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Filling the Gap between NIMS/ICS and the Law Enforcement Initial Response in the Age of the Urban Jihad
"The National Incident Management (NIMS) and Incident Command Systems (ICS) are important tools that can be adapted to establish command and control in coordinating some aspects of the response and recovery phases of many major incidents, including some types of terrorist attacks. These command and control paradigms, however, are heavily reliant on communications technology and other social and organizational preconditions, and may fail to adequately support the initial law enforcement response to some types of incidents, such as the attacks that occurred in Mumbai, India and Lahore, Pakistan. This thesis will suggest that recent developments in tactics employed by terrorists in India, Pakistan and elsewhere demand an urgent re-examination of the urban policing model currently employed in the United States. The American urban policing model is well suited for response to ordinary domestic criminal activity and, through the use of command and control tools such as NIMS, works adequately for many unusual occurrences. The NIMS-based model alone, however, including the current National Response Scenarios, seems ill suited for response to acts of paramilitary terrorism. American law enforcement may require a supplemental response paradigm that envisions an effective initial response when faced with degraded communications capabilities and uncertain command and control structures."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Moody, Theodore J.
2010-09
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Impact of Incentives and Requirements on Group Collaboration
"In the aftermath of catastrophic incidents that have stressed emergency response capabilities there is a growing national awareness that risks and threats exist that are complex, wide reaching, and will require a response effort that crosses jurisdictional boundaries. Response to these incidents will require a coordinated regional response effort that did not exist in many areas prior to 9/11. In an effort to build a regional response capability, as well as the collaborative regional infrastructure to support it, DHS [Department of Homeland Security] has committed grant funding to the emergency response community. Regional collaboration is a condition of receipt of these funds. Because collaboration has been required, it is difficult to know whether cooperation is the result of that requirement or whether it is the result of a cultural norm that values collaboration. It is also unclear whether groups that were created due to federal requirements are meeting to collaborate or meeting to fulfill requirements. The purpose of this thesis is to further the national dialogue about regional collaboration and its dependence on federal grants, as well as gauge the success of groups created due to grant requirements."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Jardine, Sheryl
2010-09
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Identifying Best Practices in the Dissemination of Intelligence to First Responders in the Fire and EMS Services
"September 11, 2001 thrust the fire service into the world of intelligence but the evolution of its involvement has been slow and challenging. The evolving role in the intelligence process presents unprecedented challenges. This expanded role has presented an opportunity to contribute to the homeland security prevention and protection mission in addition to their traditionally recognized role in response and recovery. As fire service participation expands and the macro level sharing of intelligence between the fire service and the intelligence/law enforcement communities becomes more recognized as a matter of course, it will be necessary for fire service agencies also to develop internal mechanisms of disseminating intelligence to field level personnel. If field level personnel do not receive timely, credible, and actionable information, driven by the intelligence process, before, during and after an incident, their lives, as well as the lives of the public they are trying to help, can be jeopardized. This thesis presents research to answer the question, 'how can information and intelligence be better disseminated to local first responders to enhance situational awareness, provide a higher degree of responder safety, and better protect the public?' Structured interviews were conducted to examine existing models being used to disseminate intelligence to first responders who were surveyed to determine what type of intelligence they preferred to receive, and in what format they would prefer to receive it. The findings revealed that first responders want intelligence products in an easily accessible concise format available in real time."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Richardson, Thomas Joseph
2010-09
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Where Do I Start? Decision Making in Complex Novel Environments
"Threats to our country have never been more real, nor had more potential to impact large populations of Americans. From the homeland defense perspective, some ideology-based groups have the ability and intention to attack the United States in ways that we as a nation have never imagined. As our world grows more complex and unpredictable, our first responders need tools to enable them to operate in this space. This thesis focuses on how decisions are made in complex novel environments. Using Grounded Theory methodology, interviews were conducted with public safety personnel who had past experience managing incidents that matched the study criteria. Aspects of Complexity Theory and Recognition-Primed Decision Making were identified as core components. Based on these findings, a descriptive process model was developed that modifies the existing Recognition-Primed Decision Making model in order to account for novel situations, in addition to those cases where the decision maker has previous experience. The Exploration and Exploitation Decision Making model (Ex2DM) is based on actual practices by both law enforcement and fire-rescue professionals. With an understanding of the unique characteristics of complex environments and how decisions are made under these conditions, public safety personnel will be better prepared to manage complex incidents."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Diaz, Sara Katherine
2010-09
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Validation of Rational Deterrence Theory: Analysis of U.S. Government and Adversary Risk Propensity and Relative Emphasis on Gain or Loss
"This thesis develops a rational deterrence case study risk elicitation framework to assess the risk propensity and relative emphasis on loss/gain of the U.S. and various adversaries involved in historical and current deterrence games. This framework is used to elicit qualitative historical information that supports a notional Deterrence Efficacy Model. This qualitative approach is further supported by a basic game-theoretic approach predicting the efficacy of deterrence given certain actor risk profiles. Recommendations as to the efficacy of deterrence for current U.S. national security threats are offered using the proposed Deterrence Efficacy Model, quantitative framework, and supporting methodology."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Taquechel, Eric F.
