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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Relationship between Criminal and Terrorist Organizations and Human Smuggling
"This thesis sought to expand on the literature that has been written on the possibility and impact of a relationship forming between criminal and terrorist organizations in terms of human smuggling. These entities could form a strategic alliance and leverage existing narcotics, weapons, and human smuggling corridors that exist south of the U.S. [United States]/Mexico border to smuggle terrorist operatives into the U.S. thereby threatening U.S. interests and national security. The analysis of the scholarly literature, interview data, and case studies point to a relationship between criminal and terrorist organizations and the fact that they have worked together to smuggle terrorists into the U.S. Additionally, corruption efforts by these organizations places a weak link in U.S. border security that can be exploited for nefarious purposes. Enhanced information sharing between law enforcement entities may be the single best way to detect the relationship between criminal and terrorist organizations and prevent them from smuggling a terrorist operative into the U.S."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Lanzante, Joseph A.
2009-12
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Integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems into Modern Policing in an Urban Environment
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines the possibilities and advantages of incorporating the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into operational use by local public safety agencies. The use of UAS has become a vital tool for the military but still has not become a tool used by domestic police forces. This thesis explores the options of using this type of technology, such as an economical alternative or enhancement to existing aviation programs and better situational awareness for tactical operations. In addition, to reviewing issues and concerns related to privacy considerations; this thesis addresses program implementation, creation of best practices policy and procedures, benefits to community safety, and flight regulations and restrictions under the oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Wallace, John A.
2012-09
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Managing Suspicious Activity Reporting Systems at Small Agency Police Departments
From the thesis abstract: "Law enforcement agencies have managed anonymous tip line programs for decades whereby community members can submit suspected criminal activity to their local law enforcement agency. As a result of the increasing threat of terrorism in the United States, suspicious activity reporting programs (SAR) accompany the traditional anonymous tip line. SARs include the reporting of suspicious behavior related to terrorism, as well as other criminal activity. SAR programs have been adopted by federal, state and local jurisdictions and at state and regional fusion centers. Homeland security is a shared responsibility of the American public and SAR programs are a mechanism that allows the public to contribute to this country's security. Smaller law enforcement agencies in the United States lack the resources of larger police departments. The research set out to determine if smaller police agencies lacked SAR programs, which thus might create a gap in U.S. overall homeland security. An audit of 355 California police department websites that serve populations from 10,000 to over one million revealed that 5.9% of the agencies supported an online SAR program. To verify the audit, 117 of the police departments were contacted and three of the agencies or 2.6% supported a SAR program accessible by the public either by a direct phone line or by some other means. The thesis presents research to identify best practices for establishing SAR programs in police departments. The research explores national strategy documents, privacy and civil liberties guidelines and national SAR standards. The research identifies success stories of terrorist acts prevented because of a SAR. The research concludes with a list of action items agencies should consider when implementing a SAR program. Successful SAR programs rely on the timely analysis of information and sharing intelligence through shared networks."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Roberts, Bryan A.
2012-09
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Utilizing Social Media to Further the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative
From the thesis abstract: "The NSI [Nationwide Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Initiative] process delineates that frontline personnel can solicit relevant behaviors observed by the public through in-person or telephonic interviews or online e-tips forms. It does not, in its current form, include the use of less formal social media tools such as text messaging, mobile-phone apps and social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, although some agencies are doing so. The literature demonstrates that the majority of people use social media and social networking sites to communicate every day, and more than three-quarters use it to participate in at least one community-focused group. Including social media technologies as an option for communicating a tip provides another means by which interested individuals can provide information about their observations. Several case studies demonstrate that citizens motivated by the unselfish desire to contribute will do just that, whether or not solicited. Law enforcement agencies can leverage that enthusiasm by incorporating social media into efforts to develop SARs. The strategy requires that an agency devote resources sufficient to develop policies and to provide training to guide personnel and citizens. It also requires that agencies respond to received transmissions, recognize useful contributions, and make efforts to encourage further participation."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Peters, Lynda A.
