Advanced search Help
Resource Type or Special Collection is Theses & Research Reports
Publisher is Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
IR Missile (Spin-Scan and Con-Scan Seekers) Countermeasures
From the thesis abstract: "In the combat scenario where the infrared missile is an almost continuous threat during the operation, fighter aircraft are currently quite susceptible to being killed in attacks by infrared missiles. Theoretical analysis applied to an encounter simulation seems to indicate that it is possible to use the infrared Active Jammer and the expendable decoy (flare) to defeat the infrared missile (spin-scan and con-scan seekers). The theoretical analysis of a simplified case of a spin-scan and con-scan reticle with amplitude modulation, frequency modulation and phase modulation leads to expressions for the targets' positions, as seen by the missile seeker, under no-jamming condition. The signal waveforms consist of target radiation power failing on the reticle and the reticle modulation function. We apply signal processing techniques to the modulated signal to determine the tracking error rate under no-jamming, active jamming and flare jamming different conditions, and by comparing with the unjammed tracking error rate, to determine the differences and effectiveness of jamming. The analytical result is simulated by means of a simulation program (MATLAB), which evaluates the change in the missile LOS (line of sight ) rotation rate and the impact on the missile guidance operation. The analysis indicated successful jamming in the different jamming source situations. Following the jamming analysis, one can use the result to do further operational analysis as in OT&E (operation test and evaluation) and to evaluate the operational effectiveness of the jammers and to develop operational tactics to further increase the survivability of the fighter aircraft in the combat situation."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Chang, Ting Li
1994-09
-
Models for Proliferation Interdiction Response Analysis
"The proliferation of nuclear weapons poses a serious threat to the United States, its allies, and over-all world security. The United States seeks to dissuade or prevent new countries from acquiring nuclear weapons capabilities. This thesis constructs two models to aid decision makers in selecting strategies to interdict these proliferation efforts. The first, a 'what-if' PERT/CPM model, provides an overall picture of the proliferation process. The graphical display is used to select activities to interdict, and to analyze the outcome of the choices. The second, an optimal interdiction model, selects the optimal activities for interdiction subject to risk constraints. Several runs with different numbers of interdiction points were made to test the optimal interdiction model. These results are further analyzed with the aid of the IPER T /CPM model. The models, when used together, prove to be useful in selecting the optimal activities to interdict in the proliferation process."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Reed, Brian
1994-09
-
Coordination Policy for the NATO SEASPARROW Missile and the Rolling Airframe Missile using Dynamic Programming
"This thesis develops a dynamic program, the SEASPARROW Coordinated Assignment Model (SCAM), that determines the optimal coordinated assignment policy for the SEASPARROW missile in a shipboard self defense weapon configuration consisting of the NATO SEASPARROW Missile System, the Rolling Airframe Missile and the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System. Threat scenarios are described by the type of' anti-ship cruise missile, the number of threat missiles, the total duration of the arrival window and the relative spacing of targets within the threat stream. SCAM reveals that under various threat configurations it is often advantageous to fire the SEASPARROW at groups of threats in the target stream, rather than always the nearest threat, and fuflher that this policy is robust for a large set of threat scenarios."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Drennan, Arthur Paul, III
1994-09
-
Regional Deterrence Ship Design
"A systems engineering approach to the development of a warship optimized for the deterrence of regional conflicts in littoral waters is presented, followed by a description of the preliminary design of the ship shown by analysis to be most effective. The requirement for the project reported was to develop a ship which would be effective in deterring regional wars among third world nations; in hampering the military effectiveness of the aggressor should deterrence fail and in protecting or evacuating limited numbers of civilians. The study reports on an analysis of likely threat weapons, on the means used to choose defensive combat system capabilities to defeat such weapons and on the selection of capabilities necessary for successful operation in littoral waters. Major emphasis is placed on measures intended to significantly improve the ship's survivability relative to existing combatants. The design description includes data and numerous drawings. Ship design, Littoral, Regional conflict, Survivability, Warship, Combatant ship."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Alexander, Dwight; Calvano, Charles N.; Cottle, Dean
1994-06-24
-
U.S. Embargo Against Cuba: Should it Be Continued
"With the end of the Cold War, it is time for the United States to reassess its embargo against Cuba. Without the help of the former Soviet Union and the Eastern bloc countries, Cuba is no longer a threat to the United States. While the embargo, in conjunction with the loss of Soviet support, is imposing severe economic hardship on the Cuban population, Fidel Castro and his regime continue to hold their firm grip on the country. Thus, the ultimate goal of destabilizing the government has not been reached. In order for the United States to be in a position to encourage and influence a transition to democracy in Cuba, instead of the chaos that could result from destabilization, it should work toward closer relations with Cuba by ending the embargo, encouraging U.S. investment in Cuba, and a freer exchange of information and ideas. Cuba, Embargo, Sanctions"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Jenkins, Deborah L.
