Michael D. Rich is the president and CEO of the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organisation focused on improving policy and decision-making through research and analysis. With over 40 years of experience, he has guided RAND to become a key source of expertise in complex policymaking. His leadership aims to enhance the impact of RAND's work, ensuring decision-makers access innovative, evidence-based ideas. Rich has authored a report on "Truth Decay," which explores the decline of civil discourse and political paralysis linked to the reduced role of facts in American public life. In 2020, he led RAND's significant fundraising campaign, "Tomorrow Demands Today," which supports research on critical issues, including the COVID-19 crisis.
Rich began his career at RAND as a summer intern in 1975 and has since held various senior leadership roles. He was instrumental in establishing the RAND National Defense Research Institute and expanding RAND's international presence. He is also involved in teaching and advising graduate students at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and serves on the boards and advisory committees of several policy and service organisations. Rich holds a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles.
