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Mission Planning for Heterogeneous Uxvs Operating in a Post-Disaster Urban Environment
From the thesis abstract: "Time is critical during search and rescue operations, as human survival diminishes exponentially if survivors are not located and recovered efficiently. This thesis sought to integrate technologies into a solution that helps rescuers plan for a mission utilizing multiple autonomous unmanned systems (UxV) for search operations. It exploits methods of image analysis to fuse data into a common map and identify key areas of search interest. The key mission areas were developed by comparing edge detection techniques on images obtained from remote sensing platforms in the DigitalGlobe database. Together with close-up snapshots of the environment obtained from drones, three-dimensional maps were developed by stitching the images together into a comprehensive model for a mission commander's use. With the mission bubbles developed, a probabilistic road map was used to develop an optimal trajectory to the search area. It was found that by connecting to the 20 nearest neighboring points in the K-dimensional graph instead of all the points, and using the weighted heuristic method for the A* search, formed the most optimal means to obtain a solution. Together with a tool to generate search patterns for multiple drones, an experiment at Camp Roberts was conducted successfully. Technology was effectively used in the development of a mission-planning tool utilizing a set of heterogeneous unmanned systems for a search mission, which can be expanded for various types of military applications."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Tan, Choon Seng Leon Mark
2017-09
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Decision Model for U.S.-Mexico Border Security Measures
From the thesis abstract: "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has invested billions of dollars to prevent illegal drugs, immigration, weapons, and currency from transiting across the U.S.-Mexico border. DHS has not created a sufficient standardized method to measure whether an investment in a security measure is cost-effective when combining assets. To take it one step further, DHS has not created a model that combines cost-effectiveness of a security asset while simultaneously determining how it will contribute to achieving operational control of the border. This study provides an in-depth look into the current risk-based model DHS uses, the administrative and physical infrastructure of U.S.-Mexico border security, and a critical view of DHS' annual budget. A decision model is presented that will give policymakers a process to choose a combination of border security investments that will achieve operational control of the border while remaining within budgeting constraints. A lot of work needs to be done for DHS to determine the correct security assets to be placed at the U.S.-Mexico Border to maintain operational control and cost-effectiveness. This study does not determine which security assets need to be put into place, but it provides a decision process that will be an asset for policymakers to save federal time and money assigned to border security investments."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Lavender, Matthew L.
2017-09
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Use of VR Technology and Passive Haptics for MANPADS Training System
From the thesis abstract: "Man portable air defense systems (MANPADS) are point-defense weapons that typically form the penultimate layer of defense against aerial threats. Deployed at close ranges to the installation being defended, MANPADS operators get little reaction time to engage attacking aircraft. The situation becomes more complex in a multi-threat scenario such as an airfield under attack. Dealing with such situations requires high proficiency and the capability to make tactical decisions quickly. Live training opportunities allow few operators to fire during live exercises. Simulation training is effective, but customized high-fidelity immersive training facilities are limited. Moreover, low trainee throughput from such high-end facilities is an ongoing obstacle. The main focus of this thesis research is a feasibility study for building a low-cost MANPADS training solution that uses commercial off-the-shelf components. The developed prototype leverages a fully immersive virtual reality system with head-mounted display, game engine, and passive haptics. It provides MANPADS operators with alternative training opportunities in target acquisition, tactical decision making, and situational awareness in a multi-threat scenario, and has the potential of addressing the current training gap. This development experience will provide valuable insights that can be employed to design and create a new generation of low-cost training solutions in other domains as well"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Rashid, Faisal
2017-09
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Police Self-Deployment at Critical Incidents: A Wicked Problem or a Part of the Solution?
