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Trusting Your Instruments: Leveraging Wearable Devices to Improve Pre-Operational Fatigue Assessment by U.S. Coast Guard Aircrews
From the Thesis Abstract: "Existing U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) aviation policies rely on crew members to self-diagnose their personal level of fatigue based on their perceived hours of sleep, with the only quantifiable factor at their disposal being their alleged hours of sleep. With the continued improvement in wearable technology, measurable data may be readily available for aircrew to make a more informed and accurate assessment of their preflight readiness. This study sought to identify the legal and social considerations affecting the implementation of wearable technology to assess crew fatigue in the USCG, and provide recommendations regarding how to incorporate these new technologies into preflight operation risk-assessment processes. The results of this study do not support an immediate investment in a full-scale USCG aviation wearables program. However, they do highlight the potential role that wearables might play in helping policymakers by quantifying the fatigue currently experienced by aircrew under existing policies and practices. Finally, the study identifies data privacy as a key potential barrier to wearable acceptance and recommends the unprecedented preemptive application of legal privilege to wearable data used by aircrew as part of risk-management process in order to encourage user acceptance."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Austin, Matthew S.
2021-09
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Role of Schools and Their Capabilities to Ensure Safe Sheltering During a Storm
From the thesis abstract: "Across the country, public schools are more than just learning environments for students; they are designated emergency shelters in times of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tsunamis, and tornadoes. This thesis examines the use of public schools as emergency shelters as an integral part of homeland security. It specifically addresses the experiences in the State of Hawaii and examines the practices and policies of Florida, Texas, and Japan. Through a case study of these locations, recommendations are made for the State of Hawaii regarding the practice of maintaining schools as shelters, strengthening security and safety, and clarifying its role."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dela Cruz, Donalyn A.
2017-03
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Building the Case for a Prison Mass-Casualty Planning Framework
From the Thesis Abstract: "The corrections enterprise is wholly unprepared for mass casualty incidents (MCI). Prisons regularly experience incidents involving inmate violence; these events can quickly escalate into an MCI that overwhelms the prison's ability to respond and overload local medical systems. Despite numerous prison-related disasters, the corrections enterprise remains disengaged from national emergency preparedness efforts. Further complicating the issue is the lack of corrections-specific emergency management doctrine to guide prison emergency planners toward achieving national preparedness goals. This thesis asks, 'How can a framework be developed that will improve prison mass-casualty planning and response?' The first part of the research involves a gap analysis comparing the prescribed performance outcomes found in emergency management doctrine and MCI planning guides to the actual performance outcomes from several MCI events. In the second part, a panel of correctional and emergency management experts participated in a modified Delphi process to validate the results of the gap analysis using a discussion-based wargaming exercise. The research found that it is possible to create an accurate depiction of the problem space by reframing gap analysis data in the context of the prison operational environment. The resulting MCI framework recommends a series of corrections-specific planning actions, backed by doctrine, which is scalable and applicable to any prison or correctional facility."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Day, Michael D.