2012-09
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Building a Better Mouse Trap: Increasing Counter Terrorism Capabilities through Consolidation
From the thesis abstract: "The current American police model is outdated and does not provide local law enforcement the proper framework to effectively prevent, mitigate, and respond to terrorism. With nearly 18,000 separate police departments in the United States, the current system of policing is individualized, fragmented and disconnected. With the proliferation of so many police organizations, contiguous agencies have overlapping jurisdictional responsibilities and job functions, leading to the waste of precious personnel resources. Exacerbating this issue, radio systems and computerized databases among these law enforcement agencies are dissimilar or not linked, prohibiting local cops from easily communicating. Such technological gaps are the outcomes of a decentralized policing structure that hinder effective counter terrorism capabilities. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, local police must be configured in a manner to maximize the country's counterterrorism efforts."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Vicino, Christopher O.
2006-03
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Combating Terrorism Within Local Policing Through Crime Reduction: Using Real-Time, Situational Awareness Within a Distributed Common Operating Picture to Combat All Crime and Terrorism-V2I2SION Process and SAFECOP Pilot Project
From the thesis abstract: "Local law enforcement agencies' role in combating terrorism should center on crime reduction. The crime fighting energy recovered from lowering crime can be converted to proactive efforts, which can root out precursor acts related to the planning and execution of domestic and international terrorism as an operational byproduct. To achieve this local momentum information and intelligence Sense-making within a common operating picture, offering real-time situational awareness can be the key difference in gaining or sustaining the crime reduction, starting this flywheel effect. By allowing function to follow form within a supporting technology, the V2I2SION [Validating, Visualization, Information, Intelligence, Solutions, Optimization, Next] process allows a more objective approach to format information sharing by: Validating an offense to expend the best return on time; Visualization in real-time versus delayed mapping; Information-to-Intelligence by effective case management - and crime bulletin construction and viewing in real-time; moving toward Solutions and debriefed Intelligence for future Sense-making; and leading to Optimization and the Next action. A pilot solution named Situational Awareness for Enforcer's Common Operating Picture (SAFECOP) was tested during the 2012 Republican National Convention and showed promising results against an event-strained agency's resources; which is comparable to either a crime reduction plateau or loss of personnel due to localities' budget restraints."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Bennett, John A., Jr.
2013-03
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Establishing a Deradicalization/Disengagement Model for America's Correctional Facilities: Recommendations for Countering Prison Radicalization
From the thesis abstract: "Prison radicalization has been identified as a potentially significant threat to America's homeland security. When considering the inmate population currently housed within the Federal Bureau of Prisons with a terrorism nexus and the fact that 95 percent of our inmate population will return to our communities, the need for a proactive posture to prison radicalization becomes evident. Currently, the United States has no prison deradicalization program. This thesis provides a comparative analysis of two deradicalization/disengagement programs currently utilized in Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The analysis identifies externally valid data that provides the basis for recommendations for United States correctional policymakers in building a framework for a United States prison deradicalization model. This thesis also examines the current literature, relevant to prison radicalization and the prison environment that may promote prison radicalization. Through an analysis of these environmental elements, specific recommendations are made that attempt to counter the contributing factors, within the prison environment, that make the prison setting a fertile ground for radicalization."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Parker, Tony C.
2013-03
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Enhancing Preparedness Adoption and Compliance in the Federal Law Enforcement Community through Financial Incentives
"Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, the federal law enforcement community has not adopted the level of emergency preparedness recommended or instructed by national directives, studies, and after-action reports. The importance of preparedness has been identified in numerous studies regarding the need for coordinated efforts on federal, state, local, and tribal levels. Failure to prepare and train employees has resulted in tort claims against local agencies and potential increased legal liability for the federal government. Through an analysis of specific costs and benefits of preparedness adoption and compliance, this thesis concludes that measurable and anticipated benefits often exceed costs for agencies. Analysis reveals that financial incentives, through the many federal preparedness grant programs, have encouraged preparedness adoption and compliance by state, local, and tribal governments. However, the federal law enforcement community, without access to these grants, has not achieved a level of preparedness adoption and compliance, raising the question: Would a new financial incentive concept designated for the federal law enforcement community increase preparedness adoption and compliance? Research indicates that a novel federal financial incentive concept would in fact increase preparedness adoption and compliance within the federal law enforcement community consistent with its state, local, and tribal partners."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Hutchinson, Robert Charles
2010-12
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New Role for Local Police in Radiological Security
From the thesis abstract: "Since the 9/11 attacks, the possibility of another attack on America using radiological weapons has been a subject of much discussion both in the press, in national security and homeland security circles and in the academic literature. While much of the federal government's focus has been on preventing radiological material from being smuggled into the United States, this thesis examines the possibility of terrorists using materials that are readily available in medical, research and industrial locations. A dirty bomb or radiological dispersal device could have a devastating impact on the economy and greatly raise public fears. Local police agencies have previously not had a formal role in radiological security. This thesis explores policy initiatives, based on community policing principles conducted at the local police level, which will enhance security at locations where radiological materials are kept."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Lee, Thomas F.