1994-06
-
Power by the Numbers: Congressional Line Item Budgeting
From the thesis abstract: "Congressional micromanagement of the defense budget is a crucial, element of the struggle between the legislative and executive branches to shape military spending. By altering presidential funding requests, Congress can impose its own preferences on the defense budget, and thus guide the restructuring of U.S. armed forces. Congressional micromanagement has drawn enormous criticism from academics and Department of Defense [DOD] officials. This thesis uses documents provided by the DOD Comptroller to conduct two studies. The first is a multi year (FY 1989-1994) analysis of the procurement account, to examine how the end of the Cold War affected micromanagement. The second study examines all defense budget categories for one year (FY 1994) to compare micromanagement between accounts. This thesis argues that the percentage of budget line items for procurement altered by congressional appropriators remained nearly constant (20 to 23 percent) from FY 1989-1994. Congress subtracted from more line items that it added to, however line item subtractions were smaller on average than additions. A cross service analysis revealed no particular service or procurement programs as the prime target of Congressional micromanagement. The single year cross sectional analysis revealed that activity in DoD procurement is indicative of legislative change in operations and research accounts, but not in construction and housing."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Bell, Jeffrey H.; Dowell, Stephen B.
1994-06
-
Command and Control in New Nuclear States: Implications for Stability
"Command and control systems of new nuclear states are likely to fail when placed under stress. This thesis will demonstrate that such failures can dramatically affect regional or international stability. Describing the current argument over the consequences of nuclear proliferation between proliferation pessimists and deterrence optimists, this thesis shows how C2 is in fact the crux of the debate. This thesis develops an analytical tool that may be applied to new nuclear states in order to classify their C2 systems and to predict when and how these evolving systems might fail. To show the tool's usefulness, it is applied to Ukraine, an important new nuclear state. This thesis also suggests several implications for U.S. foreign policy. Nuclear weapons, Command and control, Proliferation, Arms control, Regional stability, Russia, United States, Ukraine, Nuclear capabilities, U.S. Security policy."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Foley, David C.
1994-06
-
Terrorism As a Psychological Operation: A Comparative Analysis of the Zionist and the Palestinian Terrorist Campaigns
From the thesis abstract: "Terrorism is a quintessential psychological operation, involving the use of violence to convey a message to multiple audiences. As a psychological operation, terrorism produces two effects; one propaganda and the other psychological warfare. The propaganda effects are informative, persuasive, or compelling among neutral, friendly or potentially friendly target audiences. The psychological warfare effects are provocative, disruptive, and coercive among enemy or hostile target audiences. By comparing the Zionist and the Palestinian terrorist campaigns, this thesis demonstrates how terrorism produces psychological warfare and propaganda effects on multiple audiences and the consequences of each. The success of the Jewish resistance resulted from a strategy of terrorism that identified the psychological vulnerabilities of certain audiences, controlled for the psychological warfare and propaganda effects on those audiences, and anticipated audience response. By comparison, the Palestinian resistance did not control for the psychological warfare and propaganda effects on multiple audiences. Palestinian terrorism was exclusively psychological warfare, which failed to propagandize their cause beyond their national constituency. In either case, the success or failure of terrorism should be understood in part by viewing their campaigns of terror through the prism of psychological operations."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Body, Curtis D.
1994-03-24
-
Precipitating the Decline of Terrorist Groups: A Systems Analysis
This thesis shows how a government actor can use systems theory to hasten the decline of a terrorist group. Tle author assumes terrorist groups are social organizations, therefore terrorist groups come to value organizational survival over ideological or programmatic achievements. The same determinants that cause social organizations to decline will cause terrorist organizations to decline. Using systems theory to model terrorism as a system, it is possible to show how to influence these determinants to increase the terrorist group's rate of decline. T'he systems model allows a government actor to build intervention strategies tailored to counter a specific terrorist organization. The government actor can use the model to identify and then target the terrorist's weak points. It also enables the government actor to determine its own strengths and to use them against the terrorist system weak points. Finally, the analysis tests the model against case studies of the Red Brigades in Italy, and the Front De Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) in Canada. A case study of Abu Nidal tests the proposition that terrorist groups, like other social organizations, eventually come to value organizational survival over ideological or programmatic achievements. Terror as a system, Red brigades, FLQ, Critical error, Delegitimization, Mercurial success, Burnout, Environmental entropy, Government response, Media
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
DeGhetto, Todd H.