2010-03
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Effective State, Local, and Tribal Police Intelligence: The New York City Police Department's Intelligence Enterprise- a Smart Practice
"State, local, and tribal law enforcement (SLTLE) agencies play a significant role in homeland security. Their intelligence function supports their hometown and the nation's homeland security. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) recognized that the same intelligence that secures the homeland is required to secure New York City. NYPD restructured its organizational structure and external business practices to acquire the requisite intelligence to secure NYC and in effect facilitated the nation's homeland security. This thesis identifies NYPD's intelligence practices as a smart practice that SLTLE agencies should adopt, scaled and tailored to their realities and needs, to secure their hometowns and to compound a national effort to secure the homeland."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Comiskey, John G.
2010-03
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Community Preparedness: Creating a Model for Change
"Although the United States has made great strides in improving its capacity to respond to and mitigate large scale incidents resulting from acts of nature or deliberate acts of man, the development and improvement of community resiliency and preparedness has lagged behind. National surveys have shown that our nation's residents are not as prepared as they believe they are or know they should be, and reveal a national population that is largely unprepared and potentially vulnerable to a catastrophic event. Attempting to improve upon low preparedness levels, the Citizen Corps Personal Behavior Change Model for Disaster Preparedness (PDP) was introduced as a tool to assist in the design of outreach/social marketing preparedness programs. This thesis examines the underlying theoretical constructs of the PDP Model and identifies their limitations and gaps. The Community/Individual Integrated Model, which provides for an integration of individual and community-based behavior change models, is proposed and compared to the original PDP Model. It is suggested that, through the use of this model, a coordinated and matched approach between an individual and his/her community can develop a preparedness program that maximizes social relationships and moves the entire community, not just individuals, through the behavioral stages of change." A short video interview on this thesis is also available at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=20949]
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Campasano, Nicholas
2010-03
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Synchronizing Federal Operational Planning for National Catastrophes
"This thesis proposes the establishment of a Center for National Catastrophe Planning to address systemic problems in the planning for national catastrophes. The state of the art planning capabilities of the federal government do not include a structure to coordinate, validate and synchronize federal level operational plans effectively. Nor does it include the means to integrate nonfederal stakeholders into the planning process. Since the Three Mile Island disaster, the governance structure has been modified after each major catastrophe to address major shortcomings that resulted in poor response performance by the federal government. These failures were consistently attributed to the lack of coordination and synchronization of federal operational plans with key stakeholders. Today, the federal government has a modernized governance framework but the core structure that caused the problems remains in place. The system is based on the assumption that the federal departments and agencies have the required planning capabilities and follow the governance structure as designed to develop, coordinate and integrate operational plans for catastrophes. History has proven the folly of this assumption. The Center for National Catastrophe Planning could effectively bridge these gaps by providing a structure with adequate authorities to integrate and synchronize federal operational plans."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Ithier, Jan P.
2010-03
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Leveraging Rural America in the Fight against Terrorism in America through the Use of Conservation Districts
From the thesis abstract: "A vast, untapped resource is available to the federal government and the Department of Homeland Security in the war on terror. The citizens that comprise rural America have long been ignored by the efforts to wage the war on terror, and have been told, along with their urban counterparts, that the government would wage the war on terror, not citizens. […]The findings and recommendations of this research advocate the creation of a domestic intelligence-gathering network, which utilizes the nation's 2,946 local conservation districts to interact with rural citizens. Conservation districts, as a unit of local government, occupy a unique place in their local communities due to their nonregulatory nature. As a result, they have a high degree of trust in their local communities. Conservation districts would forge a partnership with rural Americans and state fusion centers for information gathering purposes. Intelligence analysts would analyze that information at the state fusion center and use it to support the war on terror. In this way, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. intelligence community could leverage rural America as a force multiplier."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Eller, William L.