2019-09
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Lone Actor Terrorists: The Performance of Hegemonic Masculinity Through Acts of Violence
From the Thesis Abstract: "As the United States faces the threat of lone actor terrorism, researchers have struggled to reach a consensus on how to profile these actors and fully understand causation and motivation. The media frequently report attackers' histories of gender-based violence; however, there is a lack of gendered analysis of lone actor terrorism. This thesis explores the role of gender-based violence and hegemonic masculinity in the radicalization and attacks carried out in the United States by post-9/11 lone actor terrorists. It finds that a majority of the attackers experienced stressors related to the performance of hegemonic masculinity, a culturally constructed set of norms that values dominance and accomplishment in terms of wealth, heterosexual romantic partners, and control. This thesis explores these stressors as identity threats in the context of social identity theory. In the absence of group dynamics, it connects referent informational influence to social identity theory concepts and radicalization models for lone actor terrorists. This thesis presents a thematic diagram that coalesces social identity theory with lone actor terrorism, radicalization, and studies of hegemonic masculinity. Furthermore, this thesis finds that collecting data on gender-based violence will be critical to understanding lone actor terrorism and violence prevention strategies."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Windisch, Beth
2020-09
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Does Theory Matter? Applying Organizational Theory to Develop Effective Local Government Emergency Management Programs
From the Thesis Abstract: "Emergency management has developed into a profession with demands and expertise separate from other professional disciplines in government service. Coordination issues before, during, and after a disaster have continually been a challenge for emergency management. Although the organizational placement of local government emergency management agencies varies extensively across the United States, public administration organizational theory provides a foundation for considerations that inform the design of these bureaucratic structures. Structure influences essential emergency management functions such as interagency coordination, resource allocation, program prioritization, decision making, information flow, and collaboration. Organizational design also significantly affects program characteristics, including culture development, professional identity, and employee engagement--all of which have direct relationships with program effectiveness. This thesis supports the notion that jurisdictions need to carefully consider the organizational placement of their emergency management programs to support effective service delivery. Jurisdictions should ensure that programs are structured in a way that promotes program empowerment, limits hierarchical layers, promotes executive sponsorship, enhances collaboration, and develops an emergency management culture."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Sirney, Jason M.
2019-03
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Developing the Bench: Building an Effective Homeland Security Undergraduate Program
"The current Homeland Security (HLS) workforce is aging, and the future need is growing. Academia has a significant role in the development of HLS future leaders. This thesis uses a meta-analysis to define what academia's role should include. The meta-analysis utilized a template of common HLS rubric, then used systematic study of existing core curriculum, topics in frequently used HLS texts, opinions of HLS leaders, opinions of Emergency Managers, and the opinions of community college students. The study of existing curriculum reflects the topical choices of current academic program directors, from which one could draw conclusions based on popular adoption. The topics in commonly used texts were categorized with the rubric template, and then scored by frequency. The three surveys consisted of a prioritization of the rubric template topics from very important to very unimportant. HLS leaders were queried to capture the leader's future view of workforce educational needs. Emergency Managers were queried to capture what the current practitioners view as important. And community college students were queried to identify what future students view as important in further education. The net result of the meta-analysis is a recommendation of nine specific topical areas, of interest to current or potential HLS undergraduate programs."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Winegar, Scott
2008-03
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Responding to High-Rise Active Shooters
From the thesis abstract: "On October 1, 2017, a mass shooting took place in Las Vegas in which the active shooter--perched on the thirty-second floor of a high-rise building--killed fifty-eight people at an outdoor concert below. Law enforcement last modified its active-shooter response practices after the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. Since then, agencies across the United States have based their active-shooter responses on the assumption that the shooter is on the move and in the same two-dimensional environment as the responding officers; the response practices, training, and resource requirements do not address a three-dimensional threat in a semi-fixed position. This thesis analyzed case studies from the University of Texas tower shooting, the Mumbai terrorist attack, and the Las Vegas mass shooting to illuminate patterns, nuances, practices, techniques, tactics, and procedures related to high-rise active shooters. The conclusions identified training procedures, equipment considerations, and response practices that may help first responders mitigate damage from similar attacks in the future." The CHDS Viewpoints in Homeland Defense and Security video link for this thesis is available at: https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=821244
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Seebock, James J.
2018-12
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What We Have Here is a Failure to Tourniquet: Increasing the Efficacy of Hemorrhage Control Training
From the thesis Abstract: "Bleeding to death is the primary avertable cause of death for victims who have suffered trauma--like a gunshot wound. Emergency medical services response times of less than five minutes yield the best outcomes for shooting victims, but the average response time is six to eight minutes; help may be even farther away in an ongoing shooting incident or mass shooting event. In emergency incidents, bystanders with some training and some gear--in this case, tourniquets--may provide life-saving aid to victims of traumatic injury until medical personnel can take over. Precedents for involving, equipping, and empowering the public in public safety, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, automated external defibrillators, and Narcan/Naloxone, have been established. This thesis explores these programs. Several important takeaways from this review can be applied to any immediate responder program. First, priority must be given to providing training in the most widely accessible manner to reach the most people. Second, if specialized equipment is necessary, it must be easy-to-use and readily accessible, and should include instructions. While training is an important first step, building in natural points of contact for trainers and trainees, like requiring recertification, can increase the trainees' retention of and ability to apply those lessons learned."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Werner, William C.
