Debra Knopman

External Advisory Board Member

Dr. Debra Knopman is a principal researcher at the RAND Corporation and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Debra served as vice president and director of RAND Infrastructure, Safety, and Environment, later called Justice, Infrastructure, and Environment.  With expertise in hydrology, environmental and natural resources policy, systems analysis, and public administration, Debra’s project work spans a range of topics including adaptation of urban regions to a changing climate, long-term water management, capability-development planning for the Air Force, policy options for disposition of nuclear waste, and the design of a National Research Fund for Qatar. Debra’s past work includes serving as: a member of the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board; Director of the Progressive Policy Institute's Center for Innovation and the Environment; deputy assistant secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior; a research hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey; legislative assistant for energy and environmental issues to Senator Daniel P. Moynihan; and professional staff member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Debra earned her PhD in geography and environmental engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, her MS in civil engineering from MIT, and her BA in chemistry from Wellesley College. Debra served as a member of SESYNC’s External Advisory Board.

External Links:
https://www.rand.org/about/people/k/knopman_debra.html

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Photo of Debra Knopman
2018 - 2021
Areas of Expertise
energy policy
environmental policy
climate change
hydrology
public administration
Research Interests
urban adaptation and resilience to climate change
policy, funding, and financing innovations for infrastructure and adaptation
Methods of Expertise
robust decision-making methods
strategic planning