Advanced search Help
Resource Type or Special Collection is Theses & Research Reports
Publisher is Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
Catch-22: Relations Between Labor Unions and Management in Public Safety
From the Thesis Abstract: "In the United States, a small portion of firefighters are responsible for fire and emergency responses for a large segment of the population. Many of those firefighters are members of a labor union; in states that allow collective bargaining, the unions hold significant legal protections in regard to contract negotiations, job protection, and working conditions. The relationship between the firefighters' unions and the government entities that employ their members can bring about positive collaboration or costly, ongoing battles that negatively impact services. Those who oppose unions point to the associated costs and the considerable sway unions hold over elected officials. Union activists, however, point to the job protections and benefits that unions negotiate and the continued need for employees to have a collective voice. In places where public sector unions are allowed, labor and management must find a way to relate to each other in a manner that is fair and equitable to the union membership but that also ensures services provided to citizens are effective and efficient. This thesis concludes that collaboration and pursuit of shared interests benefit both labor and management, and acting outside of the legal frameworks of a unionized workforce is counterproductive and exacerbates the problem. Labor unrest drives costs through legal action and can reduce the level of service provided to taxpayers."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dudek, Matthew
2020-09
-
Gods Versus Titans: Ideological Indicators of Identitarian Violence
From the Thesis Abstract: "The identitarian movement is a complex socio-political worldview based on the notion that the European identity must be defended against the onslaught of globalism, replacement, and liberalism. In order to arm current and future identitarians with the courage and resolve they must have to fight this war, identitarian leadership has built a culture of violence founded on ancient heroes, epic battles, and wars between gods and Titans. In some cases, the culture of violence moves from the realm of allusion to the real world, where scores of innocents are murdered in churches, stores, and summer camps. This thesis applies the theory of sensemaking to identitarianism in a series of lenses through which adherents perceive, construct, and then react to the world. The identitarian culture of violence is found in the positioning of each lens, with violence ultimately becoming a lens unto itself. By studying and understanding the various lenses used by identitarians, U.S. law enforcement will be equipped to seek out and identify markers of identitarian violence and intercede before more lives are lost."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Adamczyk, Christopher J.
2020-09
-
How Can Architecture Make Communities and Urban Environments More Resilient to Disease?
From the Thesis Abstract: "The thesis outlines a series of risk factors that will increase the frequency and intensity of disease outbreaks in the years to come. As COVID-19 has shown, an outbreak can occur at any time. Architecture can be an agent to help reduce the risk. By creating spaces that prioritize health-giving attributes--through the circulation of airflow, spatial design, biophilic elements, natural light, and selection of the right building materials--architecture can be built for healing, and to support infection control. In the 19th century, cities like London and New York implemented housing reforms to improve the living conditions in tenements and other dwellings. Back then, the incorporation of light, nature, and airflow into a building's design was seen as a prescription for disease. In recent years, a growing body of research is confirming what the architects and planners from the past deduced from theory and intuition: that the built environment can promote health and well-being, and reduce the public's exposure to such respiratory infections as tuberculosis and COVID-19. Organizations like Mass Design Group and Archive Global have been applying lessons from the past to design spaces of the present with health-giving intent. This thesis examines their work, along with their core strategies. Ultimately, this thesis advances a prescriptive model to shape the built environment to make it healthier and more resilient, and to reimagine how spaces function and operate."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Garofalo, Jeffrey A.
