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America Wildland-Urban Interface Burning: A Modern Application of a Historic Success
"In 2018, the Camp fire, a conflagration in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), destroyed Paradise, California, killing nearly 90 residents. Reports of the disaster focused on risk reduction in the structural or wildland environments; a comprehensive, collaborative look at the WUI, where the built environment and wildland or 'outdoors' meet, has yet to be produced. In the 1970s, statistics on the number of fires and on persons killed or injured in fires, showed alarming growth, and in 1973 a report (America Burning) was ordered by Congress to present ways of reversing these trends. Subsequent core documents guided federal response and preparedness in general, but fires in the WUI zone were little discussed. This research makes policy recommendations for the WUI as a domain characterized by unique circumstances that require tailored plans. Data is analyzed through a strategic framework developed by the military to assess operational environments. The commissioning of an updated national report that reflects contemporary developments in firefighting, community awareness, and technologies is urged, and specific policies are recommended for implementation."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Litzenberg, Erik J.
2020-03
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Law Enforcement's Role in Preventing Epidemics: Enforcing Communicable Disease Quarantine Policies
"The Philadelphia Police Department currently has no policy providing guidance to its police officers on how to safely and humanely enact the quarantine enforcement component of the Isolation and Quarantine Plan developed by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Thus, this thesis addresses the question: How can a humane quarantine policy be enforced by the Philadelphia Police Department to stop the spread of communicable infectious diseases? To answer the question, a Likert Scale was employed to rank the efficacy of quarantine enforcement: effectiveness, community support, cost, and implementation ease. The research indicates forced quarantine cannot be implemented successfully without evidence-based practices to support it. The use of self-quarantine benefits from providing essential services to quarantined citizens and the powers of arrest should only be used after reasonable enforcement means have been attempted. Hybrid quarantine plans tailored to the disease and enacted with sound medical advice are best suited to stop disease spread. U.S. law enforcement agencies would benefit from developing a quarantine enforcement plan and updating existing public health quarantine plans to include additional guidance for officers along these lines. A collaborative plan must be established among all stakeholders to deliver essential goods and information."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Lowenthal, Donald I., Jr.
2020-03
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Insult to Injury: Disaster Displacement, Migrant Threat Perception, and Conflict in Host Communities
"Environmental disasters are complex problems not only for the communities directly hit but also for areas that receive the people forced out of their homes. In developing nations, this situation is called internal displacement and is recognized internationally as a protection and security problem similar to refugee flows. Wealthier countries like the United States, however, have not yet acknowledged similar concerns domestically. This thesis explores the right to freedom of movement, the potential for conflict and weakened social cohesion in post-disaster settings, and the ways American communities can identify these challenges and avoid perceiving fellow citizens as threats to stability. Through the examination of three historical case studies--Dust Bowl migrants, Hurricane Katrina evacuees, and victims of recent wildfires in California--this research explores sociological processes leading to outgroup definition, resource competition, and attempts to scapegoat displaced people. The synthesis of these experiences concludes with a new disaster-displacement model identifying factors and circumstances that amplify or mitigate threat perception by host communities and the vulnerability of migrant citizens. A central concern appears to be how newcomers exacerbate existing local problems and fit into familiar narrative frames; one forward-looking tool is the development of a U.S. policy on internally displaced persons."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Locke, Michael S.
2020-03
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Out, Out--the Role of Messaging in Countering Domestic Violent Extremism
"Countering the radical Islamist narrative remains a high-profile priority of the United States in its ongoing efforts to counter domestic violent extremism. Since mid-2014, government officials have condemned the United States as unable to muster a satisfactory 'counter-narrative,' and emphasize the potentially devastating consequences of failure. Experts inside and outside the government describe the Islamic State as masters of the internet capable of reaching into the United States and turning its people into hate-filled, violently inspired terrorists at will. The idea that the United States must aggressively work to counter these messages domestically remains a given; but should it? The focus of this thesis is to examine current U.S. efforts in counter-messaging to determine why the United States believes it is failing, and what, if any, evidence supports the idea that a counter-narrative or counter-messaging should be part of domestic countering violent extremism (CVE) programs. Review of official documents found little basis to assess U.S. programs, as no meaningful published strategy, objectives, or performance data exist for current efforts. Moreover, the foundational assumptions underlying current programs suggest malalignment between what U.S. officials desire a counter-messaging effort to accomplish and what is realistically achievable. Based on these findings, it is recommended that domestic CVE programs eliminate counter-messaging from their portfolio."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Roberts, Kathryn M.
