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Strategic Vessel System Management for the Public Safety Vessel Enterprise
From the Thesis Abstract: "This thesis reviews current practices for vessel acquisition in the public safety and homeland security fields, and evaluates agencies' strategic management of vessels as a means for improving planning and efficiency. The research explores parallel systems--including vehicle fleet maintenance and other vessel system planning--to establish best-practice anchors, against which it analyzes case studies from the Fire Department of New York, the Port of San Diego Harbor Police, and the U.S. Navy to evaluate how off-the-shelf or design-build strategies affect strategic management. The thesis then reviews additional requests for information to evaluate the current state of the public safety/homeland security vessel enterprise. The thesis concludes by presenting strategic best-practice anchors for moving forward in the maritime area of public safety assets. Establishing these best-practice anchors is the first step toward their wider use in the homeland security vessel enterprise."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Jensen, Brian C.
2019-12
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Missing Link: How Do Gaps in Mental Healthcare Contribute to the Active Shooter Epidemic?
From the Thesis Abstract: "Active shooter incidents at schools have highlighted the prevalence of mental illness in our society. Although the United States has historically struggled with its mental health policy, continuous efforts have been made to improve the system. During the 1960s, asylums were overcrowded and public outcry for humane treatment of the mentally ill pressured the government for change. To give patients a more normal life, the idea of community mental health centers emerged. Deinstitutionalization happened quickly across the country. The intent of the plan was to provide a more community-based approach to mental health. Unfortunately, the implementation of the plan was fractured. Over the past 50 years, with each iteration to the mental health system, many of those patients have found themselves in jail, in prisons, and homeless. This thesis explores a counterfactual analysis through an in-depth case study of Adam Lanza's life and navigation through the mental health system. Throughout his life, opportunities existed for intervention and treatment. Gaps in his mental health treatment allowed Adam to spiral into a deep state of mental illness in which he was debilitated by his obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety. The analysis suggests that the community-based approach to mental health could have provided early intervention that might have changed the outcome for Adam Lanza and the 26 lives he took at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14, 2012."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Buffkin, Kimberly L.
2019-12
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Unsuspected: The U.S. Military's Unintended Contribution to Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs
From the Thesis Abstract: "Active-duty military members and veterans (MIL/VETs) are joining, facilitating, and creating outlaw motorcycle gangs in search of a familiar social identity. MIL/VETs' advantageous skill sets, and their international deployments, are helping outlaw motorcycle gangs expand beyond law enforcement's ability to interdict them. In an effort to understand why some MIL/VETs join outlaw motorcycle gangs, this thesis analyzed publicly available information, and the author's personal experience as a gang investigator, through social identity theory and the social identity analytical method. The research found that outlaw motorcycle gang culture takes advantage of concepts such as patron-client relationships, challenge-response cycles, and honor challenges to provide MIL/VETs a limited good--a positive social identity--through its pseudo-warfare environment. The research also identified that MIL/VETs have specific motivations for seeking a positive identity through motorcycle gangs, including a desire to expand the criminal tradecraft, redeem regrets or missed opportunities from their military service, seek post-military employment, or address identity deficits. The findings in this thesis, along with additional research into these motivations, will contribute to the study of outlaw motorcycle gang culture and may help illuminate suitable alternatives to offer MIL/VETs."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
King, S. Nicholas
2019-12
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Strategy for Upgrading Preparedness in Small and Rural Communities to Meet National Preparedness Standards
From the thesis abstract: "In order for the smallest units of government--towns, villages, small cities, and rural areas--in the least populated areas of the country to successfully meet the national preparedness, response, recovery, and interoperability goals of the National Preparedness Guidelines, they must adhere to the compliance metrics of the National Incident Management System [NIMS]. This ensures personnel and resource accountability as well as successful multiagency coordination during times of disaster. Efforts by small towns and rural areas to meet NIMS compliance standards have been problematic. Failure of some units of government to meet these requirements has affected their ability to effectively respond to and recover from major disasters, as evidenced when coordinating with resources outside their immediate area or NIMS-compliant agencies. NIMS is built around the concept that all units of government and all disciplines from the federal to the local level must not only understand their role during incident response but also have the ability to seamlessly interoperate with each other and account for personnel and resources to successfully manage an incident. This research examines the reasons for the inability of some small towns and rural areas to meet these preparedness standards. The research findings drive the proposed solutions."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Stigler, Mark G.