2020-09
-
Defending American Democracy in the Post-Truth Age: A Roadmap to a Whole-Of-Society Approach
From the Thesis Abstract: "False narratives increasingly threaten U.S. democratic society and evolving adversaries and technology are making it more difficult for authorities and the public to differentiate between fact, opinion, and falsehoods. Despite experts proposing a variety of recommendations to mitigate this threat, the United States does not have a national-level strategy in place to combat deceptive messaging in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. The author analyzed over 170 recommendations for a U.S. strategy and found that many of them hinge on broad coordination between all U.S. stakeholders, which includes, but is not limited to, all levels of government, private sector, academia, media, and civil society. To identify how the United States can achieve the coordination needed to combat deceptive messaging, the author conducted a case study of the role of coordination in the European Union (EU) response to disinformation and an assessment of collective impact, a cross-sector coordination method used for complex social problems, for use in the United States. The conclusions of the case study and assessment endorse U.S. government practitioners to use collective impact and components of existing practices in the EU response to disinformation to build a coordinated national strategy to challenge those who wish to harm American democracy and U.S. interests via cyber-based deceptive messaging."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Mason, Katelyn M.
2020-09
-
Disasters, Finances, Nutrients, and Climate Change: A Case for Waterless Sanitation Systems
From the Thesis Abstract: "The practice of sewering (transporting with underground pipes) human excreta began in the mid-1800s and propelled the United States into the current wastewater paradigm. Water is the key element of wastewater conveyance, treatment, and disposal/reuse systems. Although this process has arguably improved quality of life, extending it to manage human excreta with water is becoming problematic due to water's increasing scarcity, mounting costs, contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and deleterious environmental effects. This thesis sought to answer the following central research question: To what extent would an alternative means of managing human excreta benefit homeland security? Through appreciative inquiry and structured interviews with human subjects, research revealed that a method known as container-based sanitation has applications in multiple contexts. Container-based sanitation is rapidly deployable, scalable, and can be used in any situation in which traditional wastewater systems are nonoperable or nonexistent, such as disaster recovery, homelessness, and temporary encampments such as refugee camps or military bases."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Smith, Ryan A.
2020-09
-
Key to Lawful Access: An Analysis of the Alternatives Offered in the Encryption Debate
From the Thesis Abstract: "This thesis examines the lawful access challenge that law enforcement and intelligence agencies face when seeking to obtain communications and mobile electronic devices that cannot be penetrated and that include strong encryption protocols. This encrypted data is inaccessible despite government agencies holding court-approved search warrants and wiretap orders authorizing access. Technology companies, cryptographers, and privacy advocates have argued for years that allowing such lawful access for government agencies will leave Americans' personal information vulnerable to cyber criminals and nation-state adversaries. These groups have offered alternatives to lawful access, which they argue can stand in lieu of the lawful access government agencies argue should be mandated. This thesis uses a policy options analysis to evaluate the viability of these alternatives to mandated lawful access. This thesis explores law enforcement and intelligence agencies' need for access to encrypted data through a review of incidents in which access proved fruitful and incidents in which lack of access was detrimental to public safety, homeland and national security, criminal investigations, etc. This thesis finds that the alternatives offered in place of lawful access are not adequate in ensuring government agencies are able to fulfill their law enforcement and intelligence missions."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Mack, William R.
2020-09
-
Trolls or Threats? Challenges of Alt-Right Extremism to Local Law Enforcement
From the Thesis Abstract: "The alt-right subculture is a relatively new component of online right-wing extremism. Because it is dissimilar from older white nationalist movements and has a perplexing style of communication, the media and public discourse incoherently and inconsistently frame the movement. Due to a lack of consistent background information on the movement, local law enforcement executives have found themselves underprepared for alt-right gatherings in their jurisdictions. This thesis provides agencies with guidance on the alt-right, including a discussion of existing theories of recruitment, self-recruitment, and the acerbic culture. The thesis also provides a comparative case study of mass casualty incidents perpetrated by individuals who openly espoused ideologies linked to the alt-right and movements with significant overlap, such as the manosphere. Finally, based on the theoretical and case study comparative analyses, this thesis concludes that although the movement's popularity is declining, the alt-right remains a threat to homeland security and the ideologies behind it are likely to subsist under another name."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bobin, Jonathan M.