2020-03
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Precision Policing: A Way Forward to Reduce Crime
"For years, law enforcement practitioners and policymakers have sought innovative ways to reduce crime. But experience has shown that reducing crime without retaining the community's trust--such as through heavy-handed policing--can be venomous for society. In New York City, the precision policing model combines predictive policing analysis with increased neighborhood coordination to predict crime and then uses interventions from neighborhood coordination officers to prevent crimes altogether. This thesis examines the precision policing model implemented by the NYPD and finds that it has reduced crime and increased community trust in the police, even with diminished police resources. This thesis recommends that other law enforcement agencies use the precision policing formula of predictive and community policing as an effective crime reduction tool while building relationships with the community."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Ashraf, Muhammad J.
2020-03
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Strategic Mutual Aid Response to Terrorism: A New Approach
"This research examines military doctrine and warfare maneuver strategy to determine its efficacy for improving law enforcement command and control efforts for mutual aid during paramilitary terrorist attacks. A qualitative analysis of case studies was conducted on terrorist attacks in Boston, Paris, and San Bernardino to uncover commonalities with the law enforcement response challenges. The identified law enforcement challenges were then compared with aspects of warfare maneuver strategy and military doctrine that were shown to demonstrate utility for improving law enforcement response efforts. The results indicate that warfare maneuver strategy and military doctrine can be used to improve law enforcement command and control efforts for mutual aid during paramilitary terrorist attacks. Recommendations include implementing a reciprocal model of command and control, establishing a strategy for providing mutual aid resources during paramilitary terrorist attacks, and providing training that reinforces key principles of military doctrine without creating a police force that mirrors the military. To summarize, this is a SMART approach, a Strategic Mutual Aid Response to Terrorism."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Hart, Jeremiah J.
2020-03
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Terrorism Prevention Through Community Policing
"Mass casualty, premeditated, and targeted violence incidents connected with extremism and hate are on the rise in the United States. The year 2019 saw more mass killings in the United States than ever recorded in one calendar year. Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) is the government-funded program that intended to mitigate these threats, but diverse community groups labeled CVE a discriminatory spying campaign, focused exclusively on Muslim community members. This thesis explores whether CVE might benefit from the integration of community policing strategies and, if so, what strategies from community policing would make future CVE programs more successful. Using an appreciative inquiry approach, this thesis evaluates CVE pilot programs, including current community policing models in Los Angeles and New York City. Recommendations include abandoning the phrase 'countering violent extremism'; creating an all-inclusive, whole-community approach; empowering all front-line police officers to be problem solvers; cultivating citizen involvement in the design and structure of violence prevention programs; educating police officers on hate crimes, violent extremism, and the radicalization process; separating all community-focused violence programming from intelligence collection and criminal investigation teams; and gaining endorsements of such programs from executive-level law enforcement managers."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Wyckoff, Robert
2020-03
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Pills, Powders, and Overdose: An Analysis of America's Illicit Fentanyl Crisis
"Illicit fentanyl and its analogs are the most substantial synthetic opioid threat that North America faces, and there is no indication that the threat will decrease in the near future. Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is, at a minimum, 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine and responsible for the exponential increase in overdoses and overdose deaths in recent years. Illicit fentanyl and its analogs are being mixed with drugs such as cocaine and heroin and have been found disguised in counterfeit prescription pills. Data suggest that many drug users are unaware of the illicit fentanyl in the drugs they consume. The illicit fentanyl threat affects communities nationwide by depleting public health, public safety, and financial resources. This thesis seeks to present the illicit fentanyl crisis by providing its history and describing the manufacturing, trafficking, and distribution of illicit fentanyl and the effects it has on communities and community resources. Illicit fentanyl and its analogs have become an epidemic in North America that continues to spread like an infection. Policy must be implemented and success measured to prevent the infection from becoming a terminal illness."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Heiser, Timothy C.
