Naval Postgraduate School
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ECONOMIC POWER, POLITICAL REALITIES: THE LIMITS OF CHINA’S STATECRAFT IN SRI LANKA AND INDIA
No full textIs China’s economic statecraft in South Asia effective? The research here examines China’s activities through case studies of India and Sri Lanka. I argue that China’s objectives, their implementation, and outcomes in the two cases, challenge prevailing assumptions about the effectiveness of its economic tools of influence. The framework of coercion, inducement, persuasion, informality, and unintentionality are utilized to evaluate the implementation of China’s economic influence and the limitations encountered in different economic and political environments in South Asia. The case of Sri Lanka is studied through China’s activities at the Hambantota Port, revealing how the exercise of state agency and domestic political interests shaped outcomes, challenging the “debt-trap” narrative. The study of China’s investments in India demonstrated how China’s tools of influence have failed to translate economic dependencies into strategic leverage in support of China's regional objectives. Overall, both cases reveal that China’s economic statecraft is limited, not always producing intended outcomes. These findings represent a clearer picture of the nature of China’s influence in South Asia, including the limits of its economic tools to offer policymakers insights to develop alternative strategies.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Outstanding ThesisLieutenant, United States Nav
SIMULATING AWS SUPPORT TO THE JOINT FORCE IN LBC
Get PDFAs the Army develops requirements for new Army Watercraft Systems (AWS), researchers at The Research and Analysis Center (TRAC) and NPS used Modeling and Simulation (M&S) to evaluate the critical parameters influencing AWS performance. An unclassified vignette set in the USINDOPACOM Area of Responsibility (AOR) was developed using existing AWS data, the Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) concept, and historical use cases. This vignette was instantiated in the Logistics Battle Command (LBC) modeling tool, which simulated an MLR deployment as part of a Pacific Pathways Exercise. A Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology, incorporating Nearly Orthogonal Latin Hypercube (NOLH) sampling, generated scenarios to assess differences in vessel performance. The study compared existing AWS, such as the Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and Logistics Support Vessel (LSV), to a hypothetical Ship-to-Shore Logistics Vessel (SSLV). A statistical assessment using analysis of variance (ANOVA) in John's Macintosh Project (JMP) found vessel speed, deck space, and number of assets as major factors impacting operational success. The SSLV outperformed conventional systems in terms of efficiency in the scenario, with asset availability emerging as the most important indicator of mission success. Augmented by M&S, these findings emphasize the significance of scalability and performance optimization during joint force deployments to inform analysts investigating future AWS design and acquisition strategies.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Major, United States Arm
REDEFINING THE MISSION OF THE NEPALI AND CHILEAN ARMED FORCES: PRESERVING OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRUST THROUGH NON-TRADITIONAL ROLES
Get PDFThis thesis examines how non-traditional roles, particularly disaster relief and peacekeeping, have helped the armed forces of Nepal and Chile maintain public trust while preserving operational effectiveness. Using a qualitative, comparative case study approach, the thesis analyzes Nepal’s and Chile’s experiences in humanitarian assistance and international peacekeeping operations. Findings suggest that the evolution of these non-traditional roles for the armed forces in both countries became necessary to recast their image in newly democratized societies—Nepal after the end of the Insurgency in 2006 and Chile after the end of the Pinochet regime in 1990. Additionally, these roles have driven positive changes in strategic planning, institutional reforms, and resource allocation, facilitating overall military effectiveness. The thesis recommends that armed forces aiming to enhance public trust and effectiveness through non-traditional roles, should integrate well-defined strategic policies, ensure civilian oversight, and align such roles with national security objectives. Ensuring transparency and accountability in non-traditional military operations is also essential for sustaining legitimacy and effectiveness.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.LTC, Nepal Arm
A COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF CAMOUFLAGE PATTERNS ON USMC PLATE CARRIERS
Get PDFCurrent and emerging technologies provide an unprecedented ability to detect, track, and target forces on the modern battlefield. As a result, signature management plays an increasingly important role in both force protection and operational success. Although the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) enables U.S. Marines to adequately blend in with their environments, the Marine Corps-issued infantry combat equipment – specifically plate carriers – does not. Coyote brown plate carriers worn over Marine pattern (MARPAT) MCCUUs negate much of the benefit of wearing camouflage uniforms. This research provides analysis of potential courses of action (COAs) the Marine Corps could take to reduce the salience of plate carriers worn over MARPATs.This report quantifies the effectiveness of six courses of action, including the status quo, and estimates the costs associated to provide the related effectiveness-cost ratios. This research provides a framework that can be adjusted as necessary to reflect future decision-maker priorities. Results indicate that fielding plate carriers with matching MARPAT camouflage increases Marine effectiveness. The marginal cost changes according to the fielding strategy. COAs 3, 5, and 6 provide marginal effectiveness increases of 7%, 14%, and 34%, respectively, at marginal costs of 117 million, and $153 million (in constant year 2025 dollars), respectively.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Outstanding ThesisCaptain, United States Marine Corp