2020-09
-
Perfect Storm: Climate-Induced Migration to the United States
From the Thesis Abstract: "From the Mariel boatlift in the 1980s to the recent mass migration of familial units from the Northern Triangle in 2019, the United States has consistently been unprepared to handle mass migration events. With the world approximately 1.0°C warmer than pre-industrial levels, climatic-driven migration events will now challenge the U.S. borders. This thesis explores how the United States might prepare to handle cross-border climate change-induced migration from a homeland security perspective. Using the research methodology of scenario planning, this study assesses the many ways the future might unfold by focusing on intersecting global megatrends and an array of global warming projections in the year 2050. As a result, this thesis finds that regardless of how the world chooses to combat global warming in the coming decades, migration will continue. If the United States is to prepare for such a future, regional agreements and national legislation will be necessary. In turn, if leveraged correctly, climate migrants can help the United States compete with future emerging economies. This thesis ultimately concludes that a proactive approach to cross-border climate change-induced migration might not only benefit climate migrants but also the future resiliency of United States well into the mid-century."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Wright, Katelin M.
2020-09
-
Modeling for Success: Strengthening Homeland Security Through Vocational-Based Offender Programming
From the Thesis Abstract: "Incarceration rates in the United States are among some of the highest in the world, and offenders' returning to confinement is an issue that needs reform. Correctional agencies need to identify programs to prepare offenders for a better chance at a successful reintegration into society. While many methods attempt to reduce recidivism, research shows that unemployed offenders are overwhelmingly more likely to return to prison than offenders who obtain stable, living-wage jobs with advancement opportunities. This thesis investigated vocational-based programs for offenders to identify best practices and potential gaps, as well as program components that support offender success through job skill training. The research methodology consisted of a literature review, qualitative analysis, and a local case study of the Michigan Department of Corrections' Vocational Village program. Because the research uncovered very little information and data for vocational-based training for offenders, this thesis attempted to fill that gap by constructing a conceptual model for vocational program development that starts with a mission statement and ends with continuous program improvement. Using the information contained within this thesis, agencies might construct a tailored model or framework for instituting a vocational-based program."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Travelbee, Brently C.
2020-09
-
Lone Actor Terrorists: The Performance of Hegemonic Masculinity Through Acts of Violence
From the Thesis Abstract: "As the United States faces the threat of lone actor terrorism, researchers have struggled to reach a consensus on how to profile these actors and fully understand causation and motivation. The media frequently report attackers' histories of gender-based violence; however, there is a lack of gendered analysis of lone actor terrorism. This thesis explores the role of gender-based violence and hegemonic masculinity in the radicalization and attacks carried out in the United States by post-9/11 lone actor terrorists. It finds that a majority of the attackers experienced stressors related to the performance of hegemonic masculinity, a culturally constructed set of norms that values dominance and accomplishment in terms of wealth, heterosexual romantic partners, and control. This thesis explores these stressors as identity threats in the context of social identity theory. In the absence of group dynamics, it connects referent informational influence to social identity theory concepts and radicalization models for lone actor terrorists. This thesis presents a thematic diagram that coalesces social identity theory with lone actor terrorism, radicalization, and studies of hegemonic masculinity. Furthermore, this thesis finds that collecting data on gender-based violence will be critical to understanding lone actor terrorism and violence prevention strategies."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Windisch, Beth
2020-09
-
Prepare to Fight: Is the National Active-Shooter Response Model Due for an Upgrade?
From the Thesis Abstract: "Documenting and analyzing the lessons learned from emergencies are essential to improve the training designed to save lives. The goal of this thesis was to examine actual active-shooter events, training models for the response to active shooters, and emergency drills to determine whether the current training model of Run, Hide, Fight is sufficient or needs revision. This study of historical emergency training examined human responses to frightening situations, analyzed past active-shooter events, evaluated the tactics and strategies of shooters, and measured the effectiveness of the current training. The study found that active-shooter training may be more effective if instructions highlight the importance of constant situational assessment with an emphasis on the fluidity of the incident. Response decisions should change as the event evolves and dictates an appropriate response. Moreover, the evolution of decisions made during the event may increase the survivability rate. The Run, Hide, Fight model is effective, but increasing the importance of constant situational awareness and adaptive decision-making within the training program is recommended. The delivery of active-shooter training should focus less on linear progression--first run, next hide, and then fight--and more on what the situation dictates to be the best response."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Tannenbaum, Suzanne E.