2010-12
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Engaged and Empowered Community: An Essential Ingredient of Homeland Security
"Countless dollars have been spent on various programs and initiatives over the past decade to enhance homeland security. Although great strides have been made in many areas, one that continues to lag behind is preparedness at the local level. Documents ranging from the National Response Framework to the recently completed Quadrennial Homeland Security Review emphasize the need for both the public and private sectors to embrace the responsibility they have concerning community readiness efforts. The primary focus of this thesis is to determine what factors contribute to successful community preparedness efforts, as well as identifying those barriers that impede such progress from being realized. To that end, a variety of group structures and approaches currently in use are recognized and discussed. In addition, cases located both within the United States and abroad are identified and examined. Interviews conducted with members of these groups provide a first-hand account of what steps are being made to improve emergency preparedness within their local jurisdictions. This thesis culminates with the offering of the Community Oriented Readiness Effort. This program incorporates those recommendation produced by this research and provides the core components needed to adequately engage and empower required resources at the local level."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Taylor, Kevin Brian
2010-09
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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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Biosurveillance Technology: Providing Situational Awareness Through Increased Information Sharing
From the thesis abstract: "This need for the public health and medical enterprise to share information, has increased over the last decade, due to events such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, the 2009 H1N1 influenza outbreak, and other naturally occurring outbreaks, such as the recent Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O104 (STEC O104:H4) infections occurring in, and associated with, travel to Germany. This thesis explores the various ways that information sharing can be improved within the public health and medical enterprise. Through case studies and interviews, a conceptual framework, the LEAPS [Leading Edge Architecture for Prototyping Systems] model, was developed to guide the process to improve information sharing. This model is based upon the establishment of a strong foundation in health information sharing and disease surveillance. This model is centered upon leadership, policy, and strategy. The LEAPS model framework is then expanded to offer specific ways for the public health and medical enterprise to improve information sharing within jurisdictions and sectors to rapidly detect and respond to naturally occurring or intentional disease outbreaks or exposures and to create better situational awareness and a common operating picture."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Logsdon, Jasie K.
2011-09
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Hunting a Black Swan: Policy Options for America's Police in Preventing Radiological/Nuclear Terrorism
From the thesis abstract: "Local law enforcement is a necessary and irreplaceable component to a comprehensive approach to increasing the probability of detection of attempted Nuclear and Radiological Terrorism incidents. Local law enforcement's unique knowledge, skills, and abilities provide investigative, protection, and direct action capabilities not found in other nonmilitary disciplines. A well-trained, equipped, and situational aware Law Enforcement community can form our nation's last, best defense against this terrorist threat. This thesis will examine the broad policy options for law enforcement agencies pursuing a Preventive Radiological Nuclear Detection (PRND) program. The examination will look at four options: (1) taking no action and leaving the PRND mission to federal agencies, (2) a single agency approach, (3) multiple law enforcement agencies creating a regional PRND program and (4) a multidisciplinary, multiagency approach covering a large urban area. Each option will use a case to illustrate the comparative aspects of planning, organization, equipment, training, exercising, and operations support. It will be shown that interested law enforcement agencies can choose and implement a PRND that meets their needs as part of an overall homeland security program in their respective jurisdiction. The goal is to encourage more law enforcement agencies to participate in the domestic portion of a global strategy known as the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA). This document will serve as a roadmap for agencies wishing to engage in this mission."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Baldini, Edward
2012-09
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Evolving Arctic: Current State of U.S. Arctic Policy
From the thesis abstract: "The Arctic environment is in a state of flux and the U.S. government must be prepared to handle the evolution and capitalize on the opportunities. Once barren and desolate, the Arctic is slowly coming to life with industry and commerce brought about by receding ice conditions. Along with that comes the need for a comprehensive and actionable Arctic policy. The other Arctic nations that ring the North Pole are quickly adapting to the shifting Arctic. Unlike the U.S., they have established Arctic policies, are implementing plans to operate in the region, and taking advantage of the opportunities that this new frontier has to offer. The U.S. framework is the National Strategy for the Arctic Region. The plan is short on detail and aspirational in nature. It lacks clear direction and authority. The U.S. has yet to commit to its role as an Arctic nation. The U.S. Arctic lacks infrastructure such as a deep-water port, a joint military base, and additional heavy icebreaker assets. Additionally, there is no lead agency that has authority and funding to carry out U.S. Arctic objectives. Under the current state of affairs, the U.S. is vulnerable to security, economic, and sovereignty issues in the Arctic."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Dwyer, William G.
