Li Ang Zhang

Li Ang Zhang is a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy and an Information Scientist at RAND, where he also serves as Codirector of the Center for Scalable Computing and Analysis. His work bridges artificial intelligence, machine learning, and national defense policy, with a focus on real-world implementation challenges and strategic applications.

His research expertise spans Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Modeling and Simulation, and Science and Technology Policy. He investigates AI’s role in defense contexts, including space domain awareness, adversarial robustness, mission planning, and human resource management. His work emphasizes the operational feasibility and limitations of AI systems in military settings.

The 15 most recent publications illustrate a consistent focus on applying AI and ML to U.S. Air Force and Space Force missions. Key themes include AI for sense-making, red-teaming large language models, predictive maintenance, and infrastructure resilience. These works reflect a strong policy-analytic approach grounded in technical modeling and data science.

While no formal awards are listed, his research is highly influential in defense and technology policy circles. His projects often involve collaboration with the Department of the Air Force and U.S. Space Force, suggesting significant grant funding and policy impact. He applies natural language processing, optimization, and machine learning to complex decision-making problems in defense and public health.

Li Ang Zhang advises no named students in the provided text. However, as a professor and codirector at RAND, he likely mentors junior researchers and contributes to training the next generation of policy analysts. His leadership in the Center for Scalable Computing and Analysis underscores his role in advancing computational methods for public policy challenges.