2007-09
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Collaborative Capacity of the NYPD, FDNY, and EMS in New York City: A Focus on the First Line Officer
"The first line officer in a public safety response agency is a demanding position. Often, these officers are the first leaders on the scene of a terrorist-related event or natural disaster. The role of the first line officer has changed, from directing people and securing their cooperation to developing collaborative, interdependent partnerships. The theories and models described in this study are intended to develop the capabilities of the first line officer of an emergency response agency to work in a collaborative environment and to meet the challenges with all the homeland security partners. Different types of trust and influences of organizational cultures have been explored in previous studies on collaboration. An integral part, or central idea of this thesis, is to explore how the organizational culture and institutional trust, as demonstrated in the role of the first line officer from FDNY [New York Fire Department], NYPD [New York Police Department] and EMS [Emergency Medical Services], can improve the collaborative capacity in the initial phases of an all-hazards event. Building collaborative capacity is a career long process that must be reinforced at every level and supported from the top down. The management of a mass casualty incident requires a synergistic approach among the first responding agencies. The time to start collaboration is not by exchanging business cards at the scene of an incident."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Nahmod, Abdo
2010-03
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How Can We Improve Information Sharing Among Local Law Enforcement Agencies?
"The events of 9/11 and subsequent examination of the intelligence community in the United States have clearly identified several areas that require immediate repair. While we have, on the federal, state and local levels, a complex system of collecting, developing, and analyzing intelligence that can be used to prevent terrorist attacks, we do not have an accompanying system that shares intelligence information throughout the law enforcement community. The purpose of this thesis is to review information sharing between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and to suggest methods to improve that capability. In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, authorities uncovered patterns of suspicious activity occurring in places such as Maryland, Florida, and New Jersey. These activities included individuals paying cash for plane tickets, taking flight lessons, inquiring about crop duster planes, and frequenting drug stores. Taken individually, these incidents were not overly suspicious; nor were they seen as serious when reported to authorities. Yet, all together they illustrate at best highly suspicious behavior, and at worst a picture of a master plan of prospective criminal activity. When collecting data on terrorist potential, one isolated incident in a local jurisdiction may not have obvious significance, but the ability to view all incidents together across cities or states might paint a more complete picture. Agencies are now recognizing the benefits of data sharing across institutions and jurisdictions."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Miller, Patrick E.
2005-09
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Is NIMS Going to Get Us Where We Need to Be? A Law Enforcement Perspective
"The admissions of the survey respondents to this thesis demonstrate that there is a problem with the implementation of the National Incident Management System [NIMS] in both large and small law-enforcement agencies in the state of Wisconsin. NIMS training is a perishable skill, and without constant refreshment--either through regular practice or actual use--this system cannot be sustained within an organization. There is a flaw either within the training, in the implementation of the training, or in the system itself. So, what are the barriers to Wisconsin law-enforcement agencies adopting and routinely using NIMS, and how can those barriers be reduced? To gather data on the barriers that Wisconsin law-enforcement agencies encounter using NIMS, an electronic survey was developed. Approximately 550 law-enforcement agencies within Wisconsin were queried in the survey with a very low 12% response rate. Sixty-six percent of the respondents reported that, while they may be in compliance with federal NIMS requirements, they are not proficient. Recommendations include promoting a culture of customization of NIMS, creation of a small agency version of NIMS, and conducting a program evaluation of NIMS that includes the creation of objective NIMS proficiency standards through output/performance measurement and tying future funding incentives to those objective standards."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Bauer, Thomas P.
2009-12
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21st Century Policing - The Institutionalization of Homeland Security in Local Law Enforcement Organizations
From the thesis abstract: "Twenty-first-century law enforcement organizations face a new and significant challenge - homeland security. On September 11, 2001, local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States were thrust into the 'war on terrorism.' The current law enforcement business-as-usual attitude and incremental programmatic responses do not ensure a long-term success. Any act of terrorism will initially be a local issue that requires immediate response by various local agencies, such as medical, fire, and police-the communities 'first responders.' Thus local law enforcement organizations must recognize and embrace the critical and essential role they play in homeland security and the war on terrorism. In today's security environment, community policing is one of the most successful strategies employed by law enforcement organizations. Community policing focuses on crime and social disorder through the delivery of police services that include aspects of traditional law enforcement, preventive measures, problem solving, community engagement, and partnerships. At some point in the future, the line between homeland security and everyday policing will become indistinguishable. At that point, homeland security institutionalization at the local level will have been fully achieved. This thesis attempts to identify the need for homeland security institutionalization in local law enforcement organizations. The thesis argues that community-based policing principles combined with other progressive law enforcement practices such as Intelligence-led policing are crucial aids in that effort."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Collie, Fred D.