2013-09
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Sacramento Regional Response Guide to Radiation Emergencies
From the thesis abstract: "Accidental or intentional release of radiation may result in catastrophic consequences to urban and suburban populations. Any emergency response is compromised by insufficiently detailed protocols, and qualitative or quantitative wants in equipment and training. These challenges are no less acute for Sacramento County which is an archetype of at-risk suburban and urban settings. Recognized standards in critical patient care illustrate the need for specific considerations for radiological contaminated patients in a response protocol. Current practices in Sacramento require patient decontamination prior to treatment or transport. This may adversely affect survival profiles, despite national and international standards which specifically provide for consideration of alternative procedures. Radiation responses require a systems approach, whereby all work collaboratively towards a common goal. Incident commanders must appreciate their role in a radiation response, and how to incorporate the response into a unified multi-jurisdictional, unified command. Additionally, an essential component of any radiation response protocol is to decrease the associated ‘fear' of radiation in the general public as well as emergency responders. Best practices research, and recommendations at local, state, national and international levels are compiled into a usable radiation response protocol which can be utilized in formulating protocols in radiation emergency response."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Wells, Mark A.
2006-09
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Forging a Framework to Improve the Emergency Management Community's Ability to Respond to a Nuclear or Radiological Weapons Attack
From the thesis abstract: "Despite dire predictions from the federal government, academia, and private research institutions about the threat posed by nuclear and radiological terrorism, the federal government has yet to develop an overarching organizational framework to collectively plan and prepare for the horrendous consequences of such an attack. In addition, the federal government has yet to develop even a modest program to provide technical planning and preparedness assistance to those local officials charged with coordinating the response to nuclear or radiological terrorism â€" the local emergency manager. In order to reduce the loss of life, social panic, and the direct and indirect economic loss caused by a nuclear or radiological terror attack, the federal government should pursue the creation of a suite of strategic national and regional organizational innovations designed explicitly to prepare our nation's emergency management community and other first responders for their critical roles during a large-scale radiological response. First amongst these innovations should be the promulgation of a new Homeland Security Presidential Directive establishing a Domestic Nuclear Preparedness Office. Such organizational improvements, coupled with an aggressive field-level technical assistance planning, training, and exercise outreach campaign, will enable the United States to build a sophisticated and coordinated nuclear and radiological terrorism preparedness and response system."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Massey, Patrick J.