From the thesis abstract: "incidents, is alternately condemned or hailed as heroism. Confined to response narratives in after-action reports, existing literature provides no comprehensive definition. Without clear principles, it is challenging to prevent the problems produced by self-deployment such as traffic congestion and diminished command and control; nevertheless, encouraging the ingenuity and initiative leading to heroic and lifesaving acts is equally difficult. Many of the descriptions of police self-deployment match characteristics of wicked problems, as proposed by Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber. Using a case study analysis of police responses to the 2013 Christopher Dorner manhunt and 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, this thesis explored police self-deployment through the lens of wicked problems. A better understanding of the definition resulted in policy and training recommendations, including the suggestions that law enforcement embrace, rather than prohibit, self-deployment and that federally mandated incident command policies incorporate the early minutes of a critical event known as the 'edge of chaos.'"
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Brookes, Anna C.
2017-09
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Fortress America: The Aesthetics of Homeland Security in the Public Realm
From the thesis abstract: "Architecture communicates a message about the purpose of a space, the prestige of those who use or own the space, and the values associated with both users and owners. The aesthetics of this architecture elicit specific emotions, communicate histories, and inform worldviews. In the United States, homeland security architecture is largely a physical representation of a perceived threat of a terrorist attack in public spaces. Architecture has sociological, psychological, and cultural effects, as well as security impacts, but there is little research or discourse on the physical manifestation of homeland security in the United States. What are the consequences--intended and unintended--of homeland security architecture? How does a democratic government protect itself and design buildings and public spaces that are open, attractive, and promote both physical and psychological security? This thesis is a starting point for broader awareness and discussion within the emerging discipline of security design about the importance of aesthetics in homeland security."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Quirk, Tricia (Patti)
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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Less is More: North American Case Studies on the Amalgamation of Policing
From the thesis abstract: "American policing is mired in a stratified model of inefficiency involving nearly 12,500 standalone municipal police agencies. The future of policing requires increased participation in cybercrime, transnational crime, terrorism, and infrastructure protection that cannot be accommodated by small standalone police agencies. Canada shares similar experiences in the origins, maturation, social conditions, and opportunities in policing with success in amalgamating police service. This thesis uses comparative case-study research of successful and failed attempts at amalgamating police services in Canada and America. Analysis and recommendations show that amalgamation can best be achieved through large agency contracting, sheriff services, and state policing. Amalgamation to state policing is recommended based on Canadian case studies and American case studies."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Johnstone, George Stephen
2017-09
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Department of Homeland Security's Role in Protecting the National Economy
From the thesis abstract: "The national economy and the vital commercial flows that feed it are the sine quibus non of national influence, power, and security. However, new characteristics of the modern trade environment have the potential to undermine U.S. economic prosperity. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims that homeland security is inseparable from economic security and, as such, that the department has a role to play in supporting national economic security goals. However, DHS has yet to fully reconcile the tension between its trade enforcement and facilitation missions and clarify its role in supporting national economic competitiveness goals. After identifying and assessing several policy alternatives, this paper concludes that DHS should aggressively leverage its unique border authorities to influence a shift toward a more centralized model of government controls of imports, one informed by economy-wide strategic objectives and reliant upon standard performance measures, shared funding schemes, common information technology infrastructures, and delegated decision making on the admissibility of goods. Such an effort could provide commercially meaningful benefits to public and private stakeholders alike while maintaining security and safety requirements."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Brzozowski, Christa M.
2017-09
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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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Leveraging Gamification Techniques and Strategies as a Means of Improving Border Security Data Collection
From the thesis abstract: "Gamification has served as an emerging trend toward engagement and data collection. This thesis seeks to apply the methods and procedures of gamification systems toward the data gathering processes utilized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as part of its maritime border security strategy. It focuses on what makes gamification work, as well as how it can be applied in the e-government sphere toward improving the interaction between the trade and shipping communities with CBP. A review of existing CBP data collection systems and requirements, as well as a study of the organizational strategies, psychologies, and application techniques, point to the feasibility of gamification features toward solutions to concerns regarding motivation, accuracy, and efficiency of persons providing cargo and supply-chain data to CBP. It recommends the implementation of these features into existing CBP maritime data collection programs used by trade entities."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Coulter, Joseph Paul
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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Strategic Communications: The State Department Versus the Islamic State
From the thesis abstract: "As the battle against the Islamic State unfolds on the battleground and in cyberspace, the U.S. government has declared its commitment to disrupt--and ultimately defeat--the terrorist group. The Islamic State, also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and ISIS, has become one of the most deadly and influential terrorist groups in the Middle East. Strategic communications cannot be underestimated. The unit tasked with countering the terrorist group's propaganda and recruitment efforts, the State Department's Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC), has recently restructured to improve its efforts. This thesis examines the Center's mission, strategy, and communications to assess the efficacy of its efforts to counter the Islamic State terrorist group and degrade its ability to recruit foreign fighters. It analyzes the Islamic State and introduces the CSCC's successor, the Global Engagement Center. Finally, it offers research findings and provides recommendations for future consideration."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
McFadden, Crystal L.
