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A Workforce Optimization Model for U.S. Army Force Structure Optimization and Sufficiency Analysis
No full textThe United States Army perpetually deploys rotational elements across the globe in support of its national security strategy. These units meet a set of mission demands over a defined time period before returning from deployment, modernizing, and preparing for the next deployment. The Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model (ReARMM) provides policy guidance for U.S. Army unit deployments that align with these cyclical stages. Specific emphasis is placed on aligning forces against a geographic combatant command, which in turn allows units to build readiness and lethality oriented toward the same series of threats, physical terrain, and civil considerations. This research provides an integer programming model that aligns units by modified table of organization and equipment (e.g., combined arms battalion, light infantry battalion, cavalry squadron [armored brigade combat team, ABCT]), component status (e.g., active/reserve), and geographic combatant command location with mission demand over a prescribed set of time periods, at a given echelon level
Investigation of High-Latitude GNSS Radio Occulation Sporadic-E and Auroral-E Measurements
Get PDFAbnormal sporadic-E (Es) occurrences were found in the high latitude regions during a recent climatology study by (Hodos, 2022), that calculated sporadic-E occurrence rates derived from a data set of GPS radio occultation (GPS-RO) and ionosondes. In this study, sporadic-E GNSS-RO techniques are shown to falsely attribute sporadic-E events to auroral-E (Ea) events. A comparative study is conducted on GPS-RO measurement techniques to find false occurrence rates for various RO techniques using a single ionosonde site in Gakona, Alaska. Phase-based RO techniques were found to be more likely to falsely attribute sporadic-E as auroral-E, while amplitude based techniques were less likely
Pulsed-Power Neutron Production with Deuterated Polymer Accelerator Targets
Get PDFThis document presents an investigation of the effect of deuterated accelerator targets on the neutron fluence from a local mass injection dense plasma focus (LMIDPF) driven by the United States Naval Research Laboratory\u27s (NRL) Hawk pulsed-power generator. Deuterated targets were made using two methods: a well-established thin-film casting technique for flat targets and a more novel additive manufacturing technique that allowed targets to be three-dimensional (3D) printed in both flat and conical geometries. These targets were then tested during neutron-producing experiments conducted using Hawk, and theneutron fluences measured for the various target types were compared. Additive manufacturing was used as a production method in order to determine if deuterated accelerator targets could be 3D printed and if their fluence would be significantly different from the fluence with the traditional method of thin-film casting. Specifically, photopolymerization-based 3D printing was performed, and it successfully produced both deuterated and nondeuterated polymer targets in disc and cone geometries. Results were inconclusive with regard to the relationship between any of the deuterated targets and increased neutron production, but diagnostic analysis revealed correlations between increased neutron production and increased chamber voltage, power delivered at the time of the pinch, signal level recorded in a plastic-scintillator-photomultiplier detector, and radioactivity induced in the target as measured by a sodium iodide detector. The targets showed impressive durability and the potential for reusability. However, it was not possible to discern the influence of the targets on the neutron yield in the face of significant shot-to-shot scatter in the performance of the plasma focus, the inherent uncertainty in the bubble detector measurements of the neutron fluence, and relatively low deuteration of the 3D-printed targets
Navigating Complex Environments: A Comparative Study of Shortest Path Algorithms for Military A2AD and Civilian Obstacle Avoidance
Get PDFThis thesis investigates advanced navigation in complex environments for urban and military applications, focusing on overcoming obstacles through algorithms like Dijkstra\u27s. It highlights the role of adaptable cost functions in customizing strategies for different scenarios. The research identifies effective algorithm-cost function combinations, improving route planning and safety in civilian and defense sectors. It advances pathfinding knowledge and sets the groundwork for future enhancements with Python simulations and AFSIM
The Impact of Advancing Technology on Fire Control Radar Costs
Get PDFRadar systems are integral components of fighter aircraft, gaining heightened importance with the emergence of fifth-generation variants. Among these systems, fire control radar plays a crucial role by providing pilots with unparalleled long-range sensing capabilities vital for navigation and target identification. The rapid evolution of radar technology is deemed essential to align with the evolving mission requirements, a factor anticipated to significantly impact radar system costs. This research investigates the influence of evolving technology on fire control radar development and production costs. To accomplish this objective, radars are categorized into generations based on existing literature, and a comparative analysis is conducted between active electronically scanned array (AESA) and non-AESA radars, as well as modification and non-modification radar programs. The findings of this research reveal that costs have remained consistent over time for both development and production. Moreover, no statistical difference is observed between AESA and non-AESA radars. Modification programs are found to be less expensive to develop than non-modification programs, although no significant difference is found in production costs. This research serves as a valuable resource for project managers and cost analysts, offering insights to enhance cost estimates for fire control radar programs
Development of Cost Factors for Satellite Rechargeable Batteries
