RAND Project AIR FORCE Annual Report 2007 - RAND Corporation

Our skilledand dedicated peoplecontinue to beour most valuableresource. North Korea and Iran appear to be committed to the pursuit ofnuclear weapons; other nations may follow in their footsteps. In avery real sense, we could be witnessing the onset of a “second nuclearage,” in which weak and strong will interact in the constant presenceof nuclear weapons and with the ever-present threat that terroristscould come to possess these weapons. China’s dramatic rise as an economic power and a potential militaryrival continues unabated. Each year brings new evidence of gains inChina’s military power, highlighting concerns regarding how thisnew China might wield its power and influence. Russia remains very much a wild card; the Putin regime, which hasreaped sizable economic gains from high energy prices and a growingeconomy, has rolled back democratic reforms and has escalated diplomatictensions over a range of issues involving U.S. allies and partners.What remains in doubt is how these challenges might be connectedand how quickly some of them might mature. Experience has taught usthat threats can develop more quickly than we anticipate and that thepace of change can accelerate.Given the breadth of the problems and pace of change, rigorous, creativeanalysis will be needed to provide a sound basis for the manychoices the Air Force leadership will make in the years to come. But asthe problems change, so too must the methods and disciplines we bringto these problems. Just as in the past, we need to be able to anticipate thechallenges the Air Force will confront and recommend specific ways inwhich those challenges can be met. In doing so, we will be better positionedto help the Air Force develop effective strategies, cutting-edgetechnologies, efficient processes, and dynamic organizational constructsand support structures.At RAND, our skilled and dedicated people continue to be ourmost valuable resource. They represent a wide range of academic disciplinesand real-world experience and share a common desire to make adifference. They are as likely to be in the field, where the Air Force livesand operates, as they are at their desks or computers. They will addresscomplex, challenging problems and will pursue them until they havefound answers, sometimes uncomfortable answers.It is this collective breadth of experience, depth of individual expertise,and desire to tackle the toughest issues that makes PAF uniquelywell suited to helping the Air Force address its most difficult and importantproblems. At the same time, our long-standing partnerships with2 RAND Project AIR FORCE