2017-06
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Problem-Solving in Homeland Security and Creating Policy Conditions for Enhanced Civic Engagement: An Examination of Crowdsourcing Models
"This thesis examines crowdsourcing experiments and engagement models, the leveraging of technology in these pursuits, and their potential utility for solving problems in the homeland security enterprise. Rather than identifying a gap or seeking to fix something that is 'broken,' the research evaluates the potential benefits of employing crowdsourcing models in homeland security and its related disciplines. It uses appreciative inquiry to evaluate how existing successful models might open new pathways between government and citizens for the generation of knowledge, the exchange of information, or for innovation in approaches to problem solving. This thesis advances the hypothesis that, within the body of crowdsourcing and engagement models, a combination of ideas, examples, approaches, and successes exists that demonstrates potential utility for the homeland security field. The research findings exhibited this potential, manifesting in new partnerships and the creation of new knowledge. Participants, aided only by personal technology, self-organized some initiatives; in other cases, participants simply needed a platform to enable their motivation to contribute. These platforms for engagement and pathways to them were a consistent part of the narrative across the literature. Contributions by the non-professional was also a consistent theme, as was a need for a balanced approach that provides a safe framework within which to operate."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bisogno, Raymond
2017-06
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Transparency, Accountability and Engagement: A Recipe for Building Trust in Policing
"Police departments across the nation are challenged to reduce crime, improve quality of life, and, with diminished resources, face the increased threats to homeland security. Many have struggled to find the right balance between keeping communities safe, while at the same time having transparent and effective counterterrorism strategies. This thesis examines the role race plays in policing and the criminal justice system. A comparative analysis was conducted of the New York Police Department's [NYPD] community policing and counterterrorism strategies and that of the United Kingdom's counterpart, the Metropolitan Police Service. The research focuses on how important police legitimacy and transparency are to gaining the trust of the community at large. It also examines how technology and social media can assist in building trust and enhancing accountability. The research concludes with four recommendations, which, if implemented, will move the NYPD toward a more balanced counterterrorism strategy that actively engages with the community it serves."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
O'Reilly, Kathleen M.
2017-06
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Cyber Situational Awareness Model for Network Administrators
From the thesis abstract: "Although there are many well-established cyber security tools and techniques available to network administrators for managing and defining their systems, attackers still succeed in penetrating their systems. Defending these systems' confidentiality, integrity, and availability is the responsibility of network administrators; however, protecting these systems becomes more difficult when one considers the volume and velocity of data provided by many of these cyber security tools. Often this data may actually indicate a cyber-attack, but is hard to discern among the bulk of data provided. The purpose of this research is to propose a cyber situational awareness (CSA) model to provide network administrators with better situational awareness of cyber security threats to their systems. This research examines an established situational awareness model and surveys cyber security practices and tools to extend this knowledge to actual cyber situational awareness. This research further develops a model for CSA in three hierarchical levels: configurational awareness, operational awareness, and special conditions awareness. The research concludes that if network administrators manage their systems with awareness of these three levels, they would be able to decrease the amount of unnecessary data and focus on the most important information that can help them better guarantee cyber security of their systems."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Karaarslan, Huseyin
2017-04
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Enduring Poverty: Explanations for the Persistence of Minority Poverty in Vietnam
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines the persistence of poverty among ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Ethnic minorities are consistently poorer than the Kinh-Hoa majority in Vietnam, having benefitted less from the country's economic growth and targeted government poverty alleviation programs. Why does poverty persist among ethnic minorities despite Vietnam's efforts to improve the wealth and living standards of poor minorities in mountainous and rural areas? This thesis argues that ethnic discrimination and cultural differences between ethnic groups contribute more to the persistence of minority poverty than geography and agricultural livelihoods. When prosperity levels are compared between the ethnic majority and minority groups, between ethnic groups in similar geographic regions, and between ethnic groups with agricultural livelihoods, the result is that minorities are typically poorer than the majority even when both groups live in the same areas and work in the same job sectors. Thus, ethnicity has a greater impact on interethnic inequality and poverty than geography or livelihood. This thesis finds that cultural differences between minority and majority ways of life, social factors of ethnic discrimination, and ethnocentric poverty alleviation programs are the main limiters of the returns to assets and inputs of ethnic minorities in Vietnam."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Krajan, Emilie A.