2020-03
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Your Bridges Are Failing, Which One Should You Fix First? An Objective Yet Simple Method to Rate Bridges
"There is no simple and objective method for rating the criticality of bridges that conveys multi-sector components. This thesis addresses this problem using a multi-sector approach that accounts for sector-specific disruptions that can arise from damage to a single bridge. Methods for rating bridges are drawn from the existing academic, industrial, and international communities' efforts to quantify criticality. Using this sector-specific information, a novel solution is proposed for rating the criticality of a bridge, or other structure, that conveys co-linear links or nodes associated with multiple infrastructure networks."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Carroll, Christopher
2020-03
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Last Responders: Approaching the Disaster After the Disaster Through Community-Led Long-Term Recovery Coalitions
"Recovery is the disaster after the disaster, particularly for long-term recovery (LTR). Classic emergency management (EM) approaches may fail to address LTR because of its 'wicked problems,' which evade traditional top-down systems. For wicked problems, scholars recommend mobilization of varied stakeholder networks. One such network exists in LTR through community-led coalitions, an organizing phenomenon coordinating nonprofits, congregations, associations, and other services to streamline diverse, critical services. The model brings together emergent groups, governmental EM, and nongovernmental EM sectors. This study examines how community-led LTR coalitions interpret and tackle LTR's wicked problems through an in-depth qualitative analysis of long-term recovery groups after Hurricane Sandy in New York City. The research methodology includes interviews with coalition coordinators and assessments of materials relating to these coalitions. The study demonstrates the strengths and weaknesses in coalition approaches to five wicked problems derived from LTR scholarship. It offers recommendations to LTR practitioners across sectors and explores the significance of these coalitions for EM and democratic participation in recovery. This thesis applies scholarly rigor to approaches taken by coalitions in NYC to make sense of LTR's wicked problems and collectively tackle them. It is written by and for leaders who serve survivors through the long haul of recovery--the 'last responders.'"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Tornello, Alana
2020-03
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Rising Tide Floats All Boats, but Drowns Infrastructure: The Impact of Sea-Level Rise on America's Maritime Infrastructure
"America's maritime ports provide vital services to the nation's economy and national security functioning as the critical nodes in a transportation network facilitating imports and exports and connecting distribution routes throughout the entire country. Many maritime ports also provide facilities for military operations for all branches of the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security. The homeland security enterprise is primarily focused on counterterrorism. A changing climate brings significant threats across a wide spectrum of vectors. Maritime ports and their supporting infrastructure are at risk of inundation from sea-level rise as a consequence of global climate change. The homeland security enterprise continues to focus on the low probability/high consequence threat of domestic maritime terrorism while a high probability/high consequence event looms just over the horizon. This paper examines the risks, vulnerabilities, costs and consequences posed by the catastrophic threat of sea-level rise--nature's weapon of mass destruction, reviews the dynamics behind recent and current resource allocation, and proposes recommendations for future policy deliberations."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Sullivan, Michael
2020-03
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9-1-1: What's Our Emergency? Diagnosing a Struggling Occupation Serving a Neglected System
"In 2019, only twelve U.S. states/territories required the Emergency Communications Officer (ECO) to meet hiring standards, twenty-nine required basic training standards, twenty-three required continuing-education standards, and twenty-three required use of pre-arrival medical instruction protocols. Furthermore, the federal government misclassifies the profession within its Office and Administrative Support occupational grouping, as opposed to the Protective Service occupational grouping. There is substantial evidence of 9-1-1 failures in professionalism and proficiency, nationwide. This thesis seeks to answer the question: How could the nation's 9-1-1 system --specifically its ECO occupation--evolve to address problems and maximize advantages to public safety and homeland security? It is a policy analysis but includes some qualitative analysis. Professionalization and standardization need to occur within the system, beginning with an accurate occupational classification. Increased compensation commensurate with the work performed is also needed, and that should be accompanied with mandated hiring, basic training and certification standards, and requirements in the use of pre-arrival medical instruction protocols. Lastly, a termination of all jurisdictional misappropriation of 9-1-1 fees, updated and sustainable funding streams, and adequate investment in technological enhancements necessary to improve the system's efficiency, proficiency, redundancy, and resiliency need to occur."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Haight, Kevin P.