2007-03
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Preventing Terrorism Using Information Sharing Networks
From the thesis abstract: "Many states currently do not have an intelligence fusion center, and therefore, their ability to prevent and deter a terrorist attack is limited by the lack of information sharing. Wisconsin in addition to many states lacks a central hub for information exchange and currently has no system in place that allows the variety of technologies to gain access to a common database to gather and/or exchange information. The vast majority of public safety agencies currently operate their own systems that are incapable of exchanging information. The inability to exchange and/or access information in user-friendly format has inhibited many state and local efforts to keep its citizens safe from the possibility of a terrorist attack. The ultimate goal is to provide a mechanism where law enforcement , public safety and private sector partners can come together with a common purpose and improve the ability to safeguard our homeland and prevent criminal activity. Terrorism Early Warning Systems (TEW's) embody the core of collaboration and are an effective tool to maximize available resources and build trusted relationships. The fusion process should be organized and coordinated on a statewide level between the major Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) areas and the statewide fusion center concept."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
France, Paul
2006-09
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First Responder Identity Management: Policy Options for Improved Terrorism Incident Response
From the thesis abstract: "The analysis of domestic incidents of terrorism has revealed many gaps in our Nation's capability to effectively manage the multi-jurisdictional response. Although many gaps have been addressed through implementation of measures based on lessons learned, the most pervasive unresolved issue remains the ability to properly identify first response personnel on incident scenes. The nature of incidents of terrorism requires force protection to be a priority because of the threat of a secondary attack. Identity must be established and authenticated to protect responders and prevent infiltration to perpetrate a secondary attack. This thesis examines and evaluates several options for closing this pervasive identity management capability gap. The current decentralized identity system, a defined and typed response resource for identity management, and the federal identity project initiated under HSPD-12 are examined and evaluated as mechanisms for improving on-scene identity management in the response to incidents of terrorism. The thesis argues the development of a standardized nationwide responder identity token that can be rapidly authenticated and establishing dedicated identity management response resources are essential to improving the response multi-jurisdictional and catastrophic incidents of terrorism."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Landahl, Mark R.
2006-09
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Drone Court and Due Process
From the thesis abstract: "In the aftermath of 9/11, the U.S. Congress passed the Authorized Use of Military Force (AUMF), which established the authority of the president to use force to protect the United States from threats against the homeland. This authority allowed the president to use drones, even against U.S. citizens on foreign soil who have been deemed terrorists and placed on the kill list. The current process lacks procedural due process. These flaws have prompted critics to argue that a drone court should be created to address this concern. This thesis explores the issue of the drone court and asks, if one were created, what form should it take? How should it look? The thesis employs a policy options analysis to review three possible judicial forums for hearing these cases: the Foreign Surveillance Court (FISC), Guiora and Brand's hypothetical Operational Security Court (OSC), and the Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT). Five criteria were evaluated: oversight of the executive branch, transparency, timeliness, judges and legal representation, and legal/procedural review. The OSC had the best evaluation because it supported procedural due process. However, policies will need to be implemented to ensure that OSC legal procedures are timely."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
McManus, Sheree J.
2016-12
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Rules and a Rubric Could Be Used to Assess the Openness of a Homeland Security Enterprise Social Network
From the thesis abstract: "The Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE) lacks a process to create a body of knowledge to unify its stakeholders. This thesis asked if a set of rules and an assessment methodology could be applied to three wikis to illustrate how the rules can improve the quality of information-sharing across the HSE. The research for this thesis applied a set of rules and an assessment methodology to case studies testing the hypothesis that wikis are a good example of an enterprise social network (ESN) and could serve to meet the information needs of the HSE. The methodology will apply Bloom's Taxonomy to a rubric and establish a current status, as well as plan a path ahead for development. This thesis investigated the demand for improved information sharing and some existing platforms, and developed an assessment rule set and rubric. It then discovered the openness strengths and weaknesses of three case studies using the rules and rubric. Our conclusions are that the rules and rubric are adequate to develop paths to improvement for existing platforms, as well as to aid in the planning of future ESNs with the intention of developing a wiki-based homeland security-centric ESN designed to create an HSE body of knowledge."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Murray, Jeffrey Thomas
2016-12
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Role of Mental Illness Identification and Screening in Firearm Background Checks
From the thesis abstract: "Highly publicized mass shootings, and often the corresponding commentary on the perpetrator's mental health, lead many to question how such a person could have acquired access to a firearm. Mental illness, broadly speaking, is a prohibiting criterion for individuals to purchase a firearm, yet there are several examples of individuals who have a history of mental illness and are able to legally pass a firearm background check. This thesis examines the tenuous relationship between mental illness and violence, and evaluates federal and state laws to assess the prohibited criteria. Individuals with mental illness who go untreated and have co-occurring disorders are at an increased risk of violence, yet may never enter into the courts or are not involuntarily committed to a mental institution. This research concluded, therefore, that statutes need to change by placing less emphasis on involuntary commitment to mental institutions and instead adopt a risk-based approach that restricts firearm access by individuals with a mental illness who may present a risk of violence once they are identified. Legal, procedural, and clinical implications are explored to ensure that individuals' Constitutional rights are protected while mitigating risk and maintaining a primary goal of ensuring effective treatment."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Barklage, Kevin M.
