Jim Mitre Named Senior Vice President and Chief Research Officer at RAND
Jim Mitre, a national security and defense policy expert, has been named senior vice president and chief research officer at RAND, effective Monday, January 12.
In his new role, Mitre will lead RAND's U.S.-based research enterprise, set research priorities, and uphold the institution's standards for quality and independence. He will guide the development of mission-driven research, mentor the next generation of policy researchers, and help ensure that RAND remains a trusted source of objective analysis for decisionmakers in government and beyond.
Previously at RAND, Mitre served as vice president of RAND Global and Emerging Risks and as director of the International Security and Defense Policy Program in the National Security Research Division, where he led research addressing national security strategy, emerging technology, and global risk, and expanded RAND's engagement with senior policymakers across the U.S. government and allied partners.
"Jim brings a deep understanding of policymaking and the essential role objective analysis plays in informing government decisions," said RAND president and CEO Jason Matheny. "With his research credibility and experience working across government, Jim is well positioned to lead RAND's research enterprise and carry forward its tradition of excellence."
Before joining RAND, Mitre served for more than a decade in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Defense, including senior advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for data and artificial intelligence, principal director of the Office for Strategy and Force Development, and executive director of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, where he helped shape U.S. defense strategy and force planning during a period of significant strategic change.
Between government positions, Mitre served as chief strategy officer at Govini, a data analytics firm, advising national security leaders on the use of data to inform strategy and decisionmaking. Earlier in his career, he was a Presidential Management Fellow with assignments in Afghanistan and Kenya and co-founded the SITE Institute, a private counterterrorism research organization.
Mitre holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.B.A. from the University of Michigan Business School.
