RAND was once a leading think tank, making pivotal contributions to U.S. foreign policy and scientific breakthroughs between 1945 and 1960. The corporation excelled through an interdisciplinary approach, attracting the best minds from various fields and nurturing an environment of excellence and intellectual freedom. However, as RAND diversified its funding sources and grew in size, it battled criticisms, experienced internal challenges, and shifted its focus towards more administrative tasks. The legendary era of RAND gradually diminished by the 1960s, with the arrival of the “Whiz Kids” in the Department of Defense heralding a new direction in U.S. governance, leading to a decline in RAND’s influence and creativity.
https://asteriskmag.com/issues/06/when-rand-made-magic-in-santa-monica