2010-03
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Homeland Security within State Departments of Agriculture: Success Factors and Barriers to an Effective Security Program
From the thesis abstract: "The food and agriculture sector in the United States is vulnerable to attack. One solution is to ensure that homeland security programs within the state departments of agriculture have the necessary support and resources. However, there is little understanding of the abilities and capabilities of state departments of agriculture related to homeland security initiatives. The challenge is that these programs tend to fall between agriculture and homeland security programs. This research involved interviewing representatives of 24 state departments of agriculture to identify success factors and barriers related to homeland security programs. Respondents reported multi-state agriculture groups, public-private partnerships, and organizational structure as success factors in building successful homeland security programs. This research found that lack of information sharing, a disconnect between the federal and state government, and inadequate funding created barriers to the implementation of constructive homeland security programs. To better position the homeland security programs within state departments of agriculture, this research provides several recommendations. Given the diversity of the roles and responsibilities in agriculture agencies, it is not possible to develop a model program for every state. These recommendations identify components of a model program that agencies could selectively use to enhance the effectiveness of homeland security programs."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Blackwood, Matthew Joseph
2010-09
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Contribution of Police and Fire Consolidation to the Homeland Security Mission
"This thesis explores the idea of consolidating police and fire departments as a unique way to deliver public safety services to communities in an integrated fashion. It investigates how the uniqueness of this concept can fit into our plan to prevent, protect, respond, and mitigate interrelated challenges in a fully coordinated approach. The main claim of this study is that the consolidation of police and fire services enhances communication among disciplines, creates unified leadership and command, and aids in attaining a high level of comprehensive emergency response and planning--and that this improves the execution of the homeland security mission. Through a comparative case study, the research focuses on the history and organizational design of three consolidated departments; the perspective they have towards collaboration and homeland security; and the reported advantages and challenges attributed to these models. The thesis will use the homeland security mission as a backdrop in order to examine the concept of consolidation through comparative case studies. As our country continues to deal with multifaceted threats that force our disparate organizations to integrate in a unified effort; what are the contributions that the consolidation of police and fire services have on the homeland security mission?"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Mata, Vinicio R.
2010-03
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Modeling the U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector for the Deployment and Operations Of Border Security Forces
"Illegal cross-border activity is a severe homeland defense and security problem along the international Southwest border. The issue of illegal human smuggling is not new to the United States-Mexico border or to law enforcement agencies; however, the phenomenon is rising and human smugglers are adjusting to law enforcement tactics. This thesis has three objectives. First, it describes and identifies the fundamental dimensions of U.S. Border Patrol operations in the busiest, most vulnerable section of the border. Second, it integrates prominent border security factors into a mathematical predictive model -- the Arizona-Sonora Border (ASB) Model -- that provides an illustration of possible border security operational strategies and the outcome apprehension probability of migrants given the implementation of various operational strategies. Last, this thesis seeks to provide a comprehensive picture of the complex dynamics along the USBP Tucson Sector. This picture highlights the primary challenges facing policymakers in developing innovative policies that will minimize illegal crossborder activity and secure the homeland."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Ordóñez, Karina
2006-03
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Farewell to Arms: A Plan for Evaluating the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force and Its Alternatives
From the thesis abstract: "On September 14, 2001, Congress passed the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). Over the past 13 years, the AUMF has served as the primary legal foundation for the use of force against terrorist organizations and other counterterrorist operations. Since its passage, threats facing the United States have evolved and new groups have emerged. Yet, Congress has failed to reexamine the statute. This thesis examines whether the AUMF serves as the proper foundation for addressing current terrorist threats or whether an alternative legal tool is more appropriate. To conduct this examination, it details and applies a methodology, or analytical framework, for assessing the status quo application of the AUMF and its potential alternatives. This thesis evaluates and ascertains the best among proposed courses of actions for the future of the AUMF by analyzing the evolution of terrorist threats, constitutional concerns, the consequences of altering the legal structure upon which national counterterrorism strategies rely, international legality, and precedent. Ultimately, this thesis recommends that Congress both sunset the AUMF and implement a tailored approach to force authorization, one that balances constitutional protections and security, while providing a foundation for crafting future force authorizations."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Kirschbraun, Jessica Lynn
2014-09
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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
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Impact of Obesity on National and Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "Through a series of policy decisions, innovations, and a growing complex food system, the United States moved from a nation of people considered to be undernourished at one point to a nation with 100 million obese citizens. This radical change in our collective condition took place in less than one generation. This body composition change is impacting military readiness, military recruiting, first-responder readiness, and first-responder recruiting. Further, the impacts of obesity have an annual cost that is estimated to be nearly half a trillion dollars. In our mission to meet both acute and chronic homeland security needs, it is crystal clear that the human and economic burdens of obesity are substantial. Therefore, obesity is a homeland security issue."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
O'Connor, Daniel W.
