Patricia A. Stapleton

Patricia A. Stapleton is a Professor of Policy Analysis at the RAND School of Public Policy, where she also serves as Director of the Infrastructure, Immigration, and Security Operations Program within the RAND Homeland Security Research Division. She is a Senior Political Scientist at RAND, focusing on science and technology policy, risk regulation, and critical infrastructure.

Her research expertise spans emerging technologies, biotechnology, environmental sustainability, food safety, supply chain security, and homeland security. Using qualitative methods and historical institutionalism, she examines how political and institutional contexts shape the regulation of emerging technologies, particularly in agriculture and healthcare, including CRISPR and human germline editing. Her work also addresses climate change impacts on critical infrastructure and public health.

Stapleton's recent research focuses on climate risk to National Critical Functions, 5G technology perceptions, quantum computing threats to industrial systems, and media coverage of gene editing. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary trend combining policy analysis, risk communication, and technological innovation, with increasing emphasis on climate adaptation and national resilience.

• Assessing climate risks to critical infrastructure
• Regulation and public perception of biotechnology
• Security implications of emerging technologies
• Science policy in crisis response
• Gender equity in science and technology workplaces

She has contributed to several toolkits and policy assessments, including the Climate Adaptation Strategies tool and the Mass Attacks Defense Toolkit, demonstrating her applied policy impact. Her research is supported by federal programs such as the Department of Homeland Security and informs national strategies on risk management and innovation.

Patricia Stapleton leads a multidisciplinary team within the Homeland Security Research Division, focusing on infrastructure resilience, technology adoption, and security operations. Her program integrates political science, risk analysis, and systems thinking to support national policy development.