RAND Appoints Jim Mitre as Senior Vice President and Chief Research Officer

For Release

ThursdayJanuary 8, 2026

Jim Mitre

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.