2020-03
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Aligning the National Preparedness Goal and FEMA's National Preparedness Grants
"The majority of Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) preparedness grants were created in the wake of 9/11 through the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Act). These grants, as required by the Act, are predicated on addressing terrorism preparedness. The National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) was introduced in 2011 to provide an all-hazards capability-based system to measure the nation's level of preparedness. The purpose of this thesis is to determine if FEMA's preparedness grants are allowing the Goal to be achieved and examine if the grant programs can be adjusted to better align with the strategic intent of the Goal. This research examined homeland security capabilities and federal grant programs to determine if a nexus to terrorism has created any limitations. The results of the national preparedness reports from 2014 to 2018 are also examined to determine if the nation is moving in the right direction regarding preparedness. Several preliminary ideas are offered to improve alignment of grant programs with the Goal. A recommendation is also made for FEMA to develop a process to understand better how grant funds are impacting capabilities."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Harbour, Lance D.
2020-03
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Improving Resilience Among Law Enforcement Officers
"Law enforcement officers' exposure to stress exacts a toll on them. Agencies have programs designed to mitigate stress and assist officers after a critical incident, but research shows pre-exposure to stressors may help officers better mitigate stress. The goal of this thesis was to examine stress management and psychological resiliency tools that are most promising in reducing stress and building resilience in law enforcement, starting with a review of the effects of chronic and acute stress, post-traumatic stress disorder in officers, and health-related problems associated with stress. This thesis examined wellness and employee assistance programs, critical incident stress management, and psychological first aid, programs all designed to address stress-related problems that occur after critical incidents. Specific attention in this thesis was paid to preventative tactics to reduce stress such as mindfulness and controlled breathing techniques, the use of meditation and yoga, and visualization techniques to prepare officers for potentially stressful events--techniques that could have positive effects in reducing stress-related mental and physical health problems experienced by officers. Based on this review, recommendations to improve wellness programs include incorporating mindfulness techniques, tactical psychological training, and the better use of technology in both ongoing and preventative stress care."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Miller, Brian S.
2020-03
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Campus Police Participation in Joint Terrorism Task Forces
"The strategy a campus police leader and university administration adopt in a post-9/11 world must consider the context of campus attacks and foiled plots over the past 12 years: the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, the 2014 University of California Santa Barbara attack killing six, and, tangentially, the 2015 arrest by Boston Police of a Boston Police captain's son for plotting an Islamic State-inspired attack against a college campus. The nexus among the three attacks is that the campus and campus community were the direct targets of the attacks. Whether it be the threat of an individual's radicalization or an untreated mental illness, American college campuses are today and shall foreseeably remain locations challenged by the potential for violence. This issue can be examined internally through threat assessment teams or campus partnerships with key stakeholders and externally through community policing partnerships, training, and networking. Given the increasing complexity and diverse social fabric of colleges and universities, campus police leaders must understand and prepare for a wide range of threats in a post-9/11 and politically polarized era."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Higgins, Ronnell A.