1994-03
-
We Bomb, Therefore We Are: The Evolution of Terrorist Group Life Cycles
"The potential for conflict between the United States and terrorist groups is higher than in the recent past. This thesis attempts to understand the underlying causes for the rise and fall of terrorist groups by developing a theory that explains the evolution of their life cycles. This thesis argues that once organizational issues take priority over instrumental ones terrorism becomes self-defeating and survival threatening for the terrorist group. Since this priority shift occurs as a natural consequence of their internal dynamics, the seeds of a terrorist group's destruction exist within the group itself. Factors external to the terrorist group, however, can suppress the germination of those seeds and allow the group to survive. The dynamic interaction of these internal and external influences shapes a terrorist group's life cycle. Understanding the nature of this process is important for the design of counterterrorist policy."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Lockett, Charles E.
1994-03
-
Greening of Global Security: The U.S. Military and International Environmental Security
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines the roles and missions of the U.S. military, and compares them to potential international environmental conflicts. Five specific environmental issues are examined in detail: deforestation, fresh water, nuclear contamination, overpopulation, and ecological terrorism. Ten U.S. military roles are also examined in detail: communications, interdiction, enforcement, education and training, assistance, leadership, warfighting, surveillance, intelligence, and deterrence. Analysis reveals that the U.S. military can play a support role in the majority of the environmental conflict issues. Use of force roles apply to fewer of the environmental issues. The U.S. military's primary use of force role of warfighting applies only to one environmental issue."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Carr, Roberta B.
1993-12-16
-
Analysis of Cellular Telephone and INMARSAT Systems for Providing Radio Data Link Computer Communications for US Navy Vessels
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines radio frequency data link computer communications systems with emphasis on their potential application to ship/shore communications. Covered are two systems that experts believe hold the most promise for DoD [Department of Defense] application, International Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT) and cellular radiotelephones. An analysis of system capabilities, cost, and future potential is performed for each, and then the two systems are compared. In addition, a thorough discussion of the security issues for each system and final conclusions/recommendations are presented. The conclusions suggest that increased cellular radiotelephone usage vice INMARSAT by fleet units would optimize fleet readiness and improve supply system performance. Based on these conclusions, this author's recommendation is that all Navy ships be equipped with a cellular telephone system, while all aircraft carriers and amphibious aircraft carriers be equipped with both cellular and INMARSAT systems."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Cooper, David L., Jr.
1993-12
-
Chemical Weapons Convention Verification Regime: A Model for a New NPT?
In January 1993, the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) was signed, completing the first step towards eliminating all chemical weapons. This treaty is the most comprehensive multilateral arms control treaty ever signed. The teeth of the CWC is a modern verification regime that includes traditional scheduled inspections as well as an innovative challenge inspection system: a party to the treaty may initiate a challenge inspection of another party if it believes there is a treaty violation. The CWC has been called a model for future arms control treaties. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has been in force for 25 years and has its fifth and final review conference in 1995. While the NPT has been both lauded and criticized over its lifetime, most authorities agree that it needs revision to meet the demands of the next century. One of the areas of the treaty requiring extensive review is the NPT verification process. This thesis examines the verification procedures delineated in the CWC and discusses the possibility of creating a similar verification regime for the NPT. It addresses the reasons why the CWC inspection might work for the NPT. It also addresses security questions that must be considered by a technologically advanced state, like the United States, before considering such a verification regime for nuclear weapons and nuclear technology. Arms control, Arms control treaties, Chemical weapons, Chemical weapons convention, Nuclear non-proliferation, Treaty on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, Nuclear weapons.
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Blackburn, Douglas L.
1993-12
-
Analysis of Disaster Preparedness Planning Measures in DOD Computer Facilities
"This thesis will analyze a disaster recovery plan currently in use at a selected DOD [Department of Defense] computer facility, as well as investigate facility contingency planning documents actually tested during recent natural disasters."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Harrigan, John D.
