A nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions to public policy challenges, particularly in national security and international affairs. RAND engages in research and development (R&D) in several fields and industries. Since the 1950s, RAND research has helped inform United States policy decisions on a wide variety of issues, including the Cold War space race, the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, the U.S.–Soviet nuclear arms confrontation, the creation of the Great Society social welfare programs, and national health care. The organization includes centers such as the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, which was founded by Zalmay Khalilzad, who spent extensive periods at RAND as a senior political scientist (1989-1991) and as Director of the Strategy, Doctrine and Force Structure program for RAND's Project Air Force (1993-1999).