2020-03
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Analysis of the New Jersey Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act Through a Modern Emergency Management Frame
"The laws and directives in the state of New Jersey governing emergency management must ensure a defined, understood, and achievable mission, and clearly delineate responsibilities at each level of government. This thesis addresses how emergency management in New Jersey can be modified based on a comprehensive analysis of the New Jersey Civil Defense and Disaster Control Act of 1942 and the corresponding New Jersey Office of Emergency Management directives. Each statute of the act and each directive was analyzed against five criteria and then placed in one of three categories: no change, modification needed, or repeal. Emergency management professionals in the state were then asked questions regarding the act, the content of the analysis, and the categorization of the statutes. The data collected from these professionals was used to make changes, or to alter the final categorization. This iterative process resulted in a more thorough analysis. This research makes four main recommendations: improve training for emergency managers in the state, codify modifications of the act in legislation, take a holistic approach to improvements for emergency operations plan development and compliance, and modify residency restrictions on municipal emergency management coordinators. The goal of this thesis is to provide the least complex rules and regulations for emergency managers, so that they can do their job with a better sense of responsibilities to the community served."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Cunning, Daniel
2020-03
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Human Trafficking: The Hidden Aftermath of U.S. Natural Disasters
"This thesis explores common factors associated with both victims of human trafficking and vulnerable populations in post-natural-disaster environments. This research aimed to prove post-natural-disasters can lead to human trafficking crimes. The research identified social, economic, and human security factors that are present in both human trafficking and natural disaster environments. Volatility in these categories destabilizes and disrupts multiple aspects of a community, consequently leading to individuals being more susceptible to trafficking. The findings of this research also indicate that the identified factors have universal applicability regardless of disaster type, culture, or geographic location. Disaster survivors are not the only vulnerable population, but other populations, such as disaster workers, are also susceptible to trafficking. Gaining an in-depth perspective on the common vulnerabilities linking human trafficking and natural disasters can help officials develop strategies to assist with combating trafficking activities in a post-disaster environment and protect individuals who are in a compromised state after enduring a life-altering disaster event."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Eichelberger, Carrie B.
2020-03
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Bridging the Gap: Providing Transportation Leaders with a Strategic and Risk-Based Investment Methodology
"A nationally accepted and adopted methodology for state departments of transportation to assess the importance of roads, bridges, and other transportation assets does not exist. Instead, transportation agencies must prioritize the projects to invest in, without having a complete picture of the makeup of their network and the risk posed from a loss or disruption of a component of the network. To make informed transportation investment decisions, transportation leaders need to have the tools necessary to determine the risk to the infrastructure based on the possible consequences if a segment of the transportation infrastructure network were disrupted. This thesis provides a methodology for network modeling of surface transportation infrastructure and analyzing the risk of a disruption to that network based on the consequence of population and economic impacts. By applying the methodology herein, transportation leaders can make informed decisions about their transportation investments based on the investments that provide the greatest return on investment."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Miller, Brittany N.
2020-03
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Looking Beyond the Horizon: Modeling DHS Net Assessment
"This thesis explores the modification of the Department of Defense (DOD) framework and model of net assessment for use by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DOD uses net assessment to forecast strategically, often decades into the future, to determine where a net advantage or disadvantage exists over its adversaries. The information from such an analysis is then used by the DOD to determine where to best focus its resources in meeting these future adversaries. This thesis utilizes the corollary inputs, analysis, and outputs between DOD and DHS strategic models to visualize a notional framework that can be used to conduct these net assessments for DHS beyond the typical strategic plan timescale. For each DOD input and output, a comparable DHS input and output is selected. An example DHS net assessment is conducted to explore the viability of the model."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Davis, Michael A., Jr.
2020-03
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Home Deferred: The Future Homeland Security Implications of Reverse Dreamers
"A diaspora of U.S.-born minors living in Mexico are falling under the radar of both U.S. and Mexican authorities. Referred to in this thesis as reverse dreamers, many of these minors express interest in repatriating to the United States in the near future, and the U.S. government is severely underprepared for their return. This thesis explores the social, personal, psychological, political, and ethical implications of reverse dreamers and the policies that might mitigate the growing concerns. Using demographic research, signals analysis, fictional narratives, and scenario planning, the thesis outlines the core struggles of the reverse dreamer population during transitions to Mexico and back to the United States. Two fictional narratives imagine the plight of a reverse dreamer, shown first as an eleven-year-old boy and then as an adult. A third narrative depicts an overwhelmed U.S. government with an influx of repatriating reverse dreamers. Based on the research, the thesis presents a set of recommendations for U.S. policymakers, such as the creation of a special consular unit at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico to liaise with reverse dreamers and government authorities from both countries. Moreover, if we can identify reverse dreamers in Mexico and provide them with necessary resources and advocacy, we can help ensure that they return home with the foundation needed to become productive U.S. citizens in the future."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Engle, Kaylee M.