1993-09
-
Study of Computer Security Policies for the Indonesian Navy
From the thesis abstract: "The Indonesian Navy recognized the need for a computer security program over ten years ago. They published their first computer security regulation in 1981. But that regulation is now obsolete because of the advances in technology and the increased availability of powerful computer systems. As computer systems become bigger, more complicated, easier to use, more interconnected, and more important, they become more vulnerable to hackers, terrorist, and disgruntled employees. This thesis demonstrates the need for an updated computer security regulation. To add in meeting that need, the thesis proposes a security program for the Indonesian Navy that is based on the multilevel trusted computer criteria published by the NCSC [National Computer Security Center] in the 'Orange Book', the Canadian Trusted Product Evaluation Criteria and ITSEC [Information Technology Security Evaluation Criteria]. The proposed program includes additional regulations concerning physical security, data security, integrity and availability, and recommended trusted evaluation guide."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Herusutopo, Antonius
1993-06
-
Impact of the Defense Budgeting Process on Operational Readiness
"This thesis will examine the Department of Defense Planning System, past, present, and one of the many alternatives proposed for the future. Emphasis will be placed on the impact the present planning system has on near- term warfighting capabilities. The present system, centered in the Pentagon, has a time horizon of 5 to 15 years. Emphasis is placed on planning future programs and addressing outyear costs and capabilities; near-term warfighting capabilities may not receive the attention necessary to achieve current combat readiness. It is the contention of this thesis that in conjunction with reforms implemented to enhance the responsibility and authority of the unified and specified commands, the resource allocation process must also be changed to provide this level of management direct control of resources to meet the acquisition and operational needs necessary to achieve mission objectives."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Turley, Leslie S.
1993-03
-
Theater Ballistic Missile Defenses: An Emerging Role for the Navy?
"The end of the Cold War has brought about significant changes in the international and national security environments that present tremendous implications for the US military. The strategic threat of global nuclear war has diminished considerably. While that threat is diminished, an [sic] new threat is emerging. Ballistic missile proliferation and related weapons of mass destruction are one of the major threats to stability in the new security environment. Ballistic missile systems are seen as destabilizing weapons that are a threat to regional peace and American vital interests in certain regions. This thesis addresses the possible need for theater ballistic missile defenses in the US Navy as one element of a national strategy to defeat ballistic missiles in future regional conflicts. Specifically, it addresses the naval role for ballistic missile defenses, including an analysis of the present and future threat, an examination of how the missile defenses dovetail into the national security strategy of regional contingencies, and the means by which the defenses can be employed. The issue of the threat involves demonstrating that a threat presently exists and that technological improvements in the future will greatly increase their utility and put many more targets, including US Navy ships, at risk. The issue of the role that missile defenses fill in the national security strategy deals with their contributions to the fundamental pillars of that strategy. The issue of naval roles addresses the missions and tasks that a sea-based system can provide across the spectrum of naval warfare. The means which the defenses can be employed is addressed to demonstrate how the US Navy can be a major contributor using the Aegis construct."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Pitts, James E.
1992-12
-
Germany and the Future of Nuclear Deterrence in Europe
"The dissolution of the Soviet Union and the unification of Germany have fundamentally changed the politics of security in Europe. This thesis analyzes German perspectives on the international security environment and offers judgements [sic] about the probable future role of nuclear deterrence in Europe. The thesis begins with a survey of the role of nuclear deterrence in the security policy of the Federal Republic of Germany during the period prior to reunification in 1989- 1990. This is followed by an analysis of German views on the West European nuclear powers: the United Kingdom and France. German views on the U.S. nuclear presence and U.S. commitments to Europe are then examined. German views on nuclear weapons in the former Soviet Union and the potential for proliferation on Europe's periphery complete the survey. For the short term, Germany will not change its present policies regarding nuclear deterrence in Europe. The German nation is likely to remain preoccupied with the reunification process for several years, and German politicians are not disposed to seek a debate on nuclear deterrence. The Germans generally consider Britain and France incapable of providing adequate nuclear protection for the Federal Republic in the near term, so the Germans will continue to rely on the United States for a nuclear guarantee."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Gunning, Edward G., Jr.
1992-12
-
Computer Security and Concepts and Issues in the Infomation Technology Management (370) Curriculum
"DoD [Department of Defense] has become increasingly dependent upon storing its sensitive information in electronic form and has a deep concern for the integrity and privacy of this valuable information. In the recent aftermath of numerous electronic break-ins, the DoD continues to express anxiety over technically weak system administrators' inability to protect sensitive electronic information. The solution to minimizing these electronic intrusions and bolstering computer security in DoD is to educate military officers and federal civilians in the methods of computer security. This can be accomplished by integrating concepts and problem solving techniques related to computer security into the Information Technology Management (370) Curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Vaughn, Reginald Wayne
1992-09
-
Comparative Evaluation of Computer Access Controls
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis reports the results of a study which tested participants' abilities to recall five different types of computer passwords. Each participant was assigned in a randomized procedure to one of six response intervals. Recall testing of computer-generated passwords, user-created passwords, passphrases, associative passwords and cognitive passwords was conducted using a computer program which simulated system log-on procedures. This study indicates the relative merits of these five password types are more difficult to distinguish when data are collected in the realistic setting of a log-on simulation instead of via paper surveys, as was done in previous research."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Pence, Timothy B.
