U.S. Homeland Security Operations Analysis Center ( ) Research Report

Key Chapter Title List

1. Disaster Management and Resilience Program
2. Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations Program
3. Management, Technology, and Capabilities Program
4. Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center Research and Analysis Core Areas
5. Interagency Coordination
6. RAND Corporation Overview
7. Interdisciplinary Matrix Approach to Research and Analysis
8. RAND's Core Values
9. Legacy of Innovation in Addressing Emerging Challenges
10. Communication and Outreach Support
11. RAND Fellowship Opportunities

Document Introduction

The Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) under RAND's Homeland Security Research Division, is dedicated to providing nonpartisan, independent, and objective analysis to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to support its policy development, decision-making processes, and exploration of alternatives. Simultaneously, the center also supports other federal, state, local, tribal, and public-private sector organizations that constitute the homeland security enterprise.

The report establishes three core research programs: the Disaster Management and Resilience Program, the Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations Program, and the Management, Technology, and Capabilities Program. Each program focuses on specific domains, leveraging professional analysis to assist relevant agencies in addressing disasters, threats, and risks, optimizing organizational structures and resource allocation, and enhancing the effectiveness of homeland security-related work.

Centered on the DHS mission and priorities, the research delineates nine functional areas for in-depth analysis, including Acquisition; Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; Innovation and Technology Acceleration; Homeland Security Threat and Opportunity Research; Personnel Policy and Management; Operations Research; Organizational Studies; Regulatory, Doctrine, and Policy Studies; and Research and Development (R&D). These areas comprehensively cover the critical aspects of homeland security work, providing a framework for systematically addressing related issues.

As a nonprofit institution, the RAND Corporation holds quality and objectivity as its core values. It possesses extensive expertise in policy research, operates four FFRDCs focused on U.S. homeland and national security, two international subsidiaries, multiple socioeconomic policy research departments, and runs the Pardee RAND Graduate School—the oldest and largest public policy Ph.D. program in the United States.

In terms of research methodology, RAND employs an interdisciplinary matrix approach, bringing together researchers with diverse work experiences, academic backgrounds, political ideologies, and demographic characteristics to form specialized project teams. This ensures the robustness, thoroughness, and inclusivity of research findings and recommendations. Concurrently, the corporation has established several interdisciplinary method centers that utilize innovative research approaches such as network analysis, causal inference, and simulation modeling to provide diverse solutions for complex policy problems.

The report also outlines RAND's communication and outreach support mechanisms. Through channels such as the Congressional Relations Office and the Media Relations Office, these mechanisms ensure that research findings effectively reach policymakers, other stakeholders, and the public, providing strong support for policy discussions and practices in the homeland security domain. Furthermore, RAND's fellowship programs offer opportunities for collaborative research to U.S. Coast Guard officers and DHS analysts, further integrating practical experience with academic research to enhance the practicality and relevance of homeland security studies.