Meet our Distinguished Master of Tech Policy Faculty
The RAND School is proud to feature an exceptional group of educators who bring unparalleled expertise and experience to our Master of Tech Policy program.
Our faculty are more than scholars—they are innovators and leaders who have influenced technology policy in meaningful ways across government, industry, and global organizations. With a deep understanding of both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of tech policy, they prepare students to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and its societal impacts.
Here, we highlight the remarkable individuals who inspire and equip our students to shape the future of technology policy.
Dr. Bhavya Lal
Professor of Policy Analysis
- Former Associate Administrator for Technology, Policy, and Strategy at NASA; Former Chief Technologist (Acting) at NASA; expert in space technology and policy analysis
- Course Taught:
- Space Economics; Space Policy
Dr. Carter Price
Senior Mathematician
- Former Co-Director, RAND Center for Scalable Computing and Analysis; expert in AI policy and extensive experience applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, and modeling to policy questions on economics, health, and security.
- Course Taught:
- AI: Topics in Machine Learning (Machine Learning and Data Science); AI: Topics in Machine Learning (Neural Networks)
Dr. William Marcellino
Senior Behavioral and Social Scientist
- Former U.S. Marine tank officer and enlisted rifleman; expert in AI applications, text analytics, and natural language processing (NLP), including the development of RAND-Lex.
- Course Taught:
- AI: Topics in Machine Learning (Text Analytics)
Dr. Elie Alhajjar
Senior Information Scientist
- Expert in AI/ML, quantum computing, and cybersecurity, with applied experience in Army acquisition, clean energy transition, cyber risk, and countering weapons of mass destruction.
- Courses Taught:
- Intro to Quantitative Analysis and Cyber Policy
Dr. Adeline Williams
Biological Scientist
- Former fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH); expert in biosecurity, infectious disease epidemiology, and emerging biotechnologies, with applied research on outbreak detection, AI-enabled biology, and vector-borne disease transmission.
- Course Taught:
- Biotechnology Policy
Dr. Mary Lee
Senior Mathematician
- Expert in emerging Internet of Bodies technologies and mathematical modeling and simulation, with applied experience in defense/aerospace and cyber policy; former Senior Systems Engineer at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems.
- Course Taught:
- Biotechnology Policy
Konstantin Pilz
Research Project Specialist
- Researcher in RAND's Technology and Security Policy Center; expert in AI policy, data centers, and AI supercomputers, with applied research on global AI infrastructure and export controls for national security.
- Course Taught:
- AI Policy
Dr. Todd A. Richmond
Director, M.Phil. Program
- Former leader of USC's Advanced Prototypes group and Mixed Reality Lab and research faculty at the School of Cinematic Arts; expert in emerging technologies, immersive learning, and unintended consequences of technology.
- Course Taught:
- Tech Policy Lab; Tech and Narrative Lab Residency
Dr. Elvira Loredo
Senior Operations Researcher
- Former Associate Director of RAND Arroyo Center's Forces and Logistics Program and an expert in supply chain management.
- Course Taught:
- Policy Implications of Supply Chain Challenges
Jair Aguirre
Senior Information Scientist
- Twenty years of experience with U.S. Intelligence Community and Department of Defense, including role as Lead Data Scientist at Booz Allen Hamilton; Senior Information Scientist.
- Course Taught:
- Cyber Policy
James Gimbi
Visiting Technical Expert, RAND Meselson Center
- Cyber incident response practitioner, directing crisis response for victims of criminal and nation-state cyberattacks.
- Course Taught:
- Cybersecurity
Dr. Benjamin Boudreaux
Policy Researcher
- Former Diplomat, State Department Cyber Policy office; focuses on the ethics of artificial intelligence, AI governance, and loss of control.
- Course Taught:
- Introduction to Technology Policy