2013-09
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Enemies List: The Foreign Terrorist Organization List and Its Role in Defining Terrorism
From the thesis abstract: "The United States defines terrorism through the lists it maintains identifying those who are engaged in, support, and/or facilitate terrorism. One such list is the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list. Because the FTO designation process occurs without the organization's knowledge or ability to challenge the evidence, uses classified information to make the determination, and has limited judicial oversight, concerns have been expressed that the Executive Branch has too much discretion in this process. The concerns are exacerbated by the perception that political motivations dominate the decision-making process. Using content analysis, the FTO list is analyzed using a quantitative and qualitative approach. First, the terrorist designation processes used in allied countries is examined, and the list is analyzed by reviewing FTO decisions made before and after 9/11. Through an analysis of the annual State Department country reports describing the FTOs, the nonstatutory factors that influence FTO decisions emerge, and include whether a group attacked Israel or other allied nation of strategic interest to the United States, attacked the United States or its citizens, or is affiliated with al Qaeda. These nonstatutory factors and their application to U.S. counterterrorism strategy, is how the United States defines terrorism at any point in time." An 8-min, 47-second video interview on this thesis is also available at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=752920]
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Decker, Eileen M.
2014-03
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Fighting Tomorrow's Fire Today: Leveraging Intelligence for Scenario-Based Exercise Design
From the thesis abstract: "There is a great opportunity for collaborative learning when agencies conduct emergency preparedness exercises together. If different members of the community contribute to the development of these exercises, then this learning benefits the entire population. As it stands, preparedness exercises are being conducted with minimal regard to recommendations from previous exercises and real-world events. Along with the incorporation of intelligence into these exercises, the objectives should promote a more inclusive design process based on focused relevance, encouraging agencies to view themselves more as members of the greater community rather than individual entities. Terrorist organizations learn from past failures as well as successes, and emergency responders should strive to parallel this learning in order to develop tactical improvements. Emergency responders need to promote the idea of intelligence-driven exercise design in order to support community resilience through collaborative training. Municipalities should spearhead this effort, supported financially by the private sector. With this fusion of intelligence and collaborative exercise design, we can learn from the fires of yesterday and prepare for the emergencies of tomorrow." A 6-min, 9-second video interview on this thesis is also available at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=752925]
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Healy, Thomas F.
2014-03
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Systems Fragility: The Sociology of Chaos
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis seeks to examine the concept of community fragility in emergency management from a systems perspective. Two questions are studied. First, can community fragility be qualitatively measured? Second, does this concept hold value for the emergency management field? Using literature that addresses fragility in four areas of complex systems--ecosystems, social systems, socio-technical systems, and complex adaptive systems--we create a theoretical framework focused on the emergency management field. This theoretical framework is then assessed through a multi-case analysis, examining three diverse large-scale events that have occurred in the United States in the past decade. Assessing each fragility factor from the theoretical framework for each case study reveals that the framework is sound. These findings allow for the development of a causal prediction model illustrating how community fragility factors can be used in the emergency management field to not only improve overall outcomes after disaster, but to also build less fragile systems and communities in preparation for future disasters."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Hodges, Lori R.
2015-03
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How Critical is Critical Infrastructure
From the thesis abstract: "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) holds the statutory mission to protect the nation's critical infrastructure, which is the systems and assets that are nationally significant, and whose losses would result in debilitating consequences to the safety and security of the United States. Based on a meta-analysis of government policies, the current critical infrastructure protection (IP) efforts may be misdirected even though it is the cornerstone mission of the department to prevent terrorism and enhance security. It is likely that the facilities DHS works to protect from terrorism are not the most likely targets for attacks. The manner in which facilities are designated as critical infrastructure may have stemmed from shared experience of many in senior leadership as military strategists rather than from identifying the targets of extremists. Even when a facility is destroyed, the consequences may be more complex than the mission of protecting a single facility against all threats and hazards. These findings can justify reducing the scope of the current IP mission and refining the focus through a risk-based methodology for evaluating only the infrastructure that would cause debilitating impacts on the safety and security of the nation."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Riedman, David A.