Get PDFFactors are often used by the cost estimating profession to predict costs of future projects or project components. Cost factors can be useful when little to no cost data is available from which to build an initial estimate or as an easy-to-use cross check of a primary estimate. Specific to satellites, previous studies have examined cost factors at higher Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) levels (e.g., Level 2 or Level 3), while this research analyzes cost factors developed using data specific to rechargeable batteries at USCM WBS Level 4 and its parent, the Electrical Power System (EPS) at Level 3. Within this research, we sought to identify statistical differences between categories using non-parametric methods. No statistical differences were found for NR cost factor categories while differences were found with 71% of the T1 cost factor categories. As a result, final NR cost factors for use by estimators were developed using the entire NR dataset while final T1 cost factors were developed using specific subsets of the T1 dataset. This demonstrates that estimators should apply statistical analysis when selecting data for cost estimates
Quantifying Resilience and Redundancy for Air Force Linear Infrastructure
Get PDFThe historical underfunding of USAF infrastructure necessitates a strategic approach to reduce excess infrastructure while preserving resilience in the face of potential first-strike scenarios. This thesis formulates an infrastructure resilience metric that assesses network performance under varying degrees of damage. Furthermore, the study calculates the impact of redundant infrastructure by introducing added structural elements and measuring the resultant reduction in performance loss during damage scenarios. Utilizing USAF geospatial infrastructure data, adjacency matrices representing graph theory networks were constructed in Arc GIS Pro and evaluated using coding languages from the IGraph library and algorithms developed in RStudio. The newly proposed performance metric undergoes comparative analysis with several commonly used network topology resilience metrics, aiming to identify similarities and potential benefits. The investigation revealed a robust and significant correlation of 0.653 between the newly developed metric and known network characteristics. Additionally, the study demonstrates a measure to gauge the redundancy levels of each network and determine overall resistance to infrastructure loss. Moreover, the research highlights that the addition of a single redundancy to a network resulted in an average decrease in lost performance of 2%. These findings contribute valuable insights to the enhancement of USAF infrastructure resilience assessment strategies
Applying Digital Engineering to Defense Acquisitions through Model-based Systems Engineering and Discrete Event Simulation
Get PDFThe U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) faces a critical challenge as acquisition professionals strive to grasp the intricacies of the acquisition process. This study proposes an innovative approach to cultivate a more informed and capable acquisition workforce through the integration of digital engineering, specifically Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Discrete Event Simulation (DES) toolsets. Embracing digital transformation with MBSE provides a comprehensive understanding, implementing step-by-step procedures with an interface designed to handle vast amounts of information differently. The merging of MBSE\u27s visual modeling with DES\u27s dynamic simulation offers a holistic view, empowering acquisition professionals with robust planning and risk management strategies for informed decision-making and effective stakeholder communication. In the analysis, this dynamic environment serves as a versatile testbed for decision-making, risk assessment, traceability, and resource allocation optimization. This research represents a significant stride in addressing challenges within defense procurement, laying the foundation for ongoing advancements. It also fosters collaboration between academic communities and knowledge bases like the Acquisition Center of Excellence (ACE) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. This study marks a pivotal step toward bridging knowledge gaps and enhancing overall procurement efficiency within the DoD
Accelerating Homomorphic Encryption in RISC-V Architectures with Hardware Based Number Theory Transform
Get PDFFully Homomorphic Encryption is an encryption paradigm enabling computations on encrypted data without the need for decryption. Such behavior is promising for securing DoD cloud computing but is also computationally demanding. To alleviate some of the computational load and accelerate FHE schemes, this research proposes adding a hardware accelerator, for the Number Theory Transform (NTT) operation, to a RISC-V processor. Thus enhancing FHE capabilities for potentially resource-constrained devices
Life Cycle Analysis of Mobile Nuclear Reactor Compared to Other Alternative Fuels in INDOPACOM
Get PDFEnergy is an item that makes the military vulnerable as it is something that they depend on the most which can have negative impacts. Mobile nuclear reactors are gaining the interest of many leaders in the military as a viable option of a potential alternative fuel source. There are many positives in utilizing mobile nuclear reactors in terms of environmental impacts and feasibility of transport. Studies have shown that mobile nuclear reactors can produce very low or negligible carbon emissions during operations. The focus of this thesis is to determine the environmental impacts of nuclear reactors, logistical requirements, and determine any challenges in terms of utilizing these reactors in INDOPACOM region. This research utilized SimaPro to develop the life cycle assessment (LCA) to determine the environmental impacts of the production and transportation of such reactors to specific locations in INDOPACOM. Appropriate value inputs were gathered from relevant research, technical reports, and best estimates. Although nuclear fuel did not perform better than all the other alternative fuels, it is still a better option than JP8-fueled generators. The findings indicate its potential as a more favorable option than JP8, highlighting the importance of further investigation into the role of mobile nuclear reactors in mitigating environmental impacts and enhancing military energy resilience