2020-09
-
Manchurian Responder? How Military and Federal Government Practices Can Help State and Local Public Safety Agencies Prevent Malicious Insider Attacks
From the thesis abstract: "A treacherous police officer or firefighter has the training, access, and expertise to cause numerous casualties among his or her colleagues and the public at large. In response to this threat, state and local public safety agencies may be greatly overestimating the ability of current pre-employment screening procedures to prevent radicalized individuals from infiltrating their ranks. Principally, psychological exams are insufficient to screen out terrorists because terrorists are ideologically, rather than psychopathically, motivated. Simply put, terrorists are sane, rational actors seeking to correct a grievance. However, this thesis reveals that the greater risk lies not with infiltrators, but with existing members of the agency who become radicalized. Consequently, this thesis focuses on how an agency should protect itself against this form of insider threat. Organizations should implement stricter and more in-depth screening of individuals seeking positions in police or fire departments, educate existing members on the signs of radicalization, and provide a clear reporting mechanism that culminates in appropriate investigative procedures and mitigation strategies to prevent a terrorist plot. To protect American lives, police and fire departments must consider the legitimate risk of a radicalized first responder developing within their ranks before a malicious plot materializes."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
McGovern, Ryan J.
2018-03
-
School Bus Security: A Case for Regulations to Improve Child Safety
From the thesis abstract: "Each day, millions of parents send their children to school on public school buses under the assumption of their safety. In the United States, school buses transport more passengers each day than all other modes of mass transit combined. The lack of minimum security standards governing the school bus transportation industry has created a deep security void in the homeland security enterprise. Given the threats that U.S. mass transit systems face, more must be done to ensure the safety and security of children during their daily commute on school buses. This thesis examines the security void through an analysis of critical infrastructure methodologies and security strategies deployed worldwide to secure other modes of transportation. These methodologies form the basis for recommending new federal transportation security regulations that cover the school bus industry. The implementation of these proposed regulations uses a multi-layered security approach to ensure security is enhanced at all levels of the school bus transportation system. Security regulations provide a baseline standard for the entire school bus industry that will help safeguard the most precious commodity, children." The CHDS Viewpoints in Homeland Defense and Security video link for this thesis is available at: https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=821242
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Whitehead, Ryan N.
2018-12
-
Correcting Blindness in the Nerve Center: How to Improve Situational Awareness
From the thesis abstract: "Even though success or failure depends on it, situational awareness in emergency operations centers is often poorly prioritized. These centers depend on situational awareness to manage information, coordinate resources, and support executive-level decision making. Having limited or poor situational awareness forces emergency responders to act without all the information needed to make good decisions, leading to poor coordination and ineffective response. In order to identify opportunities for improving situational awareness, this thesis used a qualitative case study approach to examine the level of importance situational awareness plays in the emergency operations center during disasters, and to identify both good and poor practices. Examining four case studies through an organizational-change analytic framework revealed that situational awareness is a system of interconnected elements that include task, structure, people, and technology. This thesis concludes that situational awareness in the emergency operations center can be improved by employing an emergency operations center situational awareness organizational model. Investments must be made in improving all elements of the organization. The research determined that the intelligence process is an ideal model for defining how situational awareness can be established, maintained, and shared."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Russas, Michael E., Sr.