2017-03
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Lessons Learned from the Development and Implementation of a Knowledge Management Program for the Naval Sea Systems Command
From the thesis abstract: "This study applied knowledge management (KM) theories and principles to develop and implement a KM program for the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) that strengthens the workforce's understanding of the technical business processes led by the NAVSEA Chief Engineer. This was accomplished by enabling the transfer of explicit and tacit knowledge that is resident within the NAVSEA enterprise through knowledge flow processes. Research methods employed include a literature review of theoretical knowledge concepts; observation of end-user reactions to developed products and methods of delivery; and continuous evaluation and adjustment in response to demand signals from the workforce. The KM program was designed to accelerate knowledge transfer between personnel of all experience levels, while also encouraging collaboration and facilitating social learning for NAVSEA's Engineering Competency and its stakeholders. Lessons learned throughout this study were applied to shaping the KM program into a diverse set of communication tools that have improved the knowledge base and employee engagement with respect to engineering and technical authority concepts across the NAVSEA enterprise. Although the focal organization supports a military mission, the fundamental elements of this KM program can be replicated and tailored to suit the needs of any organization."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Carroll, Rachael D.
2017-03
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Improving SPAWAR PEP C4I Organizational Alignment to Better Enable Enterprise Technical Risk Management
"This thesis examined how the Navy's Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I) has performed enterprise risk management (ERM). Based on ERM literature, the study developed an analytical framework to assess PEO C4I's ERM practices against documented ERM best practices, including evaluating a new risk in terms of its impact on existing risks and ensuring risks are managed at the most detailed level possible. The thesis also utilized organizational alignment literature to include organizational alignment principles in the evaluation. Key principles include 1) every employee has the responsibility to manage risk and 2) multiple teams are able to manage a single risk. The resultant analytical framework was applied to PEO C4I and documented for application to other organizations. PEO C4I performed well in the areas of 1) evaluating risks in areas other than the originating program office and 2) providing the framework to elevate risks to leadership. PEO C4I could use improvement in cross-team risk coordination and development of enterprise models to provide context for enterprise risks. Recommended interventions focus on having more functional areas involved in risk mitigation and developing a common enterprise architecture to improve understanding of potential areas of risk."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Crosson, Steven C.
2017-03
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High-Frequency Mapping of the IPv6 Internet Using Yarrp
"Both the number of hosts using Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), and the volume of IPv6 traffic, has increased exponentially since 2012. With this adoption, the IPv6 routed infrastructure becomes an increasingly important component of global critical infrastructure and network policy. Unfortunately, the tools and techniques used to perform active network topology discovery were designed for Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4), leading to a potentially opaque view of the IPv6 Internet. In this thesis, we extend nascent work on stateless high-speed IPv4 active topology probing to develop a new IPv6 traceroute method 'Yelling At Random Routers Progressively version 6' (Yarrp6). Yarrp6 randomly permutes the set of IPv6 targets and hop counts to distribute load, thereby helping to avoid IPv6 response rate limiting. Further, we encode state in the IPv6 payload to permit Yarrp6 to both match responses with probes and use different probe transport protocols. Via active experimentation on the public IPv6 Internet, we compare the results obtained from Yarrp6 against the current state-of-the-art IPv6 topology mapping tool. We show that Yarrp6 can discover topology at more than an order of magnitude faster than previously possible. Finally, we conduct a study of the effect of transport layer protocol on forward Internet Protocol (IP) path inference to determine what protocol is best used for active IPv6 topology discovery."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Gaston, Eric W.