2020-03
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Reading from the Same Map: Towards a New Situational Awareness Model for Emergency Management
"Situational awareness (SA) is a critical issue for public safety disciplines, including emergency management, law enforcement, and the fire service. These fields operate substantially differently from each other, but share a common model for SA, based on John Boyd's OODA loop. Boyd's model, though applied widely, is heavily shaped by artefacts from its origin in the culture of fighter pilots. These artefacts include premises that the practitioner can perceive information directly, has a clear understanding of the nature of events, and is primarily concerned with their own actions. While some disciplines have enough in common with pilots for this SA model to match their activities, emergency management does not. In emergency management, practitioners are separated from the event, events are uncertain in type and duration, and coordination among teams is a primary function. These differences in culture create mismatches between emergency management activities and the SA model, which lead to repeated failures of SA across many organizations. Furthermore, despite a large body of applicable scholarly research on SA specifically and shared cognition in general, little of it has been adopted by practitioners in any discipline. This thesis will examine the SA model to identify mismatches with emergency management, consider research on shared cognition to identify useful elements, and summarize those elements to present options for consideration and further investigation."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Rau, Erik
2020-03
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Political Demonstrations: A Terrorist's Dream Opportunity
"Political demonstrations occur frequently worldwide. The frequency of these events will surely increase with the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Law enforcement entities must prepare for these events from a variety of frameworks and be aware of current terrorist trends and the potential for attacks at demonstrations. This thesis presents case studies of two political demonstrations--the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the yellow jacket protests in France--as well as three terror attacks--the Chelsea bombing, the Queens hatchet attack, and the Westside Highway ramming attack, analyzing them through the lens of the New York City Police Department (NYPD)'s political demonstration and counterterrorism policies. This thesis concludes with recommendations for the NYPD in improving its current policies and for urban police departments in applying the NYPD's demonstration methodology to their own practices."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Mullane, Patrick E.
2020-02
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Effort to Identify Terrorism Threats: Is Social Media Intelligence (SOCMINT) the Next Tool?
From the Thesis Abstract: "Terrorists use the internet to facilitate every aspect of their nefarious activity. This use creates a novel research question. To what degree can an open-source social media intelligence (SOCMINT) gathering and analysis capability assist U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in accomplishing its homeland security mission? The critics of SOCMINT argue it is an unnecessary, problematic, and ill-advised effort based on efficacy, data management, and constitutional grounds. Therefore, the thesis explores the past efforts, necessity, and efficacy of open-source SOCMINT in identifying potential fraud, public safety, and/or national security concerns (threats) from immigrants seeking immigration benefits. The research consists of qualitatively examining issue rhetoric--the debate and discussion--between the critics and supporters of SOCMINT. The Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States dataset provides a quantitative, evidence-grounded means to gain insight on radicalized immigrants' use of the internet and social media in plotting attacks and the potential for threat detection. The research demonstrates threats among immigration benefit seekers exist, and that SOCMINT is a viable means to identify and mitigate the threats. The thesis concludes the propositions for SOCMINT are valid and the critics' objections should not impede the effort. The thesis recommends USCIS continue SOCMINT, ensuring the endeavor observes a balance between security and liberty."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Thompson, Erik M.