2015-12
-
Consequences to National Security of Jurisdictional Gray Areas Between Emergency Management and Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "The September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on United States (U.S.) soil memorialized as 9/11 served as the catalyst for major reforms in the federal government. Twenty-two agencies combined to form the Department of Homeland Security with a mission of preventing homeland attacks and reducing U.S. vulnerability to terrorism. Accomplishing this amalgamation has led Federal Emergency Management Agency supported emergency management discipline principles and homeland security supported discipline principles to create jurisdictional gray areas (JGAs) with stakeholders on a path of division in preparedness, training, and command. Defining 'all-hazards' placed them at opposite ends of the spectrum. The purpose of this research is to determine the presence of JGAs, and define 'all-hazards.' Case study and qualitative methodologies are utilized to examine three cases for JGAs, a disaster, act of terrorism, and an act of workplace violence. The results revealed utilizing an incident command system on any of these incidents reduces JGAs, Presidential Policy Directive-8 (PPD-8) provides a holistic approach to disaster and terrorism, and an 'all-hazards' incident also requires a management component. The recommendations are: 1) further research in reducing U.S. vulnerability to terrorism, 2) support to sustain HS [Homeland Security] as a recognized discipline, and 3) research that identifies mentally unstable employees prior to acts of workplace violence."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Pearson, Edward M.
2014-09
-
Increasing Effectiveness and Efficiency Through Risk-based Deployments
From the thesis abstract: "Over the past several years, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun shifting away from a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to security and toward one predicated upon risk-based security principles. The TSA has also been called upon by the Government Accountability Office and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to make risk-based decisions regarding the allocation and deployment of its resources. This thesis established an initial strategic framework with which to evaluate possible options and applied this framework to explore three possible paths forward. The first path was maintaining the current approach to resource deployments. The second path was the collection and analysis of various data points in order to understand the risk environment. The third path was the use of Bayesian game-theory to model adversarial actions. With the framework applied, the use of Bayesian game-theory was identified as the most beneficial to TSA in comparison to the other two assessed options. Strategic recommendations are also provided based upon research into the experiences of other entities with risk-based deployment methodologies."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Cotten, Thomas Randolph, IV
2015-12
-
Building Team Belay
From the thesis abstract: "Disaster responders are exposed to continuous periods of intense stress, and as a consequence, some suffer mental or emotional adverse effects. In recognition of critical stress as a valid concern, many emergency service providers have attempted, organizationally, to provide their responders with access to traditional critical stress interventions. But when a catastrophic event occurs and mutual aid is invoked, disaster workers and volunteers will respond from diverse jurisdictions, frequently without immediate access to the psychosocial assistance provided by their home agencies. It is incumbent upon incident commanders to be accountable for the psychosocial well-being of the disaster responders, just as it is their duty to ensure the physical safety of the responders under their command. However, our uniform organizational structure for disaster response, the National Incident Management System (NIMS), does not speak directly to the mental/emotional well-being of disaster responders. This thesis proposes interpreting NIMS and its supporting training modules so as to require a component to address disaster responder psychosocial resources. It further suggests that by leveraging precepts of social identity theory and concepts of swift trust, emergency operational team leaders may prime multi-jurisdictional responders to informal exchanges, fostering peer social support, and enhancing responder resiliency to critical stress."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bernstein, Catherine P.
2014-09
-
Increasing Road Infrastructure Capacity Through the Use of Autonomous Vehicles
From the thesis abstract: "Roadway infrastructure is a critical component to U.S. homeland security. Overland transportation affects the national economy, emergency services, defense, and communication systems. This thesis illustrates the capacity increases to roadways enabled by autonomous vehicle technology. Public policy can enhance the adoption rate of autonomous vehicles to maximize the benefit of this emergent technology on the roadway system. A policy analysis provides a comparison of options and outlines regulations that will be needed to ensure the safe adoption of autonomous vehicle technology nationally."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Simko, Donald John
2016-12
-
Serious Games in FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center Training and Exercises [video] [Supplemental 3 of 7]
This video is the third of seven supplemental items to the thesis "Serious Games in FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center Training and Exercises" by Randy S. Brawley. "72-Hours, Game Play" is the title of this video supplement. The clip, which runs for 11:56, provides a brief description of the author's training game proposal for FEMA. Including roles and responsibilities of the players. The associated thesis can be found at the following link [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=788399].
