Rick Brennan

About Rick Brennan

Proven leader and project manager with high level experience developing workable options to address challenges confronting the national security, defense and foreign policy communities.

Experience

1. Senior Political Scientist

   RAND

   Jan 2001 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Career Army officer with high-level Department of Defense policy-making experience who has a research focus on issues relating defense strategy, the Middle East and Levant with a particular emphasis on Iraq and Iran, conflict resolution and war termination, and homeland defense. Starting in September 2006, Rick has served in successive positions in Iraq to include supporting the Joint IED Defeat Organization\'s (JIEDDO) efforts in Baghdad during the height of the surge; served as the RAND team leader for the Joint Interagency Task Force –Iraq (JIATF-I); Director of the MNF-I Checkmate Team providing weekly assessments to the Commanding General; and, most recently as the Senior Advisor to the USF-I J3. Conducted research and analysis on Special Forces operations in Iraq, Phase IV stability and support operations in Iraq, Iraqi reconstruction, and Iraqi politics. Led and participated in several other RAND studies related to homeland security, homeland defense, and military transformation. Currently leading a major study designed to develop strategic and policy lessons learned from the transition of military forces out of Iraq.

Education

• Phoenix Seminary

  ThM (Candidate) Master of Theology (Historical Theology)

• Brophy College Preparatory

  HS, General

  1968 — 1972

• UCLA

  Ph.D., International Relations / Comparative Politics

  1987 — 1989

• MIT Seminar XXI

  Fellow, National Security Policy Studies

  1993 — 1994

• Arizona State University

  B.S., Criminal Justice, summa cum laude

  1975 — 1979