2020-12
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Facilitating the Medical Response into an Active Shooter Hot Zone
From the thesis abstract: "The response to active shooter attacks is not as effective as it could be. People die before receiving care because most jurisdictions have a policy in place that stipulates emergency medical services (EMS) wait to enter a scene until law enforcement (LE) announces that the scene is clear or secure. Since this can take some time, life-saving care is not immediately available to the people who most need it, and consequently, there can be a greater loss of life. How can a combined LE and EMS response, based on combat medical care, be effective in saving lives during an active shooter incident? Utilizing 10 historic active shooter cases ranging from the Texas tower shooting in 1966 and concluding with the Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012, I analyzed the responses to consider the response times of the responders, time of access to the victims, and transport time to medical facilities. The basis for the responses utilized data collected by the U.S. military from combat injuries sustained from World War II through the current conflicts in the Middle East. From these analyses, I am able to show that fast field intervention based on training, policy, and operational planning with the Incident Command System component, which includes both law enforcement and fire/EMS entry teams, will provide better patient viability prior to hospital care. This will not be a critique of right and wrong, as the responders did what was needed at the time; however, in current-day hindsight, there are points that can be noted for future response growth."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Tierney, Martin T.
2016-06
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Technological Solution for the Reduction of Police Pursuits: Implications for Increased Investment
From the Thesis Abstract: "The Department of Justice (DOJ) is the primary federal funding source for state, local, and tribal law enforcement departments throughout the United States. In recent years, there has been a call to address the risks associated with traditional vehicle pursuit methods. The adoption of pursuit management technology has been identified as an effective and beneficial alternative to established kinetic methods. The established methods are defined by contact with the pursued vehicle that does result in a greater risk for collateral damage. By acting in its role as a major funding source, the DOJ can provide the necessary framework for the acquisition of pursuit management technology by state, local, and tribal departments. This thesis evaluates the sources relating to pursuit management technology, DOJ funding activities, departmental pursuit policy, and DOJ policy reform efforts. Policy prescriptions are provided based on the information presented in the evaluation. It is recommended that the DOJ redirect more funds toward the acquisition of pursuit management technology to improve departmental efficiency and strategic efficacy."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Troxell, Ian
2019-09
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Texas Should Adopt Homeland Security Standards for High-Speed Rail
From the thesis abstract: "A private corporation is proposing a high-speed intercity passenger train system to operate between Dallas and Houston using Japanese technology and methods. This project brings with it an array of unique and unprecedented homeland security issues. Train bombings in Madrid and London and attacks on high-speed trains elsewhere raise questions about the security of such transportation. A modern high-speed rail system is a network of potential vulnerabilities, and terrorist groups have identified public transportation as desirable targets. Should the State of Texas require homeland security standards for high-speed rail? A review of the literature reveals the number and consequences of terrorist actions against passenger rail in general and intercity high-speed trains in particular. In addition, it suggests that this writing is the first in its specific application. This thesis places the project in historical and geographical context and reviews potential vulnerabilities using a framework developed by the Argonne National Laboratory. Furthermore, it includes a fault tree analysis and an options analysis through which possible approaches are identified and analyzed. Finally, this thesis finds that the State of Texas should require homeland security standards and provides recommendations for action in the areas of law enforcement, cybersecurity, intelligence, privacy, screening, psychological and mental health effects, and community involvement."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Polunsky, Steven M.