2006-03
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Developing a New Context for Leadership Development in the Los Angeles Fire Department
From the thesis abstract: "Leadership development in the fire service and other homeland security entities is in need of an assessment. Homeland security leaders are pointing to leadership as the single biggest determinant of success of the homeland security enterprise in the near term. How these entities have approached leadership development in the past has not proven in any empirical way that it is developing better leaders. Perhaps this approach is wrong, and leadership training needs to look to the broader social environment for insights into effective leadership development. This thesis examined how the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and similar homeland security entities could take advantage of the contemporary thoughts on leadership development to prepare their leaders better. This thesis assessed the Los Angeles Fire Department Leadership Academy through a formative evaluation of the current educational contexts and concluded that much of the existing educational framework was not responsive or representative of current thoughts on effective leadership development. Lastly, this thesis offered a new narrative for leadership development in the LAFD and other homeland security entities by pivoting the understanding of leadership development as an individual process to leadership development as a social process."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Richmond, Trevor M.
2014-12
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Promoting Inter-Agency Readiness Through Standardized Training and Education of Front Line Responders
From the thesis abstract: "The Department of Homeland Security continues to anticipate barriers between federal and state entities and continues to research new and innovative ways to break down these barriers in order to enable collaboration with states to build a trained emergency response workforce. New Jersey must also anticipate these barriers and must develop a structured, coherent, and standardized approach to prevention, response, and recovery. This thesis proposes the implementation of a multidisciplinehomeland security training and education system. This will enhance the capabilities of first responders and emergency managers with regard to the elements of uniformity, interoperability, and the capacity to train personnel to a high level of interchangeability. The primary principle necessary in the design of an effective multi-disciplinary training and education system is the establishment of a curriculum that is standards driven. The creation of this system will ensure that every first responder and emergency manager in New Jersey understands his or her mission as it relates to preventing, responding to and recovering from terrorist attacks. By focusing on the front-line individual, the state can effectively enhance its overall preparedness."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Collins, Tristin J.
2011-09
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Outcomes-Balanced Framework for Emergency Management: A Predictive Model for Preparedness
From the thesis abstract: "The homeland security community has struggled with a unifying system to support national preparedness even though states and local jurisdictions have gone to great lengths to enhance their capability. State preparedness reports, with inconsistent ranking systems and measurement tools that are self-assessments of individual capabilities, lack a holistic connection. The literature suggests that a one-size-fits-all assessment system has limited comparative value and has not proven to answer to the unique risks each state faces. By looking at the risk posture in each state and the unique capability needs, a model emerges that includes existing quantitative information and combines it with qualitative efforts sustained in emergency management. This research will introduce a predictive model that balances value-added inputs with intended results enhanced by leadership, with the organizational processes and performance outputs enhanced by management, into a system that delivers the outcomes intended with preparedness and further comparing it with current policy on national preparedness. With the demand by Congress to reconcile the treasury spent on homeland security, emergency management must find a system that balances both the measureable outputs and anecdotal impacts of preparedness that will guide each state toward improvement of its effort and secure strategies for future investments."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Satula, Brian M.
