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Fueling the Fire: An Examination of Right-Wing Extremism in the United States Over the Last Decade
From the Thesis Abstract: "In the past decade, American society has witnessed increased violence from a threat it has suffered in the past: right-wing extremism. The question that arises then is why, or more precisely, why now? This thesis explores the factors that led to the resurgence of right-wing extremism in the United States over the past decade. It argues that the resurgence of right-wing violence in America after 2008 is due to a dynamic interplay of contextual factors, including the existence of a subculture of xenophobia and the near-unfettered access to firearms, along with concrete grievances, such as economic anxiety and resentment toward the government. These contextual factors enabled an environment where extremist violence was more likely to occur, and the concrete grievances provided the motivation. The third set of factors that fueled the 2008 right-wing resurgence were the occurrence of several catalytic events including the election of the first African-American president and the shift in societal behavior afforded by social media. These events provided salience to the context and grievances, thereby intensifying the violent reactions by right-wing extremists."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Vitali, Joshua D.
2020-06-12
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International Governance of Non-State Actors in Cyberspace: Is a Single Entity Sufficient for Dispute Resolution?
From the Thesis Abstract: "Cyberattacks by non-state actors have evolved with the speed of technology, leaving governments largely powerless to address emerging threats, partly due to the lack of legal options to dissuade or deter malicious non-state actors. To adequately address the threat, the international community must form legally binding mechanisms to pursue non-state actors similar to the way the world rethought terrorism after 9/11. This thesis rejects a proposed dispute-mitigation recommendation now under consideration by international negotiators--the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, leveraging the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime as its framework--and explores an alternative approach for the international governance of the cyber domain, with due mechanisms established to address the ongoing threat of malicious non-state actors. Numerous stakeholders influence cyber strategies in the U.S. and internationally; therefore, a one-system entity is an ineffective regulatory mechanism. Rather, it should be multi-pronged, multilateral, and comprise a unified approach that includes the UN, NATO, INTERPOL, as well as sanctioned unilateral state processes to achieve optimal outcomes. The Paris Climate Agreement should be referenced as a model for success in garnering support for this governance initiative, utilizing the UN to define the space and develop a clear, well-defined framework leveraging the Budapest Convention and the Tallinn Manual 2.0 encapsulated in an amendable treaty."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Francis, Jaclyn L.
2020-06
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Overcoming Implementation Barriers Within the Fire Service to Reduce Firefighter Cancer Rates
From the Thesis Abstract: "Occupational cancer has become the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths within the United States fire service. This epidemic claims the lives of hundreds of firefighters each year, even though the fire service has developed best practices to prevent occupational cancers. This thesis identifies seven barriers that are preventing fire departments from implementing best practices: fire department culture, firefighters' ignorance of the disease and prevention methods, complacency caused by cancer's long latency periods, funding, pathways to compliance with national and departmental policies, groupthink, and motivation. To explain how fire departments can overcome these barriers, this thesis examines the health and safety efforts that two departments have taken and reviews literature from other fire departments, national fire service organizations, subject-matter experts, researchers, and academic studies. This research shows that when fire departments provide their members with the proper tools, training, education, and awareness, they can rise to the occasion and implement best practices to prevent occupation-related cancer."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Haseney, John J.