2015-12
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Protecting Our Future-Developing a National School Security Standard
From the thesis abstract: "This research examines the risk to schoolchildren posed by hostile intruders and the implementation of a national school security standard designed to mitigate this vulnerability and evaluates the utility of innovative perimeter security strategies modeled to reduce risk while preserving the requisite academic environment. This project originated after the mass murder of 20 defenseless first-graders and six heroic faculty members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. A methodological analysis of existing school security policy was utilized to define the problem, to evaluate the variance between school communities, and to construct plausible alternative strategies. This project sought to enhance the understanding of risk management, offer strategic insight to decision makers and key stakeholders, and provide meaningful options for future school security planners. The literature on this subject demonstrates that traditional school security guidance is provided to local school districts by an array of federal agencies. It is primarily focused on incidents of peer hostility and gang violence, and there has been marginal attention given to an attack perpetrated by an adult intruder that is unaffiliated with the targeted school. This type of violence is infrequent, but the extreme consequences evoke emotions similar to terrorist attacks in creating public fear, often leading to rash and reactive decisions. Many parents trust leaders in the academic community to care for their children and provide them a safe and secure environment. This expectation of protection has become a significant responsibility for school officials, and the establishment of a national school security standard, complete with guidelines and oversight, would help ease this burden and change the present school security narrative."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Donaghey, Michael J.
2013-12
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Blip on the Radar: School Safety Synergy Through Early Warning and Information Sharing
From the thesis Abstract: "The traditional response to school violence by legislators and school districts has been mostly reactive. Scholars and existing research in the field of school safety and security recommend a critical safety and security initiative that is proactive and works to prevent violence by identifying concerns early on through behavioral threat assessment practices. This thesis applied a multi-step qualitative and comparative policy analysis framework that evaluated existing opportunities to increase the safety and security posture of schools. This study evaluated strengths and weaknesses in school safety and security by drawing lessons from past incidents of school violence in the United States, assembling contributing factors to inaction, comparing another country's holistic approach to targeted violence, and evaluating gaps in existing school safety legislation. This thesis used scholarly research to make school safety and security recommendations at the federal, state, and local levels--for legislators, public safety professionals, school district leadership, and particularly, school safety and security professionals in Texas. This thesis found that for behavioral threat assessment and management to be an effective violence prevention strategy, school officials and legislators ought to develop programs and implement training and measurement tools that focus on efficacy rather than compliance or broad measures that consequentially affect children who do not pose a threat."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dias, Bruno S.
2020-12
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Community-Oriented Counterterrorism: Incorporating National Homeland Security Mandates into the Local Community Policing Philosophy
From the thesis abstract: "Since 9/11, many local police agencies have been chipping away at important community policing programs in order to meet new homeland security responsibilities. With this in mind, the current study set out to answer the question: Do newly acquired homeland security responsibilities require police agencies to reduce or eliminate community policing programs, or can homeland security mandates be effectively integrated into an agency's already established community policing philosophy? In order to answer this question, the study looked at 720 municipal law enforcement agencies from all 50 states that responded to a variety of community policing and homeland security questions in both 2000 and 2007 Bureau of Justice Statistics Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics surveys. These agencies incorporate most major U.S. police departments as well as a representative sample of smaller agencies. The study provides strong evidence that since 9/11, police agencies have significantly reduced the attention given to community policing, while at the same time substantially increasing their focus on homeland security. The study also strongly suggests that police agencies that instead integrate community policing and homeland security not only excel in counterterrorism preparedness, but they also enjoy lower crime rates. This supports the idea that community-oriented counterterrorism is a viable policing strategy and should be implemented as a preferred organizational practice."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Adcox, Kenith Roland
2014-12
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Regulating Hawala: Thwarting Terrorism or Jeopardizing Stability?