2017-12
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Inclusion of Disaster Resiliency in City/Neighborhood Comprehensive Plans
From the thesis abstract: "Once hazard mitigation is included in a city's comprehensive plan, the region and its citizens are more prepared to respond to a potential natural disaster. The purpose of this thesis was to illuminate factors that encourage cities to include hazard mitigation within their comprehensive plans. The research used geographic information system (GIS) and census data to locate urban, suburban, and rural areas at risk of flooding and analyzed these regions' comprehensive plans. The research results suggest that previous major flooding events often lead to the inclusion of flood-related hazard mitigation into cities' comprehensive plans. This finding suggests that policy alone does not influence hazard mitigation; other methods should be practiced to ensure hazard mitigation is included within neighborhood/city comprehensive plans."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Gavin, Douglas J.
2017-09
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Preventing Firefighter Exposure Hazards
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines detrimental health exposures for firefighters and recommends fire service policy and equipment upgrades designed to slow or eliminate these harmful exposures. Because firefighters are exposed to numerous environmental dangers during their careers, this thesis focuses on eliminating three occupational exposures contributing to health issues: chemical flame retardants, diesel exhaust, and toxins in synthetic furniture. Existing studies written by scholars, consumer advocacy groups, and government agencies identify several exposure hazards and recommend preventive measures to address them. In addition to examining these studies, this thesis reviews a well-intentioned California state law--which allowed chemical flame retardants in home furniture and electronic products--that has caused an exposure hazard for both firefighters and the general public. The thesis also exposes necessary upgrades for firefighters' portable air-supply units to reduce respiratory exposures. Finally, because diesel exhaust emissions have adverse health effects and are abundant in fire stations, the thesis recommends making changes to fire stations to better contain the diesel by-products of the fire trucks, including the possibility of purchasing electric-powered fire trucks to eliminate the diesel engine. Rather than providing a clinical study, this thesis offers an examination of occupational health hazards and recommends mitigative equipment and policy upgrades."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Burke, Paul F.
2017-09
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Searching for Effective Training Solutions for Firefighting: The Analysis of Emergency Responses and Line of Duty Death Reports for Low Frequency, High Risk Events
From the thesis abstract: "Since 9/11, the fire service has experienced a shift and an expansion in the nature of threats and hazards that it faces. Despite advances in the field, firefighters are still losing their lives inside of burning buildings, and they must find new ways of identifying training gaps and improving current training practices. This thesis explores whether emergency incidents connected to low frequency and high risk events contain sufficient warning signs or indicators of imminent catastrophic events, if firefighters could identify them, and if there was a potential of changing decision making and averting a tragedy. In order to create a firm basis for this discovery, this research effort included a detailed analysis of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's line of duty death reports from the years 2013- 2015. The work provided an opportunity to learn from past events and practices and identify successes and failures in the firefighting domain without the bias of being closely involved with the cases or having a specific agenda. Quantitative analysis performed on this data set and the knowledge gleaned from looking at the events after the fact provide a foundation for advising novel training approaches and scenarios that can be used to train both individuals and teams of fire fighters."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
McDevitt, Deanna M.
