Naval Postgraduate School
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Detachable Drone Hijacker and/or Jammer Method, Apparatus and System
Get PDFA method, apparatus and system for countering unmanned aerial systems (UAS). More specifically, this disclosure, and the exemplary embodiments described herein, provide portable detachable/attachable drone hijackers/jammers and systems meant to act as a stand-in electronic warfare device that can be configured and attached to another unmanned device. According to an exemplary embodiment, the disclosed method, apparatus and system targets adversarial UAV s by leveraging their protocol vulnerabilities and attacking their communication links between a target and its ground control station (GCS), or other communication links to other devices (such as GNSS and other UAVs). Its detachable nature gives the Detachable Drone Hijacker a stand-in capability where it can exist amongst its targets and deliver air-to-air attacks
EVALUATING RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF THE NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL’S OPERATIONS RESEARCH EDUCATION PROGRAM FROM A U.S. MARINE CORPS PERSPECTIVE
No full textThis study evaluates the return on investment (ROI) of the Naval Postgraduate School’s (NPS) Operations Research (OR) program for the United States Marine Corps (USMC). Using Phillips’ ROI methodology and an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, this research integrates stakeholder surveys, supervisor interviews, cost–benefit analysis, and operational case studies to assess the tangible and intangible returns of OR education. The analysis shows that NPS OR education delivers significant early and career-long ROI. To maximize ROI, the study offers recommendations across three levels. NPS OR department level: curriculum realignment, incorporation of modern analytical tools, addition of strategic communication, expanded applied practicums, formalized faculty, operational unit engagement, and creating an applied OR capabilities journal to educate senior leaders. NPS institutional level: increase both sponsored and endorsed thesis research, establishing an FFRDC-like Applied Research Division and implementing a structured ROI-based feedback system. USMC Service level: formalizing a hybrid OR career track, utilizing J7/J8 billets for second utilization tours, reallocating 8850 billets to higher-priority operational domains, and institutionalizing ROI metrics for ongoing educational oversight. These recommendations, if implemented, will strengthen institutional ROI, improve operational readiness, and directly support Talent Management 2030 and USMC Force Design objectives.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Group Captain, Indian Air Forc
CFD MODELING OF COLD SPRAY NANOPARTICLES
No full textCold spray is a technique that uses compressed, heated gas to propel metal particles to supersonic speeds. If the energy, as a function of velocity, of the particles is high enough, adhesion to the substrate will occur. This thesis applied computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to simulate the particle flight dynamics and interaction with the fluid domain. Metal matrix composites, such as platelets or nanotubes, were used to increase the mechanical properties of aluminum alloys for cold spraying at the expense of deposition efficiency. This thesis hypothesized that composite particles would experience altered acceleration due to increased drag and mass of the particles. Four simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent with two carrier gases (nitrogen and helium) and two monodisperse particle diameters (50 µm and 63 µm) at a constant flow rate. Meshes with approximately half a million cells captured compressible flow through a converging-diverging nozzle, with convergence confirmed by residuals below 10e-8. Results showed that nitrogen accelerated to Mach 2.36 and 920 m/s while helium accelerated to Mach 2.24 and 2242 m/s. Although the fluid domain was unaffected by particle diameter, larger (63 µm) particles reduced exit velocities by 6–10% relative to 50 µm particles. This thesis concluded that helium is the preferred carrier gas for cold spray applications and that the addition of composite particles will decrease particle velocity.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Ensign, United States Nav
DON'T FORGET MAN: STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR AVIATION MAINTENANCE AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE USAF
No full textEmerging technologies are reshaping the future of airpower, but assumptions about reduced maintenance requirements are misleading. Many next-generation platforms are marketed as easier to maintain, yet they introduce new demands in software integration, diagnostics, and digital systems. The U.S. Air Force has not fully accounted for these demands and continues to rely on workforce structures that do not reflect the complexity of modern systems. This thesis applies Strategic Workforce Planning to examine whether the maintenance workforce is being positioned to meet the operational needs of future platforms. Strategic Workforce Planning is a forward-looking approach that aligns workforce capabilities with anticipated organizational requirements.Through analysis of internal trends and comparison with civil aviation and China’s military, this study finds that the Air Force’s largest enlisted career field remains absent from modernization efforts. While advanced platforms continue to be introduced, the maintenance enterprise is not being deliberately prepared to support them. The gap between what emerging technologies will require and what the workforce is prepared to deliver continues to widen. Findings show the USAF's largest enlisted career field remains disconnected from modernization planning. This thesis recommends improving messaging, expanding digital upskilling, and applying proactive measures to align the human element with the advancements of emerging technologies.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Senior Master Sergeant, United States Air Forc
Naval Postgraduate School receives funding to accelerate AI for national security challenges
No full textCourtesy Stor
Injecting Agility in Defense Innovation: NPS Researcher Applies Lessons Learned from DARPA Fellowship
No full textWatermark: The Alumni Magazine of the Center for Homeland Defense / Summer 2025
No full textWatermark, the Alumni Magazine, is published semi-annually for the alumni of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) community
Faces of NPS: David Alderson, PhD
No full textFaces of NPS features interviews spotlighting the students, faculty, staff and alumni of our Nation's premier defense education and research institution
REFINING THE DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY–DISTRIBUTION’S UNITIZED GROUPS RATION PROCESS
No full textThe Defense Logistics Agency–Distribution (DLA-D) generates significant food waste in the assembly and distribution of Unitized Group Rations (UGRs), particularly due to expired UGR modules (MODs). We hypothesized that the current quantity and configuration of UGR Menu options contribute directly to this waste by lowering inventory turnover and increasing the likelihood of expiration. To test this, we analyzed historical FY24 ordering and disposal data and developed a Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) to evaluate how different menu configurations impact MOD-level waste. The model simulated 25 scenarios ranging from full menu availability (36 menus) to a constrained minimum (12 menus) based on operational feasibility. Results confirmed a strong inverse relationship between the number of available menus and the total waste generated. Data-informed menu reductions under operational constraints reduced projected waste by over half. We recommend DLA-D revise its Assembly Contract Requirements to reduce UGR menus to 12 (2 breakfasts and 4 dinners for both UGR-M and UGR-H&S). These findings demonstrate that targeted menu consolidation—guided by historical waste patterns—can significantly improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance sustainability across DLA-D’s global logistics operations.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Major, United States ArmyCaptain, United States ArmyCaptain, United States ArmyMajor, United States Arm