2013-09
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Ready for the Future: Assessing the Collaborative Capacity of State Emergency Management Organizational Structures
From the thesis abstract: "Emerging needs of the emergency management discipline are outlined in recent presidential directives, national strategies and federal emergency management strategic initiative documents. Meeting these needs requires collaboration as a core capability. Collaboration with diverse communities, volunteers and the private sector are essential, as are strategic and operational actions for collaboration, building social capital, and using social media for collaboration. The future of our nation's resilience to disasters depends on a collaborative network of partners that reaches from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to individual citizens and the communities they inhabit. State emergency management agencies are the hub of this network and must lead the effort to effectively collaborate at all levels. The research findings of this thesis show that state emergency management organizations have not yet fully developed the collaborative capacities necessary to meet emerging needs. In addition, data shows that organizational structures of state emergency management organizations are impacting collaborative capacity development. In particular, military-based organizations lag behind their civilian-based counterparts in every area of collaborative capacity building. Reasons for these differences, and research into more effective structural models, should be explored."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Schaal, Jennifer
2013-03
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Reducing the 'Gap of Pain': A Strategy for Optimizing Federal Resource Availability in Response to Major Incidents
"In large-scale domestic disasters, a temporal gap frequently develops between the exhaustion of state and local resources and the arrival of federal resources. To date, strategies for reducing this so-called 'gap of pain' have not been based upon scientific methodology. This thesis reviews four alternatives for ensuring continuous availability of critical commodities: pre-positioning, pre-emptive federal action, time-phased deployment, and surge transportation. For a given scenario, the optimum approach is likely to be some combination of these alternatives. Stochastic modeling using optimization techniques holds great promise for producing efficient and effective strategic solutions. This thesis evaluates one such model using two notional scenarios affecting the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area: a Category 4 hurricane and a one-kiloton nuclear explosion near the city center. The results reinforce the validity of using this method to generate viable strategic alternatives for consideration by senior decision-makers. With additional development and testing, the model may be productively applied to a range of natural and man-made incidents, in disparate locations."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Heidtke, Curtis L.
2007-03
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Enhancing Regional Collaboration - Taking the Next Step
"Enhancing regional collaboration has been identified as one of the eight National Priorities for Homeland Security by the President of the United States. While South Carolina has made significant efforts in expanding regional collaboration, such as the creation of regional Counter Terrorism Coordinating Councils (CTCCs), there is still much work to be done. There are several teams and capabilities in place throughout the state, but they are not coordinated, lack structure, and have no plan or strategy by which to guide them. In addition, state agencies have varying regional operational structures, which add to the overlap and lack of coordinated homeland security planning efforts. This thesis examines why collaboration is difficult to obtain based on literature, the benefits of regional collaboration, regional collaboration efforts in other states, and specific recommendations for South Carolina to expand regional collaboration. The recommendations can also be applied to other states throughout the nation to ensure that homeland security planning efforts are coordinated, and as an end goal, regional collaboration is expanded at the sub-state level."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Temple, Jennie M.
2007-03
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Integration of Training Civilian and Military Disaster Responders
From the thesis abstract: "In the years since the September 11 attacks of 2001, and following the Gulf Coast hurricanes and the earthquake in Haiti, research has shown that first responders and medical institutions remain insufficiently prepared to address the increased demands for emergency response during and following major disasters. The threat from terrorism and natural disasters is very real; thus, the medical 'system' will face continual challenges. A brutal recent reminder of this was the international outbreak of the H1N1 virus that caused a worldwide pandemic in 2009, resulting in an increased demand for medical services. In the wake of these disasters, Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPD) were issued. Among these, are HSPD 21, Public Health and Medical Preparedness, which requires the establishment of a realistic strategy at all levels of government and across all sectors in the medical response community to meet the demands of contemporary preparedness. Areas of concern include the education and training for future response. To meet these needs, joint training of responders may enhance the efficiency of currently established training methodologies for national disaster teams, civilian hospital personnel, and National Guard and Reserve military emergency medical personnel training in domestic emergency medical deployment and response. The research question to be answered is how can the national policy enterprises design an effective model for the pre-event joint command and control training of disaster responders for both military and civilian operations? The conclusions reached in this research can be used to shape future national and local training policies and curriculum presented to response agency leaders from civil and military agencies."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Guercia, Leonard H., Jr.
2011-09
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Collaborative Radiological Response Planning
From the thesis abstract: "From the events of September 11, 2011, the United States learned a large-scale disaster can strike without warning. President Bush issued a series of Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPD) intended to increase coordination among response agencies. However, despite the enactment of the HSPDs, coordination and collaboration among response agencies is significantly lacking with respect to radiological emergency planning and preparedness activities. Planning for nuclear/radiological events is unique in that they often occur with no notice, with great complexity, and require broad scenario planning to cover the important potential contingencies. Radiological events demand that actions be taken by responsible organizations, in a timely and effective manner to mitigate consequences on populations, infrastructure and environment. This thesis is intended to help officials better understand the many factors that impact coordination and collaboration. These factors range from information sharing to multidisciplinary participation. This thesis will also assist officials in better understanding the Capabilities Based Planning Model and how it may be implemented to enhance radiological emergency planning and preparedness. The elements included in this paper are intended to enhance the planning and associated decisions made by all partners involved in local radiological planning efforts. In conclusion, the thesis recommends enhancing radiological emergency planning and preparedness at the local level, through integrating the jurisdictions approach with the use of the Capabilities Based Planning Model to encourage performance partnership and collaborative methods."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Roman, Elaine C.