2015-09
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Additive Manufacturing: Preparing for the Reality of Science Fiction
From the thesis abstract: "Historically, policymakers have had difficulty addressing issues raised by emerging technologies. Whether it is inadequate legislation due to a general lack of awareness, or overregulation from a perceived threat, emerging technologies seem to repeatedly confuse those responsible for ensuring their safe incorporation into society. Despite decades of experience with similar issues, this trend continues to this day. What lessons can be drawn from different approaches to policy development for other emerging technologies to help policymakers avoid these failures for additive manufacturing technologies? A structured focus comparison of three emerging technologies, unmanned aerial systems, autonomous vehicles, and additive manufacturing, revealed characteristics of emerging technologies--such as a low price point for market entry and rapid evolution--that tend to surprise policymakers. This thesis recommends organizations make a concerted effort to engage early and often in the policy development process, and that they carefully consider each stakeholder's level of involvement. It is also recommended that the Department of Homeland Security leverage existing mechanisms, such as the Centers of Excellence partnerships and the Strategic Foresight Initiative, to engage nontraditional partners in addressing issues raised by additive manufacturing technologies"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Windle, William A.
2015-09
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Should We Stay or Should We Go Now? The Physical, Economic, Geopolitical, Social and Psychological Factors of Recovery from Catastrophic Disaster
From the thesis abstract: "'Should we continue to build there?' is a question asked after other past disasters; it is especially more poignant as local, state and federal governments deal with pre-disaster mitigation funding and post-disaster emergency management funding issues. The goal of this research is to develop a way of answering that question through a better understanding of the social, economic, and cultural problems and opportunities of rebuilding. As a result, shortcomings in the assumptions of existing response and recovery plans can be identified, and current community planning can consider future catastrophic events. Through pre-identification of physical, social, and political limitations other communities have faced, proactive land use, response, and recovery planning decisions could be implemented that increase the chance that communities can successfully emerge from disaster. This study investigates examples of past catastrophic disasters and the positive and negative experiences as those communities struggled to return to normalcy. The end result of the research is an assessment that identifies the economic, geopolitical, and social factors of recovery following a catastrophic disaster. The research used historical case studies and their challenges with recovery. Based on the case study findings, an analysis was created of the current economic, geopolitical, and social factors in the City of Seaside, Oregon, following a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake and tsunami to identify future recovery challenges."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Perino, Charles S.
2014-09
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Florida Law Enforcement's Role in Agroterrorism
From the thesis abstract: "The 2005 Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice report Defining Law Enforcement's Role in Protecting American Agriculture from Agroterrorism was used as a framework for analyzing the State of Florida's capabilities for preparing and responding to an agroterrorism attack. A series of desired capabilities were developed from the report's conclusions and recommendations, and research was conducted to establish Florida law enforcement's current capabilities. From these two points of reference, gap analysis identified the deficiencies in Florida's capabilities. Research and analysis found Florida's preparation capability gaps revolve around a general lack of intelligence and information sharing focused on the agriculture sector. The key recommendation is creation of a state agriculture intelligence and analysis unit interacting with the fusion centers, critical infrastructure protection program, and the food and agriculture sector. Florida's response capabilities were found to be quite robust. Gaps found in the area of response could be closed with relatively minor policy and strategy enhancements."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Burns, Benjamin E.
2014-12
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Enhancing Decision Making During Initial Operations at Surge Events
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis utilized a Delphi survey method to obtain the perspective of seasoned Incident Commanders (ICs), as they reflected on their experience responding to surge incidents. Surge events are defined as complex and chaotic emergencies that require resources well beyond normal operating capacity. These surge events are rare and of such a magnitude that the Incident Commander is confronted with a unique situation that often exceeds his/her experience and ability to improvise and adapt to changing conditions. This thesis combines the pertinent literature on decision making, situational awareness, collaboration and geospatial technology with the lens of experience provided by the Delphi panel. First, this research identifies and prioritizes 18 signals that an incident is becoming nonroutine, unfamiliar and chaotic. Second, it provides an inventory of strategic options that an Incident Commander can consider when faced with the chaos that often accompanies a surge event. Finally, this material was synthesized into a quick action guide as a reference source that can inform Incident Commanders, as they face the dynamic and unpredictable environment of surge events. The knowledge obtained through this research is offered with the desire to enhance the ability of Incident Commanders to make effective decisions when lives are most at risk."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Duggan, Brian P.