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Brawley, Randy S.
2015-09
-
Serious Games in FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center Training and Exercises [video] [Supplemental 2 of 7]
This video is the second of seven supplemental items to the thesis "Serious Games in FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center Training and Exercises" by Randy S. Brawley. "72-Hours, Protoype Setup" is the title of this video supplement. The clip, which runs for 4:24, provides a brief description of the setup required for the author's training game proposal for FEMA. The associated thesis can be found at the following link [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=788399].
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Brawley, Randy S.
2015-09
-
Serious Games in FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center Training and Exercises [video] [Supplemental 1 of 7]
This video is one of seven supplemental items to the thesis "Serious Games in FEMA Regional Response Coordination Center Training and Exercises" by Randy S. Brawley. "72-Hours, The Game" is the title of this video supplement. The clip, which runs for 3:08, provides a brief overview description and introduction of the author's training game proposal for FEMA. The associated thesis can be found at the following link [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=788399].
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Brawley, Randy S.
2015-09
-
Regulatory Framework for Nanotechnology
From the thesis abstract: "Presently, the regulatory framework for nanotechnology consists of regulating entities addressing concerns about nanotechnology under existing rules and laws. This thesis answers this question: How can regulatory decisions of policymakers regarding the framework of nanotechnology regulation be informed by a map of the regulatory landscape of nanotechnology and a review of the regulatory frameworks for the aviation and biotechnology industries? To make recommendations about the appropriate regulatory framework for nanotechnology, this thesis reviews the existing regulatory frameworks of aviation and biotechnology and maps the regulatory landscape in the United States by examining stakeholders, regulatory entities, and applicable legislation. The landscape map and review of existing regulatory frameworks reveal that the established regulatory framework could be sufficient for the current state of nanotechnology if the limitations of technical expertise are addressed. This expertise can be provided by advisory committees of technical and industry experts to the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Ridge, Stephen J.
2018-03
-
Not Out of Control: Analysis of the Federal Disaster Spending Trend
From the thesis abstract: "The purpose of this study of 20-year trends in federal disaster spending was to determine whether and to what extent spending has been on the rise, and to examine contributing factors. A grounded theory analysis was conducted on 1,156 major declared disasters from fiscal years 1995 through 2014. Numerical data graphically illustrate budgeting, spending, and declaration trends, and policy and inertia influences are described. This study found an upward trend of federal disaster spending, yet one that is far from out of control. Research shows that 66% of major disaster funding was provided by emergency supplemental bills versus regularly budgeted appropriations. Half of all spending was on infrastructure, and hurricanes were the number one disaster type for federal spending. More severe storms were declared than all other disaster types combined, and the number of major disasters declared demonstrated an upward trend. The trend of rising spending and quantity of declarations was consistent with existing literature. Federal spending for fire, human services, post-disaster mitigation, and mission assignments demonstrated a downward trend as a proportion of the Disaster Relief Fund. Recommendations are provided to transform national thinking toward development of a national risk management approach to incentivize policymakers, homeowners, and local- and state-level funding recipients to better manage risk and improve stewardship of federal tax dollars."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Boccia, Suzanne
2016-03
-
Autonomous Vehicles: A Policy Roadmap for Law Enforcement
From the thesis abstract: "As of 2015, manufacturers and technology innovators are racing to perfect the autonomous vehicle for mainstream use. Advances in technology have proven that autonomous vehicles are no longer held back by engineering. Currently, there are hundreds being tested amongst us on California roadways with great results. The positive impacts autonomous vehicles strive to provide include increased safety, decreased traffic congestion, increased fuel efficiency, reduced pollution, decreased impaired driving, and mobility for those unable to drive. Like any innovative technology, autonomous vehicles face challenges, such as regulatory tribulations, layers of safety testing, political and legal scrutiny, and public apprehension. They will also present challenges and opportunities for law enforcement as they are tested and eventually become mainstream. This thesis provides an introduction to the key strategies the California Highway Patrol (CHP) should foster to support the safe introduction of autonomous vehicles while sustaining strategic relevance. Through scenario planning, the CHP can avoid long-term planning based on a single predicted outcome and identify commonalities in numerous scenarios and plan accordingly. Policy recommendations include collaboration with stakeholders, an increase in the presence in cyber investigations, an increase of high-tech workforce, expansion of high-tech collision investigation capability, and encouragement of the appropriate regulations without hindering the technology."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Lyons, Doug A.