2017-03
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Detecting Target Data in Network Traffic
From the thesis abstract: "Data exfiltration over a network poses a threat to confidential information. Due to the possibility of malicious insiders, this threat is especially difficult to mitigate. Our goal is to contribute to the development of a method to detect exfiltration of m any targeted files without incurring the full cost of reassembling flows. One strategy for accomplishing this would be to implement an approximate matching scheme that attempts to determine whether a file is being transmitted over the network by analyzing the quantity of payload data that matches fragments of the targeted file. Our work establishes the basic feasibility of such an approach by matching Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) payloads of traffic containing exfiltrated data against a database of MD5 [message-digest algorithm] hashes, each representing a fragment of our target data. We tested against a database of 415 million fragment hashes, where the length of the fragments was chosen to be smaller than the payload size expected for most common Maximum Transmission Units (MTUs), and we simulated exfiltration by sending a sample of our targeted data across the network along with other non-target files representing 'noise.' We demonstrate that under these conditions, we are able to detect the targeted content with a recall of 98.3% and precision of 99.1%."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Haycraft, Aaron
2017-03
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Multipath Transport for Virtual Private Networks
"Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are designed to use the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to establish secure communication tunnels over public Internet. Multipath TCP (MPTCP) extends TCP to allow data to be delivered over multiple network paths simultaneously. This thesis first builds a testbed and investigates the potential of using MPTCP tunnels to increase the goodput of VPN communications and support seamless mobility. Based on the empirical results and an analysis of the MPTCP design in Linux kernels, we further introduce a full-multipath kernel, implementing a basic Multipath UDP (MPUDP) protocol into an existing Linux MPTCP kernel. We demonstrate the MPUDP protocol provides performance improvements over single path UDP tunnels and in some cases MPTCP tunnels. The MPUDP kernel should be further developed to include more efficient scheduling algorithms and path managers to allow better performance and mobility benefits seen with MPTCP."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Lukaszewski, Daniel
2017-03
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Political Economy of Drugs and Insurgency: The Case of Punjab
From the thesis abstract: "Punjab is a strategically and economically important state for India. It shares a border with both Pakistan, a historical rival, and with the state of Kashmir, which is at the center of India's conflict with Pakistan. Punjab is also the breadbasket of India and provides a number of recruits for the military, both of which are essential for food and physical security for an economically rising country. In the 1980s, Punjab experienced a decade-long violent insurgency caused by grievances arising from the unequal distribution of benefits from the Green Revolution. The state's economy has been in decline for the past decade, which, along with a rise in drug use and trade, represents grounds for a crisis that threatens its postinsurgency stability. The unaddressed drug epidemic allows the emerging drug-crime-terror nexus to thrive. However, national and state-level elites and politicians continue to use identity as a mobilization tool for engaging with the population, mirroring the setting that led to the previous insurgency. Specifically, this research provides an insight into the growing possibility of instability in Punjab. This research derives implications for stability in a border state with porous borders experiencing increased drug use."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Pal, Rajan
2017-03
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Motivating Language and Empathic Leadership Drives Aircraft Readiness
From the thesis abstract: "The Marine Corps is concerned with aircraft readiness, retention levels and aircraft mishaps. High quality connection, unit support and organizational justice are traits structured within Marine aviation logistics. Miscommunication, however, continues to delay responsiveness. This thesis explores qualitative measurements and develops a proposed theoretical framework to study factors that might better predict readiness. The thesis also presents possible quantitative metrics of readiness within Marine aviation logistics as well as measures of effective communication and relationships. Motivating language theory provides the general framework to explore the omission of service levels. Data elements within the Aviation Maintenance and Supply Readiness Report and Individual Training Standards System aim to provide measurements of readiness. This thesis further proposes a Marine Air Group survey that explores the long-term benefits of motivating language and empathic leadership on readiness. Ultimately, this thesis proposes that the positive influence of motivating language and the mediation of empathic leadership increase unit and individual readiness."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Aionaaka, Nickolas H.