From the Thesis Abstract: "This thesis uses the case study method to investigate the unintended consequences that have resulted from the United States' efforts to deter criminal abuses of hawala. It explores the illegitimate and legitimate uses of hawala in Africa and the Middle East in the post-9/11 era. Despite extensive regulatory blocks, hawala has been a key financial node for the Taliban, Islamic State, and al-Shabaab. On the other hand, hawala serves as a lifeline for victims of terrorism in Africa and the Middle East. Any disruption in service jeopardizes their survival and protection. This study identifies how regulatory action has caused financial exclusion and is counterproductive to the United States' anti-money laundering efforts and campaigns against terrorism financing. Practices like de-risking encourage the growth of alternative money transfer systems. This assessment concludes with a recommendation to use mobile money platforms to reinvigorate the formal financial sector and promote financial inclusion. Mobile hawalas are already leveraging digital delivery channels and have gained rapid momentum. In lieu of further regulatory action, Western institutions can employ these emerging technologies to transform into more adaptive and advantageous competitors of hawala and avoid compromising the essential service it provides." A 12 minute and 10 second interview on this thesis is also available at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=866898].
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Mali, Monika
2019-12
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United States Coast Guard and Spontaneous Volunteers: Collaboration or Chaos During Disaster Response
From the thesis Abstract: "Spontaneous volunteers who conduct search and rescue (SAR) in the aftermath of major disasters are changing the emergency management landscape. This thesis explores ways in which the United States Coast Guard (USCG) could better engage organized spontaneous volunteers (OSV) who conduct maritime SAR during hurricane response operations. The research involves three exploratory case studies. In each case study, the organizational response of both the USCG and OSVs was examined according to the Disaster Research Center's four-fold typology of organized responses to disasters. The analysis identified specific factors of the USCG's organizational response that affected OSV engagement. Recommendations are made for the USCG to take on new or non-regular SAR tasks and to develop new organizational structures to respond effectively to maritime disasters. New organizational structures should also include OSV groups if the USCG desires to increase engagement during future hurricane response operations."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Gilbert, Joshua R.
2021-06
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Softest Target: Security Planning for Houses of Worship
From the Thesis Abstract: "Defending houses of worship has become an ever-increasing need in homeland security. The rise of threats against faith-based organizations is growing, and the unique nature of sanctuaries makes them an ever-increasing soft target. What security help can assist houses of worship, and how can homeland security experts advise faith-based organizations? This thesis employs an appreciative inquiry approach to define the security problem that houses of worship face in specific threats and hurdles unique to them. Chapters review available resources at the government level, in the commercial space, and by faith-based organizations themselves. The material was then synthesized by developing an emergency operations plan for one house of worship: Northminster Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona. This thesis suggests that overcoming the hurdles to security strategies within a house of worship is much more nuanced than previously believed, and the construction of a security plan for any house of worship is far more difficult than previously understood. Rather than seeking a one-size-fits-all or a packaged solution, houses of worship would best be served by engaging in a local effort to analyze security challenges and solutions. Little empirical study treats how houses of worship use, acquire, and find value in protection strategies on their campuses, and this thesis starts the conversation into this rarely discussed space."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Stein, John E.
2019-12
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Regional Joint Border Commands: A Pathway to Improving Collaboration and Effectiveness for Border Control
"Control of the U.S. border is a primary concern for the Department of Homeland Security. Three of the department's components have major roles in providing border security and control. With increasing costs and constantly changing threats, it is vital that all border organizations work together collaboratively. This thesis looks at two new ideas, border regionalization and joint regional border commands, and compares them with current efforts to increase collaboration. By establishing border regions, DHS can use threat based planning in each region to allow all border control components to focus on threats specific to their region while also increasing the level effectiveness of resources. Joint regional border commands offer even greater advantages in collaboration between components and resource usage. The DoD model for regional combatant commands is used as an example of how DHS can take advantage of the lessons learned with this recommendation."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Carr, Alan
2009-12
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Policy Safeguards and the Legitimacy of Highway Interdiction
From the thesis abstract: "The strategy of highway interdiction was created to counter the negative consequences of drug trafficking organizations using highways to distribute contraband. Although there have been tangible results, the strategy has also resulted in the unintended consequences of racial profiling and illegal searches. This thesis addresses whether policy safeguards could help minimize improper practices of personnel conducting highway interdiction operations. This project convened a series of focus groups consisting of 11 state police organizations that provided information on policy safeguards and their purposes. This thesis examines seven major categories of policy safeguards to determine the level of implementation by the state police organizations. In addition, this thesis includes a comparative analysis of the implementation of policy safeguards and the number of personnel complaints filed to determine whether there is any correlation. Although the findings are not conclusive, the analysis identified potential benefits of implementing policy safeguards."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Hood, Kevin M.