2017-09
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Model of Creating Inpatient Hospital Surge Capacity Through Early Discharge
From the thesis abstract: "When catastrophic disasters strike, health care systems are often faced with overwhelming volumes of patients to treat (patient surge). While many governmental and policy organizations have outlined recommendations to build 'surge capacity,' there has been little research on specific strategies to accommodate these significant patient loads. Specifically, a concept known as 'reverse triage,' which allows clinicians to assess current patients for possible discharge or reduction in the level of their clinical care, is still poorly understood. This research study investigated the utility of a structured assessment tool to predict the ability of a current patient to be discharged or downgraded in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Clinicians were provided a mock scenario and asked to use their clinical judgment or a structured assessment tool. The charts of patients were then reviewed 96 hours after the assessments were completed to determine whether predictions were accurate. This pilot study showed that the assessment tool was slightly better at predicting which patients could be safely discharged and which needed to remain admitted. This project serves as a first foray of research into this area and will initiate broader discourse and additional studies. The goal is to provide clinicians with stronger guidance vetted in scientific evidence and supported in ethical, legal, and moral context to make difficult decisions in the face of catastrophic disaster situations."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dunne, William J.
2018-09
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Measuring Disaster Preparedness of Local Emergency Medical Services Agencies
From the thesis abstract: "Emergency Medical Services (EMS) plays a key role in disaster response. Yet, determining how much preparedness is enough to achieve an acceptable level of preparedness is challenging. After conducting an extensive literature review, it is evident no nationally accepted method exists to evaluate an EMS system's level of disaster preparedness systematically. Research was conducted to define the skills and equipment that local emergency medical services agencies (LEMSA) or a similar entity needs to perform strategic disaster response duties and identify performance indicators for measuring preparedness. Using an appreciative inquiry approach, surveys and interviews of EMS personnel from across the nation were conducted. Interview questions focused on the positive aspects of each response with an effort to understand what might be possible in future events. Research subjects had first-hand experience in managing the EMS response during a disaster. Multiple types and sizes of events were studied. A framework for defining minimum standards for adequate disaster preparedness for LEMSAs is constructed, including core EMS disaster response roles; essential competencies; skills needed to perform the core roles; and tools or equipment used for core roles. Training strategies for developing experience, competencies, and skills are identified, and metrics listed for measuring the level of preparedness."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Elliott, Ross W.
2010-09
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Collaboration in the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Medical Response System
"Within the San Francisco Bay Area there are four cities that host a Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) program: San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Fremont. The four Bay Area MMRS cities are within fifty miles of each other. The MMRS resources could be used to reinforce each other's planning and response. The 103-city, 10- county Bay Area is under one Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI). Currently though, the MMRS programs in the four cities work independently of each other and of the UASI. How can these agencies collaborate to address mission gaps and overlaps? This thesis uses a Delphi survey methodology to ascertain institutional perspectives on benefits, processes, enablers and barriers to collaboration in the San Francisco Bay Area. With collaborative effort, gaps and overlaps in San Francisco Bay Area mass casualty preparedness and response can be mitigated. This thesis recommends short term and long term actions to encourage collaboration in the Bay Area, which, in turn, can lead to better patient outcomes in infrequent mass casualty incidents."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Martin, Bruce K.
