends, and health care costs.
Apr 29, 2011
Report
Air Force Contingency Contracting: Reachback and Other Opportunities for Improvement
Examines
Mar 31, 2011
Journal Article
Religious Congregations' Involvement in HIV: A Case Study Approach
Congregations can address a variety of HIV-related needs but activities such as providing pastoral care for people with HIV, raising awareness, and promoting testing appear easier for them to undertake than activities aimed at harm reduction.
2011
Research Brief
Sexual Orientation and U.S. Personnel Policy Revisited
Summarizes results of a RAND Corporation study on sexual orientation and U.S. military policy requested by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Secretary of Defense in order to weigh repeal of the law known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
Dec 23, 2010
Report
Sexual Orientation and U.S. Military Personnel Policy: An Update of RAND's 1993 Study
Shares results of a study on sexual orientation and U.S. military policy, requested by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Secretary of Defense in order to weigh the repeal of the law known as ''Don't Ask, Don't Tell.''
Nov 18, 2010
Report
Today's Police and Sheriff Recruits: Insights from the Newest Members of America's Law Enforcement Community
Summarizes a 2008-2009 survey of recent police officer and sheriff's deputy recruits designed to aid the law enforcement community in refining its recruitment practices and improving recruitment results.
Oct 6, 2010
Report
Bridging the Gap: Developing a Tool to Support Local Civilian and Military Disaster Preparedness
This report describes the current policy context for domestic all-hazards risk-informed capabilities-based planning by local military and civilian authorities and provides a framework for a local planning support tool for their use.
Apr 12, 2010
Journal Article
Learning About Urban Congregations and HIV/AIDS: Community-Based Foundations for Developing Congregational Health Interventions
A community based participatory approach is helping to define a role for urban congregations in preventing HIV/AIDS
2010
Report
A Compendium of Sexual Assault Research
Provides an overview of recent research on sexual assault and summarizes more than 450 individual studies of the topic.
Nov 20, 2009
Research Brief
How Can the Military Best Support Guard and Reserve Families During Deployment?
Describes the problems and positive aspects of deployment that have an impact on the retention intentions of reserve component families.
Mar 4, 2009
Report
Deployment Experiences of Guard and Reserve Families: Implications for Support and Retention
Presents the results of interviews with reserve component personnel and spouses, focusing on their deployment experiences and military career intentions, and suggests how the Department of Defense can better support guard and reserve families.
Dec 5, 2008
Report
Assessing the Assignment Policy for Army Women
Since current policies for assigning military women were issued, the Army has changed how it organizes and fights. Assessing the Assignment Policy for Army Women considers the appropriateness of these policies in light of recent operations in Iraq.
Apr 28, 2007
Research Brief
Working Around the Military: Challenges of Military Spouse Employment
This research brief describes work documented in Working Around the Military: Challenges to Military Spouse Employment and Education (MG-196-OSD).
Nov 25, 2005
Report
The Role of Deployments in Competency Development: Experience from Prince Sultan Air Base and Eskan Village in Saudi Arabia
Uses survey data to consider the utility of Prince Sultan Air Base /Eskan deployments as a setting for broadening the skills and competencies of Air Force staff
Dec 20, 2004
Report
Arts Education Partnerships: Lessons Learned from One School District’s Experience
Examines the range of arts programming partnerships in the Los Angeles Unified School District and provides feedback from principals, teachers, arts organizations, and district arts advisors on the challenges and obstacles in these partnerships.
Dec 17, 2004
Report
Working Around the Military: Challenges to Military Spouse Employment and Education
Looks at the factors of employment and education disparities between military and civilian spouses, and recommends associated areas of improvement for the military to better accommodate its families.
Oct 5, 2004
Research Brief
Do Air Force Personnel Broaden Their Skills During Deployments?
RAND Project AIR FORCE conducted a survey to identify the settings in which individuals learn occupational skills and universal competencies outside of their primary occupations, with an emphasis on deployments.
2004
Research Brief
Improving Arts Education Partnerships
This research brief describes work documented in Arts Education Partnerships: Lessons Learned from One School District's Experience (MG-222-EDU).
2004