2017-03
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Evaluation of Factors on the Patterns of Ship Movement and Predictability of Future Ship Location in the Gulf of Mexico
From the thesis abstract: "In this thesis, we examine techniques used to predict future ship movement using historical Automatic Identification System (AIS) data in the Gulf of Mexico from April 2014. We process the data to remove outliers and identify 'subtracks,' which are associated with trips made by a vessel between two points. A cluster analysis is then used to determine the extent to which subtrack routes segregate into groups in an area without well-defined shipping lanes. Although clustering structure does exist, it is not strong enough to support prediction modeling in line with other published work. We also examine the effects of weather and sea-state on deviations of a vessel's traveled route from the shortest (great-circle) route. Vessels vary substantially in how closely they adhere to a great-circle route. Head winds also contribute positively to these deviations. This result suggests that algorithms designed to predict the motion of vessels should take weather and sea-state into account."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Bay, Sophia M.
2017-03
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Blind Data Attack on BGP Routers
From the Thesis Abstract: "Transport Communication Protocol (TCP) implementations may not properly implement blind attack protection, leaving long-standing connections, such as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) sessions, vulnerable to exploitation. This thesis aims to understand the efficacy of a blind data attack on BGP sessions. This thesis examines BGP, the protocols BGP relies on, and the effectiveness of safeguards against BGP blind attacks. A series of blind attack tests are performed against various production BGP implementations to determine how dangerous and feasible a blind attack is on BGP routing information integrity. Blind data attacks can inject and temporarily propagate erroneous routing information; however, on the routers tested, the complexity required to brute force connection-specific values makes blind data attacks difficult. Also, there is a high probability that a blind data attack will desynchronize a BGP session without modifying routing information. Protective measures are available that could further safeguard BGP sessions, but older router images may not implement some of the most vital protections recommended today. Organizations responsible for routing infrastructure and network security must carefully weigh the risk of not implementing more strict protection measures should a discovered vulnerability reduce attack complexity."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Catudal, Joseph W.
2017-03
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Homeland Security in Absentia: Policing Miami in the Era of the New U.S.-Cuba Relationship
From the thesis abstract: "In 2015, the Obama administration made historic changes to the U.S. and Cuban relationship. The renewal of diplomatic relations marked a departure from the isolation policies of the past half century. While the changes between the United States and Cuba might be of limited importance to the average American, in Miami this news plays out in major headlines. Miami is the adoptive home of the Cuban- American community, with an estimated one million residents of Cuban descent living in the south Florida area. This thesis answers the question: Which modifications should the Miami Police Department make to adapt to the local changes resulting directly from the shift in the diplomatic relationship between the United States and Cuba? The research analyses the short- and long-term impact of the renewed relations on Miami. The case studies described three models of police cooperation across national borders: the China and Taiwan accords, the New York Police Department's International Liaison Program, and the El Paso--Ciudad Juárez sister city agreement. These models can serve as templates for the Miami Police Department to develop a working relationship with the Cuban National Revolutionary Police."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Morales, Manuel A.