2012-12
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Future Mission Tasking and Resourcing of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis studies the historic activity and present operational return on investment of the U.S. Coast Guard's all-volunteer citizen supported Auxiliary organization; it recommends harvesting approximately $2.7M by eliminating the Auxiliary aviation program. The existing funds could be efficiently reprogrammed to both replace that volunteer support niche through an agreement with the U.S. Air Force and to better support other more cost effective volunteer sub-programs. This effort departs from previous similar studies because it identifies long-term trends in volunteer activity and measures the return on investment in terms of organizational outcomes, not volunteer effort or opinion questionnaire. The literature review presents examples of similar affiliated or formal volunteer organizations found in the U.S. and abroad, several of which were originally modeled after the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The volunteer demographics and participation for the six major operational Auxiliary activities are then represented to identify trends. The Coast Guard's resourcing in the form of full-time employee support and direct funding are also presented. The focus of this study is how to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the volunteer organization to the Nation; the premise is that properly tasked and managed volunteers, with a healthy organizational culture, will multiply."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Barner, Mike
2012-09
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Role of Isolation in Radicalization - How Important Is It?
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis will provide readers an in-depth analysis of three well-known terrorists in order to highlight the role isolation played in their radicalization process. This thesis researched Timothy McVeigh, responsible for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombings; Anders Behring Breivik, responsible for the 2011 massacres in Oslo and Utøya, Norway; and Omar Hammami, an American-born individual believed to have been involved in numerous terrorist attacks throughout Somalia on behalf of al-Shabaab. The research evaluated both international and domestic terrorists with differing ideologies, and these individuals were found to represent a broad spectrum. The thesis specifically evaluated whether or not each individual experienced social, emotional, or perceived isolation at any point throughout his radicalization process. It was determined that isolation does play a very multifaceted role in both the initial involvement and initial engagement phases of radicalization. By better understanding the contributing factors of radicalization, homeland security officials may be better positioned to effectively intervene, prevent, or deter radicalization."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Hug, Erin C.
2013-12
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Practitioner's Guide to Trust and Legitimacy
From the thesis abstract: "The policing profession has evolved since the formalization of police forces in the late 1820s. Much of the change revolves around the community taking an interest in how the police conduct themselves and how they interact with the public. As the public demands more from the police, the police need to strive to gain trust and remain legitimate. This is easier said than done. Due to the breakdown in the social safety net, more and more police officers are called upon to assist those who are suffering from a mental illness. This intersection often tragically results in officers using force, or deadly force on these individuals. When this happens, many in the community lose faith in the police and trust is weakened or lost. In this paper, trust and legitimacy between the community and the police is examined. The argument is made that the police need to have trust and legitimacy with the public they serve in order to be effective in fighting crime as well as terrorism. Three aspects are examined that have the potential to build trust: The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) civil rights investigation of law enforcement, the strategic production of press releases and the creation and use of a mobile smart phone application as a means of connecting to the community. By abiding with the DOJ recommendations, thinking strategically about the production of press releases, and leveraging technology to build relationships, it is argued that law enforcement can build trust and legitimacy. With trust and legitimacy the public will assist, cooperate and obey the police. This relationship and collaboration is vital if law enforcement is to be successful in maintaining public safety and prevent terrorism."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Walsh, Patrick A.