2015-09
-
History as the Architect of the Present: What Made Kashmir the Nucleus of South Asia Terrorism? India-Pakistan Conflict and Its Impact on U.S. Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis focuses on the root causes of conflict in South Asia that have created the environment in the Afghan-- Pakistan border areas, which nurtures insurgency. The causes are rooted in the decisions, made by the British Empire in the 19th and 20th centuries, to perpetuate her rule in the Indian subcontinent. A disregard for the history and its impact on the current events has lead to prolonging of U.S. war in Afghanistan. The conclusion is that colonial history of South Asia has shaped current conflicts in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. These conflicts have manifested in spawning of terrorism from the region. Ever since the partition of India in 1947 by the British, India and Pakistan remain locked in an enduring conflict over Kashmir. This conflict is tied to destabilization of South Asia, including competition between India and Pakistan over influence in Afghanistan. Thus, the U.S. focus on elimination of al Qaeda is short sighted, as it ignores the reasons for al Qaeda's survival in South Asia. Without Pakistan's support for the Afghan Taliban and associated terrorist organizations, al Qaeda would not have a sanctuary in South Asia. Without a resolution of the conflict between India and Pakistan, the terrorism problem emanating from South Asia remains a potential threat. Therefore, it is imperative that U.S. policy should expand to include a resolution of India-Pakistan conflict."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Dutta, Sunil
2012-03
-
Fragmentation of DHS Public Corruption Investigations: Options to Leverage Overlapping Jurisdiction and Enhance Collaboration
From the thesis abstract: "From maintaining aviation security, to patrolling the country's borders, to granting immigration documentation, the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] has tremendous responsibilities. As such, it is imperative that the Department has a robust internal investigative mechanism to prevent, deter and investigate allegations of public corruption. Currently, there are eight agencies that have authority to conduct public corruption investigations within the Department. For every allegation of corruption within the Department, there are three agencies that have concurrent jurisdiction to investigate; in some cases, four agencies have overlapping jurisdiction to investigate the same matter. To maximize efficiency of operations, avoid duplication of efforts and best serve the American public, collaboration is essential. This thesis will examine other domestic and foreign institutions that have grappled with overlapping jurisdiction and leadership issues and provide analysis as to how those lessons learned can be applied to the DHS anti-corruption community. Several policy options are provided to enhance collaborative efforts, improve information sharing and create synergy of efforts. The policy options include: recognition and utilization of an already existent megacommunity; expanding the cross-designation of agency personnel; and the formation of public corruption task forces."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Merchant, Roger T.