2019-12
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You Don't Have to Live Like a Refugee: An Analysis of Selected Refugee Resettlement Programs to Improve Comprehensive Integration Outcomes in 'Free Case' Refugee Resettlement
From the Thesis Abstract: "By law, refugees entering the United States must become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. But successful integration means more than achieving this benchmark. True integration involves social inclusion and ties to community and nation--particularly difficult for 'free case' refugees who have no family in the U.S. and are wholly reliant upon resettlement organizations. This thesis asks the question: How can free case refugee resettlement practices be improved to enhance the likelihood of sociocultural integration and create stronger ties to the United States? A comparative assessment of three resettlement programs was undertaken to identify best practices. Integration success was assessed through statistical measures such as percentage of refugees who self-migrated after initial resettlement, and subjective measures of wellbeing and satisfaction as reported by refugees themselves. The analysis found refugees served by programs that lasted two years, as opposed to one year or less, reported a high degree of wellbeing and satisfaction, and less secondary migration. Moreover, refugees who were required to stay in a location for an extended period were less likely to engage in secondary migration afterward. This thesis recommends national refugee resettlement policy be updated to require local resettlement programs last a minimum of two years and that free case refugees must remain in their original resettlement location in exchange for three years of resettlement assistance."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bierman, Wilhelm F.
2019-12
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Continuity and Transformation in the United States' Nuclear Posture
From the Thesis Abstract: "This thesis created a matrix to compare the four post-Cold War Nuclear Posture Reviews (NPRs) published by the United States Department of Defense. Side-by-side comparison of these white papers revealed remarkable trends in U.S. nuclear policy. The matrix began by assigning themes within NPRs to paradigms common to international relations research. These paradigms are declaratory policy, procurement policy, employment policy, and deployment policy. This thesis began by analyzing the history of NPRs and reactions to them in the scholarly and international communities. Next, it created an impartial summary of the identified themes as they are tracked through the NPRs. This thesis then analyzed and critiqued the trends in nuclear policy based on the matrix, scholarly reactions to NPRs, and other research related to U.S. force structure and the worldwide threat environment such as the economic interdependence between the United States and China and how it affects the two countries' relationship. Some policy trends followed party lines; others did not. Some were erratic and others were more predictable. The value of these trends validates some concerns and disproves others with regard to the U.S. nuclear posture and the worldwide threat environment. The thesis concluded that the world is a safer place with nuclear weapons, and although a world free of nuclear weapons is a responsible goal for future policymakers, it is simply not practical for the foreseeable future."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Metz, Andrew D.
2019-12
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Digital Infrastructure's Connection Between Citizens and the Cultivation of Homeland Security Terrain
From the Thesis Abstract: "The purpose of this research is to investigate the shift of the homeland security landscape in response to rapid urbanization and integration of technology in cities. Governments and municipalities are rushing toward the utilization of advanced technologies to solve challenges dealing with urban expansion and the increase of high-tech threats. Privacy concerns and vulnerabilities in associated 'smart city' design are becoming apparent and related to the adoption of new security measures. This thesis answers the question: How will the transformation of Homeland Security terrain, influenced by smart city infrastructure, affect how governments deliver services and security to citizens? The effects are revealed through the use of a comparative analysis between Singapore and Denmark, highlighting the governmental composition, social dynamics and policy approaches involved with smart city development. The comparison discloses that the effectiveness and implementation of a smart city design in part depends on the level of collaboration, training, and policy formulation in security planning that occurs among public-private, academic and citizen stakeholders. The results suggest that stakeholders should be involved from the beginning in smart city planning. Their initial involvement allows for security and privacy issues to be mitigated beforehand. It also encourages the public's trust of government services that are delivered in an advanced technological city environment."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Valero, Noah R.