2016-12
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Approaching Career Criminals with an Intelligence Cycle
From the thesis abstract: "Career criminals have been responsible for a high number of crimes out of proportion to their small numbers. Efforts to reduce the recidivism rate through intervention programs have not been effective. American law enforcement could be more effective if career criminals were targeted for special attention. Many law enforcement formats, such as community policing, problem-oriented policing and intelligence-led policing, are currently in use by American state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies, and applying the use of intelligence practices to crime in these communities has become a focus of its law enforcement agencies. Can American law enforcement agencies use an intelligence community tool--the intelligence cycle--to deal with career criminals effectively? This thesis studies serious-offender programs and the use of the intelligence cycle by American intelligence agencies in order to create a model merging serious offender programs and intelligence cycles. It investigates serious-offender programs and finds that a lack of focus limited the use of the intelligence cycle within the American criminal justice system. This thesis concludes that the use of the intelligence cycle--specifically the FBI's [Federal Bureau of Investigation] intelligence cycle's six steps of requirements, planning and direction, collection, processing and exploitation, analysis and production, and dissemination--can assist a law enforcement agency in focusing its efforts on career criminals."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
O'Leary, Denis Francis
2015-12
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Implementing the National Framework for a Biothreat Field Response Mission Capability
From the thesis abstract: "Since the 2001 anthrax attacks, communities have been responding to a sample surge of suspicious mailings. Each event has the potential to be an act of bioterrorism involving a deadly pathogen and, thus, requires a timely response in order to evaluate the risk to public safety. Stakeholders from federal and state governments and industry have recognized the need to develop a mission capability for responding to these suspicious events. The framework for a biothreat field response mission capability advocates the use of innovative detection technology in support of a risk assessment concept of operation. Implementing the framework will require federal and state collaboration and will establish local certification training standards, field-based proficiency and competency assessment exercises, and state response plans that reflect national guidance. This research describes the critical elements of a bioresponse framework, the current status of framework adoption at the state level, and recommendations for a three-phased implementation model."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Marsh, Bryon
2013-09
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Crisis Communication for Law Enforcement: Crafting a Successful Strategy Using Social Media
From the Thesis Abstract: "Law enforcement has begun to embrace social media as a communication tool; but, in most cases, agencies have not created strategies around using social media for crisis communication. This thesis focused on identifying smart practices in crisis communication to determine what a social media crisis communication strategy for law enforcement should look like. The use of force by law enforcement often results in a negative community reaction; this research focused on communication on social media after use of force incidents. An analysis of crisis communication theory and research was conducted. The analysis included situational crisis communication theory, attribution theory, image repair theory, social information processing theory, and social presence theory. An examination was conducted of successful crisis communication strategies used in the private sector, which revealed seven common elements. The commonalities led to the conclusion that law enforcement should establish protocols and create strategies with these elements: conduct regular scenario-based crisis communication training, leverage the young social-media savvy generation that grew up with technology, commonly called 'digital natives,' for social media communications, actively monitor social media, with attention not only to content but also to tone and lexicon, ensure timely communication with the public after use of force incidents, and place priority in messaging on qualities, such as honesty and compassion."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Coonce, Angela G.