2017-03
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Lawful Hacking: Toward a Middle Ground Solution to the Going Dark Problem
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines the ongoing debate between law enforcement and the intelligence communities on one side, and the technology industry and privacy rights groups on the other, over the 'going dark' problem. Going dark is a phenomenon created by ubiquitous use of end-to-end encryption over communication devices and Internet platforms, rendering those communications warrant-proof. End-to-end encryption means that only the sender and receiver of the message can read it, and no one in between. Even with a properly executed warrant or subpoena, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are unable to access the data they need because that data was encrypted. This thesis explores the historical, political and legislative developments that contributed to the rise of encryption in recent years, as well as constitutional doctrines that may be relevant to the public debate over possible policy solutions. Through the policy options analysis method, this thesis identifies lawful hacking as a middle-ground solution that policymakers should adopt in the short term. It also recommends that the U.S. government initiate a public education campaign to gain public support for some form of regulation concerning encryption in the future. The fundamental issue here is not only about the tension between privacy and security. The issue is also about who should make decisions with broad implications for the collective security: elected officials or the technology industry."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Nguyen, Hoaithi Y.T.
2017-03
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Bridging the Gap: To What Extent Do Socioeconomic Barriers Impede Response to Emerging Public Health Threats?
From the thesis abstract: "It is crucial for public health emergency planners and responders to realize and account for socioeconomic barriers and the challenges they pose when faced with a bioterrorism, infectious disease, or other emerging public health threat impacting the homeland. The study design of this research incorporated two particular paradigms, investigative and predictive. The researcher found that social and economic factors account for nearly 40 percent of health outcomes in the United States. Public health and its response partners need to plan for emergencies using a '60/40' lens. He discovered that at least 40 percent of populations may not receive the critical health care they require in emergencies because of socioeconomic status or related factors. This thesis investigated the language, culture and historical trauma barriers--and affiliated challenges, such as fear and distrust--that exist throughout the country. Given these findings, this thesis provides both policy- and strategy-level recommendations to assist public health and healthcare practitioners in their efforts to 'bridge the gap' that exists within and between community populations in the United States. Disciplines that consider implementing these recommendations will help minimize significant, and perhaps avoidable, consequences that follow health-related emergencies or varied disasters impacting the homeland."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Neuert, Donald L.
2017-03
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From Third-Degree to Third-Generation Interrogation Methodologies: Putting Science into the Art of Criminal Interviewing
From the thesis abstract: "The interviewing strategies of the American law-enforcement system are more than seventy-five years old. Psychologically manipulative and guilt-presumptive, these methodologies replaced the brutal 'third-degree' interrogation tactics of the previous century, but have recently come under scrutiny for being both ethically and operationally unsound. These findings have prompted a paradigm shift toward more ethical, effective, and scientifically validated tactics. This thesis set out to explore the advantages of integrating next-generation practices into the interview-training ethos of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)--the internal affairs component of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An evaluation of evidence-based interrogation practices and governmental policy analyses, along with insight from subject-matter experts, provided the data for this exploration. A series of recommendations derived from the lessons learned of the U.K. PEACE model, the practices of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and research by the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group offered insight for the optimal training of interviewing techniques and their long-term retention in the field. Assuming the recommendations for OPR are both scalable and replicable, this model should be relevant and valuable for the professional practices of other DHS agencies responsible for conducting interrogations as well as for law-enforcement agencies nationwide."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
O'Neill, Desmond S.
2017-03
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Deterring Violent Extremism in America by Utilizing Good Counter Radicalization Practices from Abroad: A Policy Perspective
From the thesis abstract: "The problem of violent extremism is approaching a critical point in America. American government and community leaders must find an effective approach to deterring violent extremism immediately. A national and comprehensive approach to deter violent extremism in America is currently lacking. This comparative policy perspective seeks to determine whether the United Kingdom and Australia have good practices to deter violent extremism that can be useful in America. Secondly, this thesis also seeks to determine whether the United States can implement potential good practices to deter violent extremism. After a thorough review of the issue of violent extremism in America, this thesis studies similar background, research, and violent extremism issues in the United Kingdom and Australia. This thesis concludes that a variety of good practices in the United Kingdom and Australia can counter radicalize and deter violent extremists in America. The findings and recommendations from this research include challenges and a way forward to implement certain potential best practices for the United States. The arguments offer viable options and alternatives that the United States should consider when creating a national deterring-violent-extremism strategy. The details and information regarding understanding and implementing good practices to deter violent extremism in America are contained in this thesis."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bonanno, Amy Fires
2017-03