2013-12
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Mindfulness Training: Worthwhile as a Means to Enhance First-Responder Crisis Decision Making?
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis identified a need for improvement in first-responder crisis decision making. The primary research question was, would mindfulness training be worthwhile as a means to enhance first-responder crisis decision making? Qualitative research methods (primarily a thematic analysis of the literature) were utilized to explore the areas of first responder operations, crisis decision making, and mindfulness training to identify key categories in the data relevant to the primary and sub-research questions. Evidence uncovered during this research supports a conclusion that mindfulness training may be one way in which first responders can improve upon their capacity to make effective decisions during a crisis. It was demonstrated that these improvements to crisis decision making resultant from mindfulness training could very well culminate in significant improvement of outcomes during future emergencies and disasters at which mindful first responders are present. Despite significant implementation challenges that were identified, systematic analysis of the literature revealed sufficient evidence to warrant serious consideration for further study and application of this theory in the field, including potential implementation of discipline-specific and culturally relevant mindfulness training systems within first responder organizations."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Flynn, John F.
2016-09
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Team Communication: The Social Identity Approach to Collaboration
From the thesis abstract: "This research applies the social identity approach to organizations and the public sector leaders who are instrumental in building the collaborative capacity of their respective groups. Collaboration at all levels of government and with the agencies within those levels of government has been elusive. Traditional studies on collaborative public management have focused on the need for collaboration and failures that occur without collaboration. Past studies in leadership communication have largely ignored the role of social identity in individual behavior. This research blends the social identity approach, collaborative public management, and leadership communication in order to alleviate these issues. The analysis of this research proposes that the social identity approach to organizational behavior gives insight into individual member behavior and thus the behavior of groups and the organization itself. Communication techniques are filtered through the social identity approach in order to identify those techniques that have the greatest chance of creating an identity that is more open to collaboration."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Sedam, Michael W.
2015-12
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Fire Department Perspective: Crowd Dynamics and Safety at Outside Events
From the thesis abstract: "Fire departments often respond to incidents at crowded events with no prior planning or coordination with other agencies. The result can be decreased safety for patrons at the events. The purpose of this thesis is to understand causes of injuries at crowded, outside venues and what could make these events safer. This thesis asks how fire department personnel can plan for the safety and care of large crowds at outside venues. The research design includes a review of literature on crowd dynamics and example incidents. Using root cause analysis, this thesis analyzes four case studies: 1989 Hillsborough soccer match, 2011 Reno Air Race, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, and 2014 Travis Air Force Base Air Show. The success of the Reno Air Race and Boston Marathon rescue personnel in taking care of injured victims can be attributed to careful planning by stakeholders before the events took place. This thesis recommends that before large, crowded events, stakeholders establish relationships and that all stakeholders participate in careful planning and realistic training. This planning and training should include interoperability of communications, roles for volunteer staff, and ways to prevent and decrease overcrowding. Finally, this thesis recommends strategies to educate event patrons on safety."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Griggs, Rick
2017-12
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Fire as a Weapon: High-Rise Structures
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis identifies an emerging problem space, high-rise pyro-terrorism. Although modern urban environments are vulnerable to sophisticated arson, and terrorists and lone-wolf attackers have exploited that vulnerability, neither practitioners nor the academic community have addressed the unique threat posed by arson. This thesis fills that gap by showing, first, that a good reason exists to believe that terrorists will use arson against high-profile urban targets in the future; second, that existing regulatory strategies may be sufficient to guard against accidental fires and opportunistic arson, but have weaknesses that sophisticated attackers can identify and exploit; and third, that the approach to urban firefighting must be modified to protect first responders, improve life safety in cases of pyro-terrorism, and facilitate effective collaboration with counter-terrorism forces. This thesis is valuable for an academic audience because it identifies the most pressing gaps in the literature on pyro-terrorism and explains their significance. It is also valuable to practitioners because it highlights vulnerabilities that can be addressed immediately, in a proactive rather than a reactive way."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Sheppard, Adrian Bernard
2017-12