2019-03
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Port Security Grant Program: Good Enough, or Can It Be Made Better
From the thesis abstract: "For almost a decade and a half since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Port Security Grant Program [PSGP] has provided funding to project proposals for improving the security and resiliency posture of the nation's ports and waterways. The United States has over 360 coastal and inland ports through which over $1.3 trillion in cargo moves annually; a safe, secure, and efficient MTS [Marine Transportation System] is critical to national security. The PSGP is intended to enhance port security and resiliency by funding proposals to provide increased risk management, measures to mitigate disruptions and facilitate port recovery, and maritime domain awareness (MDA) capabilities to prevent, respond to, and recover from attacks. The PSGP has matured to include funding for all-hazards threatening the ports-natural, accidental, and intentional. This thesis seeks to evaluate how well the PSGP has met those goals and if it should be improved, reorganized or eliminated."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Arnett, Paul D. J.
2016-06
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Benefits of Utilizing Procedural Justice Principles in Hiring and Training Officers
From the Thesis Abstract: "Policing is at a critical point in its history, with ever-increasing expectations on law enforcement and evidence of mistrust among the communities they serve, particularly in communities of color. Negative encounters between police and community members are symptoms of mistrust, sometimes manifesting in acts of violence both by and against police. Trust and willingness to comply with police are linked to the community's perception of legitimacy in the institution, which is reduced when interactions between the police and public go badly. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze how incorporating procedural justice principles in hiring and training will encourage active community engagement and increased minority representation in law enforcement, resulting in increased legitimacy and decreased negative encounters with citizens. This thesis looks at several real-world examples of procedural justice in action, demonstrating the ability of the key principles--voice, transparency, fairness, and impartiality--to increase trust and reduce the frequency of negative encounters between the community and law enforcement."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Boe, Theodore A.
2019-09
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Considerations for Domestic Law Enforcement Implementation of a UAS Program in the Proposed FAA Regulatory Environment of Integration into the National Airspace System
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis identifies the potential future mission profile of an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) program within a domestic law enforcement agency after implementation of UAS regulations, a task currently in progress by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). First, the author reviews current academic literature and provides analysis on key policy issues of safety, the transfer of risk, and constitutional rights. Then, the author consults the knowledge and experience of individuals responsible for the integration architecture of UAS through an IRB [Institutional Review Board]-approved online survey. The survey of these subject matter experts using the Delphi method resulted in the following recommendations: (1) early public engagement and transparency for intended UAS use by law enforcement; (2) a policy framework that addresses safe operation and privacy; (3) further investment in 'sense and avoid' technology; (4) the development of a comprehensive UAS training program. This academically rigorous consultation provides law enforcement executives and elected officials the policy implications of initiating a new UAS program and the groundwork to assess existing UAS programs."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
McMinn, Keith Andrew
2015-12
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National Network of Fusion Centers: Perception and Reality
From the thesis abstract: "The National Network of Fusion Centers (the Network) is one of many organizational efforts the nation has undergone to help bolster its counterterrorism prevention and response efforts. Since its creation in the years following the 9/11 attacks, the Network has garnered both accolades and criticisms, resulting in an uneven opinion about fusion center functions and performance. The diverse opinions that are held of the Network appear at times to be based on perceptions incongruent with some of the realities of current Network operations and which lead to an undervaluation of its contributions. This research examined the points of opposition between supporters and critics of the Network and identified strategies employed by the Network to mitigate areas of concern, in order to define the relationship or gap between actual performance and the perception of performance of the Network held by external (to the Network) parties. This research employed a modified version of the multi-goal policy analysis method as a guide for the conduct of analysis. This study recommends a recalibration of these perceptions."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Klem, Nicholas
2014-12
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U.S. Refugee Policy in the Era of Homeland Security: A Comparative Government Analysis