2011-12
-
Ending America's Energy Insecurity: How Electric Vehicles Can Drive the Solution to Energy Independence
From the thesis abstract: "The homeland/national security threat posed by the United States' dependence on foreign oil has been part of the American discourse for years; yet nothing has been done. No pragmatic, realistic step-by-step plan has been pursued to end this scourge on the American people. The solution can be found in the problem. Net imports of oil account for approximately 50 percent of the oil the U.S. consumes. Likewise, 50 percent of oil consumed in the U.S. is consumed as motor gasoline. If overnight the U.S. stopped using oil to power its vehicles, if overnight drivers switched to electric vehicles, then overnight the U.S. would become energy independent. Using historical data to establish the effect of gasoline price changes on consumer vehicle choice, a predictive model has been created showing the expected switch to electric vehicles if the price of gasoline increases and the cost of electric vehicles decreases. There is a cost to energy independence: two to five dollars per gallon of retail gasoline sold. If monies raised from the tax are used to lower the price of electric vehicles, build recharge infrastructure, and dampen the regressive nature of the tax, energy independence is a few short years away."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Stein, Frederick
2011-12
-
Political Subculture: A Resilience Modifier
From the thesis abstract: "With the number and severity of disasters seemingly on the rise, there is an increased call for enhancing resilience to mitigate the post-event costs. Resilience is widely known to revolve around the demography, geography, sociology and economy of the area under study. What is not known is what other factors have multiplicative effects on the overall resilience of communities. One potential factor in this equation is political subculture, Dr. Daniel Elazar's term for the cultural stance of a community with regards to views on government and politics and their role in the society. In seeking to discover whether political subculture affects the resilience of a community, the author proposes to use analysis of disaster case studies from three representative communities--each highlighting one of Dr. Elazar's three subcultures of Traditional, Individual and Moral--to determine whether pre-evaluated resilience values and predicted response to disaster coincide with actual event outcomes. By using the Social Vulnerability Index values as a baseline metric for a quantifiable measure of resilience, the author found that political subculture does alter the predicted outcome and should be further researched as a potential modifier of planned resilience and response."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Hunter, Gordon S.
2011-09
-
Safe Seas: Protecting America's Ferries Against Criminal Mass-Casualty Incidents
From the thesis abstract: "The U.S. ferry system is one of the few remaining transportation sectors that has not been hardened for a mass-casualty attack, and the unrestricted ability of passengers to carry firearms onto vessels could enable a lone actor or group to perpetrate an active-shooter event while at sea. The proactive security measures and strategies developed by the government agencies responsible for maritime security are insufficient--inadequate even in responding to an active shooter--and might result in a large number of casualties. An analysis of government studies and current intelligence indicates that there are significant gaps in ferry security, especially concerning the threat of an active-shooter attack. This thesis investigates the exponential improvement in the security posture of the U.S. ferry system through the adaption and implementation of the best practices successfully enacted in other transportation domains as well as the benefits in the mitigation of potential mass-casualty events in this public conveyance. Such a strategy requires transitioning traditional law enforcement and military roles to the maritime civilian workforce."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Blindbury, Steven A.
2018-12
-
Terrorist Story in Three Acts: Dabiq, Rumiyah, and the Hero's Journey
From the thesis abstract: "Terror does not win with strategic victories; rather, terror is in itself a strategy that can win only through the projection of a narrative and its associated stories. A successful story is compelling, powerful, and resonates with a target audience. Thus: If it is terrorism we are combating, it is story we must understand first. As a fundamental framework of storytelling and mythology, the Hero's Journey provides an analytical structure to evaluate the direction in which the Islamic State (IS) moved its narrative after significant organizational life events. This thesis examines the effect of losing physical territory (i.e., cities as strongholds they once occupied) upon the IS narrative. Using the stages of the Hero's Journey, qualitative content analysis was performed on the Islamist extremist print magazines Dabiq and Rumiyah. After identifying categories of narrative intent, data analysis demonstrates a significant narrative shift along the spectrum of organizational goals. With a more in-depth understanding of this storytelling ebb and flow at the time of any given publication, countries battling this brand of extremism throughout the world may now create counter-narrative and counter-messaging strategies on the fly--by telling the 'better story.' Further research may demonstrate the value of content analysis within the Hero's Journey framework to determine a similar organization's current level of stability, using media publications in the present or future."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Capece, Alexander G.
2018-09
