RAND Homeland Security Research Division

The RAND Homeland Security Research Division (HSRD) conducts research and analysis for the U.S. government; state, local, and tribal governments; and private foundations. HSRD operates the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), an FFRDC operated by RAND under contract with the Department of Homeland Security.

Multidisciplinary research to improve the security, safety, and resilience of communities

AI and Machine Learning

The explosive growth of AI tools—machine learning systems, generative large language models, and, someday, general artificial intelligence—expose a new frontier of threats and opportunities for the United States.

Disaster Management

As the United States faces larger disasters more frequently, understanding the best ways to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of disasters will become increasingly important.

The U.S. Coast Guard's evolving challenges

As a law enforcement agency, a member of the Intelligence Community, and a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Coast Guard must contend with a wide variety of threats and challenges in its operations.

Arctic Policy

Arctic nations, including the United States, need to protect their Arctic populations and interests while securing their sovereignty.

Immigration and Border Policy

Few issues are as polarizing as U.S. immigration and border policies. As contentious as the debate is, nonpartisan and evidence-based studies to inform the related pressing policy decisions are in short supply.

Recent Sponsors

Sponsors of RAND Homeland Security Research Division projects include:

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
DHS Office of Chief Readiness Support Officer
DHS Office of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction
DHS Office of Policy
DHS Office of Program Accountability and Risk Management
DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal Protective Service
FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI)
Office of Homeland Security Statistics
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
U. S. Coast Guard (USCG)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
U.S. Secret Service

Featured Research

See More research and commentary

Recent Projects

Project

Emerging Technology and Risk Analysis
RAND researchers working in the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center examined the effects of emerging technologies on U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) missions and capabilities.

Public Perceptions of Emerging Technologies
Public perceptions of emerging technologies, such as fifth-generation (5G) communication and Artificial Intelligence (AI), can significantly affect their uptake and adoption. Researchers applied a variety of methods to explore public sentiment about AI and 5G technologies.

Insights From Our Experts

HSRD operates the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). HSRD also conducts research and analysis for other federal, state, local, tribal, and public- and private-sector organizations that make up the homeland security enterprise. In addition, HSRD conducts research and analysis on homeland security matters for U.S. allies and private foundations.