TERRORIST ATTACKS IN THE RED SEA: IMPACT ON MARITIME OPERATIONS AND REGIONAL STABILITY
Get PDFThe Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait have become focal points for maritime security threats. Over 150 terrorist attacks on commercial and naval vessels took place between November 2023 and September 2024, primarily attributed to Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. These incidents have disrupted global trade and led to increased shipping costs and international military mobilization. This thesis investigates the origins of these attacks and the malign state and nonstate actors behind them, as well as the long-term effects of these attacks on global trade and regional stability. It also draws lessons from the Somali piracy crisis (2005–2011) to inform strategies for safeguarding this crucial maritime corridor. The findings underscore Iran’s use of proxies like the Houthis to extend their influence and challenge regional adversaries through asymmetric tactics, highlighting the need for a coordinated international response that incorporates military, legal, and developmental strategies to secure critical maritime routes and enhance regional stability.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Colonel, Royal Air Force of Oma
BEYOND THE RANK: ELEVATING NAVY LEADERSHIP THROUGH RESPECT
No full textIncludes Supplementary MaterialRespect is an established leadership character trait that coincides with personnel management, trust, and mission success. This study examines how Navy personnel conceptualize and relate to respectful leadership behaviors and explores the impact of respectful leadership on organizational effectiveness. Through thematic preliminary analysis of participant interviews, seven key themes of respectful leadership behaviors are revealed, including Mutual Recognition and Valuing Opinions, Trust and Autonomy, Acknowledgement and Recognition, Treating Individuals with Dignity, Constructive and Supportive Feedback, Impact on Morale and Motivation, and Communication and Transparency. Later findings indicate there are five key themes, including Acknowledgment and Recognition, Constructive and Supportive Feedback, Genuine Connection, Impact on Morality and Motivation, and Trust and Autonomy. Additionally, exploratory qualitative content analyses highlighted the prominent occurrence of specific individual themes. This study empowers leadership development by creating the Respect Leadership Behavioral Checklist, a tool intended as an accountability measure for Navy leaders. In conclusion, this research promotes the achievement of highly sought-after goals of the U.S. Navy, such as recruitment, retention, and the propensity to serve.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States Nav
BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES: THE ROLE OF HYBRID NUCLEAR ENERGY SYSTEMS IN MODERNIZING THE U.S. ELECTRIC GRID
Get PDFThe U.S. electric grid is ill-prepared for the challenges of the next two decades, including outdated infrastructure, the need for decarbonization, increases in electricity demand, possible attacks from bad actors, and damage from natural disasters. Thus, it represents an enormous vulnerability for homeland security. This thesis explores the implementation of hybrid nuclear energy systems (HNESs) as the solution to these challenges with specific questions about which feasible technologies and grid architecture would increase resilience the most and what role homeland security leaders should play in their implementation. An analysis of history, economics, international comparisons, and technological advances reveals that HNESs would be most resilient if they were structured as continuously islanded integrated community energy systems (ICESs) in a distributed architecture and powered both by non-light-water small modular nuclear reactors running on tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel and a mix of other distributed energy resources (DERs). Each ICES should be configured with medium voltage power electronics serving as a back-to-back direct-current tie interconnection with adjacent grids. Additionally, each ICES should be optimized utilizing (1) principles of common-pool resources and (2) a digital twin. This thesis further recommends that homeland security leaders educate themselves as modern utility customers to effectively navigate the current utility landscape.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Civilian, City of Santa Fe Fire Departmen
BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE (BRAC): EXAMINING THE TRANSFER OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REAL ESTATE
No full textAfter decades of land reclamation, environmental cleanup, and caretaker functions related to unexpected long-term restoration and land management, the Government Accountability Office and other research branches estimated billions in unexpected costs, diminishing any anticipated Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) cost savings. Using the case study methodology, this study evaluated the circumstances of one such organization, the Naval Support Activity (NSA) New Orleans closures, including the Department of the Navy’s recommendation, the BRAC Commission’s approval, and the resulting impact on the community post transfer of the NSA to the city of New Orleans. The findings suggest that protracted transfers and delayed redevelopment of former Department of Defense real estate led to deteriorating infrastructures and blighted properties in communities. The results also underscored that the Economic Development Conveyance policy, which governed the transfer of real estate at below-market or no-cost to local Government under specified conditions, was incorrectly implemented following the 2005 round of BRAC, resulting in the transfer of real estate, infrastructure, and overhead costs from the DoD to local communities without meeting statutory requirements for definitive redevelopment plans as required by law or contracting oversight. These results are consistent with the House Armed Services Committee’s 2014 rejection of the Pentagon’s call for additional BRAC since 2015.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant Commander, United States Nav