2019-12
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Measuring the Effectiveness of Surveillance Technology at the U.S. Southern Border
From the Thesis Abstract: "The United States' investment in southern border security has consistently been a topic of discussion regarding technological improvements and measurements of effectiveness. There have been multiple failed programs designed to combine infrastructure, personnel, and technology, ranging from the America's Shield Initiative (ASI) to the Secure Borders Initiative Network (SBInet). These efforts have resulted in billions of dollars of wasted funding. The latest initiative, named the Southwest Border Technology Plan, claims to use lessons learned from previous failures and focuses on integrating systems tailored to individual sectors of the border. A related issue is the use of apprehension rates and other passive metrics as the measures of effectiveness for the security of the southern border, continuing the historical inconsistency of inaccurate reporting methods. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recognized the problem of inadequate measurement and is developing new methods with the assistance of improved data captured with biometric systems; however, the issue of inaccurate reporting remains. An alternate and more active option to consider for measuring security effectiveness is red teaming. This thesis explores the following questions: what technologies are currently utilized for border security and how can their effectiveness be measured? And, can red teaming be used to improve on existing measures of effectiveness?"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Hudspeth, Robert A.
2019-12
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Homeland Human Security: A New Framework for America's Approach to Homeland Security?
From the Thesis Abstract: "The current understanding of the concept of homeland security in the United States--measures taken to protect the United States from terrorist attacks and to recover from natural disasters--has resulted in a practical approach that largely ignores many threats to the security of the average American. A deeper analysis of the insecurities faced by the American people reveals that the security of the homeland is a complex system of interconnected varieties of security including food, health, personal, economic, environmental, community, and political. This thesis suggests an alternate approach to homeland security based on the human security framework--a non-traditional approach to understanding security that seeks to shift the referent object of security from the state to the individual and ensure a world where the individual is free from fear, free from want, and free to live in dignity. This research explored the nexus of homeland security and human security by examining the development of the concept of homeland security, identifying the shortcomings of the current approach, and outlining the applicability of the human security framework to the understanding and practice of homeland security. This thesis finds that an approach to homeland security based on the steps for applying the human security framework is not only plausible, but would result in overall increased security for the American people."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Schiavone, Michael V.
2019-12
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Biothreat Response: Local Emergency Response Efforts for Suspicious and Unknown Substances
From the Thesis Abstract: "In 2001, the United States faced two attacks that ultimately changed how emergency responders mitigate and recover from terrorism events: the devastating attacks of 9/11 and a case known as Amerithrax, in which letters tainted with anthrax were mailed to media outlets and politicians. While the nation was initially unprepared to take on a biological weapon of mass destruction such as anthrax, government agencies and first responders collaborated to overcome this silent adversary, and the FBI closed its Amerithrax investigation in 2010. This thesis presents a historical analysis of Amerithrax to assess how the federal and state resources that were developed with this case have affected the nation's preparedness for future weapons-of-mass-destruction attacks with a biological nexus. The analysis shows that, as a result of Amerithrax, response agencies adopted laws and procedures to standardize equipment, training, investigative methods, and emergency preparedness and response efforts. Furthermore, the thesis analyzes policies of local law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical response teams, showing that local decision-makers have failed to take the same posture as their state and federal partners, which weakens their response capabilities. Finally, the thesis compares efforts in the United States to efforts of foreign governments and provides recommendations to help local agencies respond more successfully to cases involving suspicious and unknown substances."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dowdell, Craig S.
2019-12
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Department of Defense Counterdrug Mission: Can the Effectiveness Be Measured?
From the Thesis Abstract: "For the last 30 years, the Department of Defense (DoD) has been asked in various ways to measure the effectiveness of the DoD counterdrug mission. In this thesis, I advance the idea of using the drug purity data as the best and only stand-alone metric to determine if drug interdiction efforts are reducing the amount of illicit drugs available in the United States. I also present a cost-benefit equation the DoD can utilize to determine the cost effectiveness of the counterdrug mission. The intangible benefits and unintended consequences of the DoD counterdrug mission are relayed and include developing partner nation relations and building partner capacity, positive and negative impacts on military readiness, and promoting the incorrect idea that the military can and should be used to solve any national problem. I conclude that the DoD cannot measure the outcomes of the counterdrug mission; however, it can combine counterdrug mission data already collected with key performance indicators inside of a pattern and trend methodology to better correlate the DoD counterdrug mission and supply-side outcome goals."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Berry, Brian F.
2019-12