1992-03
-
Design and Implementation of ZTRAX: A Training, Readiness and Flight Hour Relational Database Management Tracking System
"In an era of diminishing budgets, information technology must help direct operational commanders in the maximum utilization of their available resources. The institution of a relational database management system to identify and exploit an organization's strengths will aid in keeping forces combat ready at all times. The design and implementation of ZTRAX; a training, readiness and flight hour relational database management system. ZTRAX is expected to provide historical information of home and deployed, operational and training flight evolutions which will aid in the process of training and readiness planning. The ZTRAX application was implemented in November, 1991 and is a menu driven program which permits the addition, editing and querying of data contained on two source documents; the Monthly Training and Readiness Report and the Monthly Flight Hour Report. Ztrax is run concurrently from within the Paradox program to permit a vast array of ad hoc queries, reports and the importation of graphical display mechanisms. [...] Chapter II will detail the design of the RDBMS. Chapter III discusses implementation of the RDBMS [relational database
software application] and its interaction with other commercial software applications for graphical representation purposes. The users manual is contained in Appendix E. Chapter IV discusses the issue of computer security and its relevance to all microcomputer operations. Chapter V provides recommendations and conclusions for the use of a relational database management system to provide accurate and timely readiness and training information. Appendix A-E will provide the data input documents, object diagrams, object definitions, domain definitions and the users manual, respectfully."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Hodgkins, Richard E.
1992-03
-
Expanding Chinese Naval Power and Maritime Security in Southeast Asia
"The collapse of East-West competition for global preeminence is unleashing powerful forces for strategic change in the Asia-Pacific region. A reconfiguration of the regional security balance is taking place, especially a resurging naval rivalry, as aspiring hegemons--notably China, Japan and India--jostle for leadership roles. This report examines the central role being played by China in the unfolding security changes in Asia. Chinese naval modernization is analyzed within the context of China's Southeast Asian maritime interests, its new maritime strategy, and its evolving naval capabilities. The report recommends: maintaining a significant U.S. naval presence in Asia to protect American economic and political interests in the region; creating a loose yet textured and inclusive multilateral set of security relations in the Asia-Pacific region; initiating a Sino-American naval rapprochement as a prelude to enhanced regional naval cooperation; and, reassuring America's friends in the region through a continuing American naval deterrence."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Winterford, David, 1949-
1992-01
-
United States Warship Transfers to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile: Options for U.S. Policy
From the thesis abstract: "The United States Navy plans to decommission several classes of warships in the next decade. Each of the major Southern Cone countries of Latin America (Argentina. Brazil. and Chile) perceives a geopolitically-driven need for a blue-water navy. Each of these navies needs frigates and destroyers to achieve blue-water status. This thesis examines U.S. ship transfer policy to the Southern Cone. It concludes that the Adams-. Coontz-. and Knox-class ships that the U.S. navy is beginning to decommission should be leased to the Southern Cone navies in order to bolster their naval forces and to support mutual maritime security interests. The poor economic status of these countries mandates that the lease terms be made as favorable as possible and that the annual number of ship leases be kept to a few."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Jenkins, Brent P.
1991-12
-
Financial Criteria Used in Case Adjudication by the Directorate for Industrial Security Clearance Review (DISCR)
"An analysis of financial criteria used in case adjudication by the Directorate for Industrial Security Clearance Review (DISCR) was conducted to determine those financial factors most relevant in granting or denying security clearances to industrial personnel. It was concluded that the underlying cause of debt and subsequent handling thereof by the applicant were more influential than the type, number or dollar amount of debt in determining case outcome. Applicants whose debts were due to circumstances beyond their control and who made good faith efforts to resolve their debts were more likely to be granted clearances than applicants whose debts were due to carelessness or financial mismanagement and who made little or no attempt to resolve their debts. Ten financial factors most highly correlated with case outcome were identified and grouped into four main categories. Adjudicators were found to determine case outcomes in accordance with established adjudication policy."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Goldstein, Janet G.