From the thesis abstract: "U.S. immigration and refugee policy reform has stalled due to competing national narratives. Claims that refugees harm the U.S. economy and national security are in direct conflict with the country's historical national identity and values, and this is apparent in the public discourse. This thesis explores the validity of these claims and provides a comparative analysis with Canada and Germany, both of which are democratic Western societies facing similar issues. It answers the question of what U.S. policy makers can learn from the refugee policies of Canada and Germany and makes 11 recommendations for the United States based on this analysis. This thesis finds the claims that refugees negatively impact a country's economy and national security in the United States, Canada, and Germany to be unfounded. Basing U.S. refugee policy on unfounded claims harms U.S. standing and credibility in the international community as well as deprives it of the economic and safety benefits of admitting and properly integrating refugees into U.S. society."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Kuczera, Reiss
2017-12
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Subversive Influence: Vulnerabilities of the United States and Its Elections to Russian Interference Campaigns
From the thesis Abstract: "The United States and its allies have been subjected to clandestine interference campaigns led by theRussian government for nearly a century. The targets and mechanisms of subversive Kremlin influence have varied over the decades, but themes such as seeking to tamper with electoral processes have seen refinement and renewed vigor in the 21st century. From the inception of the Soviet Union to the era of Vladimir Putin, this thesis investigates the targets and mechanisms of subversive Russian influence--with particular focus on election meddling--to identify the greatest U.S. vulnerabilities to such interference campaigns. We determined that the Kremlin possesses a wide variety of well-honed tools such as disinformation, cyberattacks, and forgeries that allow it to apply stress to democratic systems and exploit rival nations' internal divisions, and that it has had success in deploying such tools in a number of Western democratic elections since 2014. We find that significant damage to the credibility of elections and the U.S. government is a viable vulnerability for Russian interference campaigns, and that mounting defensive measures against and mitigation thereof must be a top priority for U.S. national and homeland security entities."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
McMasters, Daniel H.
2020-12
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You Can't Always Get What You Want: Employee and Organizational Responses to Perceived Workplace Injustices and Their Relationship to Insider Attacks
From the Thesis Abstract: "Insider threats are a 'wicked' problem. This thesis investigates three questions: how do employees respond to perceived workplace injustice, what is the relationship between employee responses to perceived workplace injustices and insider attacks, and how can organizations prevent disgruntled employees from committing attacks? These questions were answered using a thorough literature review and case studies. Employees respond in one, or a combination, of four ways: exit, loyalty, voice, and counterproductive work behaviors, as illustrated by the researcher's grievance response model. The researcher was unable to identify specific employee responses that led to attacks due to a lack of data and multiple, contradictory, and missing narratives. Organizations may be able to prevent employees from committing attacks by applying the grievance response model, ensuring grievance procedures are consistent and transparent, and offering alternative dispute resolution programs."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Reed, Tracey
2019-03
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Enhanced Resilience Through Expanded Community Preparedness in the United States: Application of Israeli Models
From the thesis abstract: "A new approach engaging citizens in preparedness and resilience in the United States is needed to increase community preparedness. Examination of Israel's proven model of community preparedness has shown that applying, adapting, and utilizing some of these components will greatly enhance U.S. resilience. The U.S. government's role is to design and resource flexible programs communities can tailor to address specific threats, needs, and strengths unique to their citizens and society. The United States and Israel have notable differences including land mass, population, frequency, and intensity of threats; national versus federal democratic governance, cultural and religious homogeneity; as well as levels of public trust in government. This thesis found the contextual differences are not insurmountable policy challenges for utilizing best practices from Israeli community preparedness models and applying them to the United States. Many Israeli practices parallel those of the United States, particularly the utilization of volunteers in disaster preparedness and response. Israel's history of threats and the resultant citizen engagement model has made Israel the leader in utilizing civilians as a force structure component for community preparedness and national resilience. Since portions of Israel's model have demonstrated success, and are applicable, these practices should be implemented to increase U.S. community preparedness and resilience."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Hoffman, Sydney S.
2014-03
