Dr. Carl Rhodes has 25 years of experience delivering policy analysis and actionable recommendations for senior government and military leaders in both Australia and the United States. Carl has worked as a researcher, leader, and manager of policy analysis efforts and played an active role the following efforts. Carl is also a non-resident senior fellow at the National Institute for Deterrence Studies.
Defence technology and acquisition
- Using international and domestic experience and lessons to inform the founding of an Australian sovereign guided weapons enterprise.
- Understanding the broad impacts of potential Defence policies to protect sensitive technology in Australia.
- Employment and modernisation of U.S. Air Force unmanned aircraft systems.
- Improving U.S. Air Force and Joint capabilities for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance collection, exploitation and analysis.
Defence and national security strategy
- Developing and implementing a Royal Australian Navy robotics and autonomous systems strategy and campaign plan.
- Supporting the U.S. Air Force as part of deliberations associated with the U.S. 2018 Nuclear Posture Review.
- Predicting the impact of the emerging war on terror on U.S. Air Force transport and refuelling forces.
Military manpower and personnel issues
- Understanding and addressing stressors affecting U.S. Air Force personnel in the nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile community.
- Improving the racial and gender diversity of the U.S. Air Force
- Tracking and improving care of veterans with traumatic brain injuries and/or post-traumatic stress disorders.
Carl worked at RAND Corporation from 1997-2021 and held several management positions during his tenure. He became director of RAND Australia in 2018. In that role, he delivered high-quality analysis for senior leaders and substantially grew the capabilities of the Canberra office. Carl received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Caltech, where his thesis examined the modeling of nonlinear systems for process control.