2010-09
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Developing a Resilient Green Cellular Network
From the thesis abstract: "As technology drives society to a ubiquitously wireless world, the paradox of mobile wireless network accessibility versus resilience is disturbingly trending in opposite directions. The demand for cellular networks with greater capacity and bandwidth appears to be the primary factor in expanding coverage nationwide, with resilience becoming a secondary thought. It is expected that resilient systems will be able to withstand shocks and stresses from critical incidents and still be able to function as intentionally designed. However, the fragility of cellular networks affected by recent disasters within the last ten years has demonstrated otherwise. The purpose of this research is to direct attention to the importance of cellular base station functionality during power outages and illustrate how these assets require modification to provide critical communications for the public to summon aid, and first responders to coordinate response efforts. Prior research offers strategies to implement post-disaster remediation supplanting failed localized communication infrastructure. This mitigating strategy requires substantial time, labor, and planning to deploy that subsequently detracts from conducting immediate response and recovery. This research is intended to propose a path forward for resiliency in U.S. mobile cellular networks using renewable/alternative energy outlined in India's National Telecom Policy for 2012."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Sankerdial, Roger
2013-12
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Alternate Care Sites for the Management of Medical Surge in Disasters
From the thesis abstract: "This research compares federal and state approaches to managing disaster medical surge. The comparison identifies the varieties of regulations, assets and response methods available for federal and state responses to mass casualty incidents from which local communities can develop plans and acquire resources to create a seamless disaster medical care system. Following a disaster, survivors self-evacuate or are transported by EMS [Emergency Medical Services] to a nearby hospital. Arrival of disaster survivors, combined with an often high daily number of non-disaster patients leaves the facility overwhelmed both in terms of medical resources and personnel. The lack of local resources to manage the incident may require state and federal assets to be deployed. The time it takes for the additional resources to arrive from outside the area leaves the facility unable to respond effectively for hours and even days. A whole community approach to medical surge management organized by a collaborative regional healthcare coalition may provide a solution. Such a coalition can engage stakeholders to assess and manage resources (space, staff, and stuff) and develop surge response plans that will integrate with state and federal resources when needed. Seamless coordination will minimize the complexities of medical surge needs and lead to doing the best for the most."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Stewart, Gail A.
2013-12
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Increased Anti-Money Laundering Banking Regulations and Terrorism Prosecutions
From the thesis abstract: "After 9/11, anti-money laundering banking regulations were increased to counter terrorism finance. This study attempts to identify whether increasing banking regulations has countered terrorism finance by reviewing terrorism prosecutions. This study looked at federal terrorism prosecutions from January 2004 through April 2009. The study reviewed court documents and case backgrounds for indicators that anti-money laundering banking regulations were useful to the terrorism prosecution by either detecting terrorism financing or by supporting other charges, such as money laundering. The study did not find that banking regulations detected terrorist financing. The avoidance of banking regulations was used to support money laundering charges in two cases; however, pre-9/11 regulations would have sufficed. The study found that increasing anti-money laundering banking regulations had limited effects on countering terrorism financing. How anti-money laundering banking regulations are implemented within a counterterrorism finance regime should be reevaluated."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Kao, Albert L.
2013-03
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Denying the Dangerous: Preventing Firearms from Entering the Hands of the Dangerously Mentally Ill
From the thesis abstract: "Mass shootings in the United States tend to be succeeded by a period of great public attention to gun control laws. Often of particular concern is the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which is promulgated by law to prevent statutorily defined individuals, including the dangerously mentally ill, from obtaining firearms. This thesis analyzed the NICS, particularly its ability or inability to prevent firearm access to the mentally ill. The examination looked at three criteria: (1) the weaknesses in the NICS that inhibit its ability in preventing the dangerously mentally ill from obtaining firearms, (2) how consistently applicable records are submitted to the NICS from the individual states, and (3) the proposed recommendations to change and create a more efficient NICS. Specific high-profile mass shootings in the United States were reviewed to illustrate legislative response to those shootings and the changes to the NICS, if any, that followed them. The goal was to identify any immediate deficiencies in the NICS and determine any corrective actions necessary to enhance it to produce a more reliable system. This research should serve as a roadmap for committees or individuals tasked with gun control legislation in the United States."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Bonk, David M.