2013-09
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High-Tech, Low-Tech, No-Tech: Communications Strategies During Blackouts
From the thesis abstract: "How do emergency managers communicate vital life-safety information when disaster strikes and the power goes out, sometimes for extended periods? Time and again, our power grid, aging and stretched beyond its intended capacity, has experienced failures. Power outages can quickly shift from being annoying to deadly--especially when temperatures are extreme--particularly for elderly and other vulnerable populations. Emergency managers will be able to use the findings of this research to communicate critical information to the community, even in the direst circumstances, without relying on a 'techno-fix.' A structured focused comparison of three disasters revealed that a 'high-tech, low-tech, no-tech' framework can be implemented successfully and inexpensively. Throughout the three disasters studied, communications methods in the high-tech, low-tech, and no-tech areas were successful in communicating with the public. The thesis recommends that every community be prepared with this three-pronged approach. To go a step further, the study recommends that FEMA consider incorporating the 'high-low-no-tech' approach into its COOP (Continuity of Operations Plan) template, which currently assumes that communications systems-- phones, Internet, email, two-way radios--will be operational within 12 hours of activation, an optimistic assumption. A sample implementation plan with cost estimates is included."
A 6-min video interview on this thesis is also available at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=750845]
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Solymossy, Diana Sun
2013-12
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Benefits of Collaborative Processes for Establishing All Hazard Incident Management Teams in Urban Area Security Initiative Regions
From the thesis abstract: "In 2008, consistent with past practice, the Phoenix Urban Area began a collaborative process to establish three All Hazards Incident Management Teams (AHIMT) with a three-year timeline for project completion. In 2013, one team is functional and the other two AHIMT are not yet deployable. This research constitutes a case study of the 2008 Phoenix AHIMT process, and seeks to identify challenges and obstacles to collaboration. The findings of this case study of collaboration in the Phoenix Urban Area found that participants in the process viewed positively the emphasis by leaders on collaboration, the frequency that collaboration took place, and the benefits that arose from mutual collaboration. There is minimal agreement among participants about how much collaboration has taken place in developing the AHIMT program. The benefits of collaboration are believed to include the sharing of resources, developing positive relationships with other agencies, reducing operational costs, and providing a common framework for identifying and solving problems. These findings support the following recommendations for using collaboration in regional initiatives: an overall program strategy document that addresses the need for and commitment to collaboration, governance, personnel, competency, remaining relevant, and an exercise schedule."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Abbott, W. Thomas
2013-09
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Twituational Awareness: Gaining Situational Awareness Via Crowdsourced #Disaster Epidemiology
From the thesis abstract: "Public health and other agencies need situational awareness to respond effectively to disasters or other incidents. Traditional means of obtaining this information require significant time and personnel. Social media is becoming increasingly popular among American citizens, and research is demonstrating that it may be a useful tool for bolstering information about unfolding events. This research analyzed the potential of the microblogging service Twitter in providing situational awareness. Tweets from a major snowstorm affecting the state of Massachusetts were collected, coded for content, and compared to traditional public health methods. The results indicate that Twitter can provide a rich source of data for responding agencies. Still, the immense volume of conversations makes extracting useful information in a timely manner a significant challenge. Practical approaches uncovered during this research can help agencies with nascent social media surveillance programs begin to unearth the valuable information that Twitter contains. Collaboration with information technology experts could allow public health and other responding agencies to create even greater value from social meechdia platforms."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Cain, Daniel T.
2013-09
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Why Some People Live and Some People Die in the Same Emergencies and Disasters: Can the General Public Be Taught to Save Themselves?
From the thesis abstract: "Each year the United States suffers approximately 3,000 fire-related deaths and approximately 4,700 work-related deaths. Hundreds of additional fatalities occur annually due to severe weather, as well as manmade and natural disasters. The specific research question addressed by these sobering statistics is: Can the general public be taught to save themselves during emergencies and disasters? To that end, the research answered the following questions: 1. What research has been previously performed to examine civilian survivability? 2. What are the cognitive functions that allow or prohibit people in making correct life-saving decisions? 3. Are there patterns to the way that people process information and perceive danger? 4. What are the critical elements that allow some people to survive and others to perish? 5. What can be done to increase the chances that civilians will make the correct choice of action during emergencies and disasters? Through descriptive research, the purpose was to examine and reveal the importance of human behavior and to produce recommendations that may help reduce fatalities. The literature review found an abundance of material available to address the topic. As heuristics (science of trial and error), utility theory (methodical evaluation of alternative choices), human reactions, such as fear, intuition, emotion, and past experience, and group versus individual dynamics each impact the decision-making process, the research concluded that the general public can be taught how to perform and react appropriately during emergencies. The recommendations included legislating mandatory training on emergency action plans in the workplace, enhance the efforts of emergency responders in public education, and develop public/private partnerships to provide realistic information and scenario-based drills that the public can comprehend and participate in."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Marsar, Stephen
2013-03