1991-12
-
User Authentication: A State-of-the-Art Review
From the thesis abstract: "Access control of computing systems is considered a key issue among Information Systems managers. There are different methods available to computing systems to ensure a proper authentication of a user. Authentication mechanisms can use simple user-generated passwords to complicated combinations of passwords and physical characteristics of the user (i.e., voice recognition device, retina scanner, signature recognition device, etc.). This thesis looks at the various authentication mechanisms available to a security manager. It describes how different authentication mechanisms operate and the advantages and disadvantages associated with each mechanism. It also reports on several commercially available software products that support the user authentication process. Finally, a discussion of password use in the military environment and the unique requirements of the Department of Defense."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Coley, John A.
1991-09
-
Baltic: A Sea in Transition
From the thesis abstract: "The objective of this thesis is to analyze naval developments in the countries abutting the Baltic Sea. Major international security events have radically altered the political landscape surrounding the region. Fundamental changes to the regional security environment are affecting naval building and modernization plans. This region should be of primary concern to the United States political and naval leadership because it comprises one of the world's largest concentrations of naval combatants. The navies deployed in the Baltic Sea are highly capable, and the geographic importance of the region has predicated a unique pattern of naval development. As regional threats to international security emerge, littoral naval warfare will become increasingly difficult to manage. Examination of the Baltic naval balance should provide a useful tool for monitoring national intentions in that region as well as forecasting future littoral naval threats elsewhere."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Green, John L.
1991-09
-
Security Considerations in Distributed Systems
"This thesis investigates computer security considerations in distributed systems. In particular, it concentrates on assisting managers to gain an appreciation for what distributed systems are, and what are the inherent security issues in these systems. A survey of the literature on computer security was conducted to identify those issues unique to distributed systems. Although many controls are discussed, management must design and support a comprehensive security plan tailored to their unique organization."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Rhead, Donovan R.
1991-09
-
Signature Verification for Access Control
"Access control to sensitive information is a vital concern for Department of Defense agencies. Current methods employed to control access are vulnerable to unauthorized users and frequently inadequate. The use of biometric access control devices, such as signature verification systems, may represent a solution to the access control problem. This thesis looked at two dynamic signature verification systems and compared their performance in general as well as under the different operating conditions of lined and unlined paper and morning and afternoon use. The two signature verification systems were the CIC [Communication Intelligence Corporation] system and the Sign/On system. Additionally, the thesis compared the CIC system under both sets of operating conditions using an inking stylus pen and a non-inking stylus pen. The experimental results indicated there was no significant difference between the CIC system using an inking stylus pen and the Sign/On system and that both systems had Type I error rates of less than 3% and Type II error rates of less than 1%. The results also indicated that the operating conditions test did not favor either system."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Geshan, Susan Carol
1991-09
-
DE-CERTS: A Decision Support System For a Comparative Evaluation Method For Risk Management Methodologies and Tools
"A new approach was recently proposed to effectively and objectively evaluate risk management methodologies and tools for their suitability to a given organizational situation. The proposed approach, known as CERTS, is based on defining suitability in terms of criteria which in turn are described in terms of attributes and metrics. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, this thesis develops the CERTS approach into a Decision Support System [DSS], that could be used easily and effectively by organizations for selecting a risk management methodology or tool. The thesis also applies the developed DSS to three case studies to gain insights on the applicability of the DSS."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Crump, Leonard A.; Pound, James G.
1991-09
-
America's New National Security Strategy: New Scenario for Military Operations Research
This report "[p]rovides an analysis of President Bush's new national security strategy first unveiled in Aspen, Colorado on August 2, 1990, and General Colin Powell's 'base' force. If implemented, the new strategy and force structure would return a significant amount of U.S. ground and air forces to CONUS [Continental United States] where most would be demobilized. In the event of a major crisis, the U.S. would rely on active and reserve forces for a contingency response. The new national security strategy is based upon a revised Soviet threat and new international security environment which allows us to assume two years warning of a major ground war in Europe. During this two year period, the U.S. would reconstitute additional military capability. Outline of new strategy and 'base' force structure, transportation requirements, and whether or not the U.S. will retain a unilateral capability for overseas intervention. Discussion of parallel NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] initiatives. Discussion of major issues, including: defining new goals and objectives in both programming and war planning, the effect of Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, new requirements for intelligence, requirements for decision-making, investment strategy and industrial conversion, reconstitution, and impact on military operations research and analysis."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Tritten, James John
1991-06-11