2020-06
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Alt-Right Influence on the Radicalization of Whitenationalists in the United States, According Tosignificance Quest Theory
From the Thesis Abstract: "Reaching national notoriety in the 2016 election season, the Alt-Right embodied the most recent resurgence of white nationalism in the United States. Though it lost momentum with the 2017 'Unite the Right' rally, the Alt-Right's persistence in reaching broad audiences continued online with the adoption of uncensored media platforms like 8chan. The juxtaposition between white-nationalist violence conducted before and after the Alt-Right's national appearance highlights the Alt-Right's ability to attract relatively affluent young white Americans by leveraging fringe media sites to galvanize old white-nationalist ideologies given changing political environments. Where Dylann Roof, a high school dropout, had access only to passive white-nationalist websites that spouted hateful ideologies, John Earnest and Patrick Crusius, both college students, actively participated in uncensored social media platforms on which users motivated each other to commit violence through heated hateful rhetoric and the celebration of attacks on non-whites. In line with Significance Quest Theory--which emphasizes the role of motivation, terrorism-justifying ideologies, and social networks in the radicalization process--the Alt-Right successfully spun violence-justifying white-nationalist ideologies within online social networks to reach disenchanted young white Americans, including those whose futures seemed promising, which culminated in a string of violent attacks in the summer of 2019."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Cullings, Forrest
2020-06
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Increasing Local Public Health Emergency Preparedness Capacity by Building from Within the Current Infrastructure
From the Thesis Abstract: "State and local public health departments are losing the ability to respond to and protect the community from public health threats. Increase to public health funding follows after an identified threat because current capacity cannot absorb a new mission. Given the decrease in federal funding and subsequent loss of response capacity, how can local public health reconfigure its organizational structure or find alternate sources of funding to maintain or increase current response capacity? This thesis traces the growth of public health from a single program to today's U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supporting state and local health departments through federal grant funds. Using case studies and comparing federal grant awards to the structures of state and local departments, this thesis reveals how reliance on federal funding affects the organization of public health. The research demonstrates the direct correlation between the current structure and a century of funding one program per threat. Reliance on federal grants imperils the United States public health system because state and local departments must reorganize in order to sustain ongoing public health missions. The conclusion includes four recommendations that may improve the overall public health network by modifying funding to a more inclusive process, changing the type of federal grants, restructuring to support larger domains, and increasing state and local budgets to support response capacity."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Castle, Marcus A.
2020-06
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Examination of Academic Education for Homeland Security
From the Thesis Abstract: "Over the last 19 years, there has been a concerted, multifaceted effort to develop an academic field of Homeland Security. This thesis examined the state of homeland security education to understand the size and characteristics of the field, important to shape future development. Current estimates have significant methodological limitations. There were two questions. First, what are the characteristics and foci of the literature on homeland security education? Second, what are the characteristics of homeland security graduate-degree programs? The first question was answered with a systematic review of 71 articles. The articles were published in homeland security journals, were largely narrative pieces rather than empirical, and mostly focused on homeland security discipline, curriculum or programs. The second question was answered with a review of 110 graduate-level academic programs. There are 58 full degree programs in homeland security-related fields, but only 18 that are exclusively homeland security. Most programs are delivered fully online and require a capstone rather than a thesis. From these analyses are three recommendations. First, the field needs to use stronger empirical research methods. Second, since most programs are delivered online, the field should emphasize educational techniques and outcomes effective in this format. Finally, there needs to be some discussion to clarify the relationship between homeland security and emergency management."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Simons-Rudolph, Joseph M.
2020-06
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Social Network Analysis: Enhancing Threat Assessments for Targeted Violence
From the Thesis Abstract: "This research applies social network analysis and social identity theory to threat assessment investigations of subjects who commit acts of targeted violence. It provides a framework for understanding the expanding threat of targeted violence and its impact on U.S. homeland security. Statistics on targeted violence in the United States show that incidents are increasing in both frequency and lethality. Traditional studies of targeted violence have focused heavily on the mental state of the 'lone' perpetrator without fully examining the role of social influences. This research incorporates case studies intended to offer insight, increase understanding, and suggest new methods of enhancing the current field of threat assessment for targeted violence cases. The findings of this research recommend new strategies for conducting targeted violence threat assessment investigations utilizing the application of social network analysis and social identity theory. Through an examination of previous targeted violent actors, this research establishes that understanding relevant social conditions can contribute significant clues about an individual's risk of entering a pathway to violence. These clues can be mapped and followed over a period of time to reveal a social withdrawal and loss of restraining relationships."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Vogt, Darren J.
2020-06
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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