2014-12
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Purposefully Manufactured Vulnerabilities in U.S. Government Technology Microchips: Risks and Homeland Security Implications
From the thesis abstract: "Government at all levels, industry, military and critical infrastructure, may be at risk due to purposeful manipulation of micro-processing chips during the manufacturing process. Many microchips intentionally provide remote access to allow for monitoring and updating firmware. However, a remote access capability also introduces a vulnerability, which allows others to potentially take control of a system and shut it down remotely, spy, or remove data. If this is in fact occurring, the implications to the national and homeland security could be significant. It does not appear that there are currently policies and processes to identify purposefully manufactured vulnerable micro processing chips. Should it be determined that vulnerabilities do in fact exist, a federal government-led effort is needed to identify the entities producing these chips; to assess possible intentions of these actors; inventory hardware that is in use, which may have been compromised; and, finally, to pursue the development of a remediation strategy. Additionally, the current supply chain process will have to be re-examined to mitigate current and future concerns. Therefore, in 2012, the Government Accounting Office recommended that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) create and implement a cyber security supply chain vulnerability policy. This policy will assist the federal, state, and local governments, as well as private sector entities, to develop guidelines for procurement and policy decisions."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Perera, George
2012-12
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Interoperable Communications Systems: Governance and Risk
"This thesis explores how shared governance mitigates risk related to multi-agency, multi-discipline interoperable radio communications projects. Case study research focused on two California counties, Marin and Monterey, to discover how shared governance emerged to mitigate financial, managerial and discipline risk. The significance of this research identifies the elements of shared governance that can lead to the successful implementation of interoperable radio communications projects. Findings indicate that shared governance emerges over time and is influenced by existing professional relationships. Metaleaders are individuals take the sum of their professional experience (roles) and use that experience to facilitate shared need and common understanding between all participants. Finally, public safety tradition and culture will impact the development of shared governance solutions and can inhibit or facilitate shared governance solutions."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Aspland, Michael J.
2009-12
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Improving Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the United States Through Improved and Centralized Federal Coordination
"Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is an important discipline in the arena of first responders. Unlike other first response disciplines, EMS does not have strong representation at the federal level. This thesis argues that representation is necessary and identifies the federal agency in which it should reside. Current federal agencies that have a role in EMS are evaluated. These agencies include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Health and Human Services. These agencies are evaluated to determine where the federal oversight for EMS should be placed. Existing overlaps are shown. EMS strategy needs are conveyed by examining the components of interest-based strategy and identifying EMS as a megacommunity. The application of megacommunity components identifies what needs to be eliminated and reduced combined with what issues need to be raised and how this will create a stronger network for EMS support for both everyday needs and in times of national disaster. The recommendation is made that the federal oversight of EMS be a newly created office of United States EMS Administration (USEMSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services. The recommendation includes what should be considered in forming the USEMSA."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Mims, Leeanna
2011-03
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Recommendation for a National Standard for Tactical Emergency Casualty Care and Israeli Hospital Trauma Protocols in the United States
From the thesis abstract: "This research asks the following question: Why are tactical emergency casualty care (TECC) rescue task force (RTF) and Israeli hospital trauma programs the best approaches to addressing the current gaps and weaknesses in trauma management in the United States in the context of terrorist attacks and/or active shooter incidents? The purpose of this thesis is to ascertain why existing tactical emergency medical service protocols in most public safety jurisdictions are deficient and to analyze which types of resources jurisdictions need in order to ensure that they have optimal programs in place for mass casualty incident response. Active shooter and terrorist attacks have been on the rise since the 1990s. This thesis found that most public safety organizations in the United States are unprepared to provide emergency medical services during these incidents. Provision of tactical emergency medical services in hostile environments require that emergency medical services personnel train and deploy using TECC RTF guidelines and the Israeli hospital paradigm. This thesis recommends the implementation of a national standard to ensure that these programs are instituted in jurisdictions across the United States."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Kierstead, Robert L.
2015-06
