Naval Postgraduate School
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CONTINUOUS ACCESS OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS USING 5G-ENABLED LOWER EARTH ORBIT CONSTELLATIONS ABOARD HOSPITAL SHIPS
No full textNavy Medicine continues to face challenges with maintaining reliable and consistent access to Electronic Health Records within deployed environments. As a result, it has impeded the continuity of care required for the seamless transfer of service members’ medical information, especially for Navy medical ships. Recognizing the inherent limitations of theater operations, this thesis examines the potential of integrating Fifth Generation-enabled Low Earth Orbit satellite networks to establish a robust framework for continuously delivering optimal patient care. The authors conducted their research with the use of interviews and discussions, geared towards validating the research questions. The culmination of this research suggests that augmenting medical ship’s advanced network infrastructure with Fifth Generation can facilitate consistent access to essential patient medical data across all echelons of care, offering a pathway towards eliminating disparate systems on medical ships in favor of one consistent enterprise solution from the point of injury to the required level of patient care. This modification ensures a standardized level of high-quality healthcare delivery and reliable access to vital medical information, thereby enhancing the future efficacy of the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States Nav
NEUTRON RADIATION EFFECTS ON COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE PLANAR AND TRENCH SILICON CARBIDE POWER MOSFETS
No full textSilicon carbide (SiC) is a wide bandgap semiconductor material used in power devices and offers more efficient operation than its predecessor, silicon, with a higher breakdown voltage, greater electrical conductivity, and faster switching speeds, which are crucial for MOSFET power regulation. This research investigated the neutron radiation effects on various types of commercially available SiC MOSFETs within a reactor environment. The devices under test (DUTs) contained a breakdown voltage ranging from 650 to 1200 volts, were sourced from three different manufacturers, and had either a planar or trench structure. A subcritical reactor was used with a plutonium-beryllium neutron source to produce a flux of 3.9x10^3 n/cm^2 -s. The experiment consisted of irradiating the MOSFETs in reverse bias up to their rated breakdown voltages to simulate blocking operation conditions. Across all devices, the planar MOSFETs experienced the greatest threshold voltage shifts up to 449 millivolts, whereas the trench MOSFET threshold voltage shifts were minimal in comparison with a maximum shift of 11 millivolts and significantly longer irradiation period. The difference in robustness was concluded to be based on the different P+ shielding locations inherent in each device structure and the electric field distribution across the gate electrode. Neutron current transients were recorded using a CT-2 current probe to calculate charge generated from the neutron-lattice interactions.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Ensign, United States Nav
A CASE STUDY INTO THE RETENTION OF MARINE FORCES RESERVE TAMPA
No full textThis thesis aims to develop a comprehensive strategy to enhance the retention of First Term Alignment Plan (FTAP) Marines within the Marine Forces Reserve (MFR), taking inspiration from the effective methods employed by the 4th Assault Amphibian Battalion (4th AAB) in Tampa, Florida. By analyzing the 4th AAB's successful strategies and practices, we identified key elements that can be broadly implemented across all MFR units to address retention challenges. Central to our recommendations is the enhancement of career planner roles and the reduction of administrative paperwork, streamlining processes to support retention efforts. Additionally, the concept of "embeddedness" is explored as a critical factor in retention, emphasizing the importance of social, organizational, and community connections that bind Marines to their roles and units. By fostering a sense of belonging and commitment, the MFR can better retain its personnel. This study provides actionable insights that seek to empower the MFR in maintaining a committed and robust force, ensuring that successful practices are replicated and adapted to meet the needs of diverse units.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Captain, United States Marine CorpsCaptain, United States Marine CorpsLieutenant, United States Nav
ANALYSIS OF DEFICITS CAUSED BY DELAYS BETWEEN PHASES OF NAVAL FLIGHT SCHOOL
No full textStudent Naval Aviators (SNA) have experienced lengthy delays in between phases of training. These delays may cause many of the skills SNAs develop in naval flight school (NFS) to erode, increasing the likelihood of attrition, decreasing Navy Standard Scores (NSSs), and increasing the number of warm-up events and unsatisfactory (UNSAT) events an SNA incurs. To train an SNA to be technically proficient in their roles requires significant resources which can be wasted by attrition or SNA skill atrophy. Delays in NFS can arise from even small disruptions in the program and tend to compound. In this thesis we use statistical tests and regression models to examine trends in performance metrics as they relate to wait time. We examine the effects due to length of delays of attrition, NSS, warm-up events, and UNSAT events throughout all phases of naval flight school. We find that inconsistent trends exist within specific pipelines where delays between training phases negatively effects performance, specifically with the probability of attrition in the advanced phase of training. We do not however, see prevalent effects of wait time in the other performance metrics.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Ensign, United States Nav
Faces of NPS: Lt. Cmdr. Jessica Wittner
Get PDFFaces of NPS features Interviews spotlighting the students, faculty, staff and alumni of our Nation’s premier defense education and research institution.Link to video can be found at: https://youtu.be/8RsvkpMHiGU?si=TYfLwX_fF4UyJ_y
TRAINING STRATEGIES FOR EXPOSURE TO EGOCENTRIC HEIGHT ESTIMATION IN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS
No full textExposure to simulated heights helps treat the fear of heights and flying. Parachute simulators use similar techniques to train military personnel in parachuting skills and height estimation, aiming to reduce parachute jump injuries. Formal studies have not focused on vertical distances, except for Duran (2023), which this research expands upon. The objective of this thesis is to explore how training strategies can improve egocentric height estimation accuracy in virtual environments (VEs) as compared to Duran. We redesigned a low-cost Parachute Training Simulator (PTS) by introducing an additional VE depicting a suburban area with man-made objects, two new training strategies, and a parachutist’s avatar. The resulting system was tested in a user study involving forty-seven subjects. The results indicate that subjects’ height estimation accuracy increased compared to the 2023 study, with a statistically significant improvement for a final approach height of 1,000 feet. Additionally, the introduction of the 3D avatar in the PTS enabled some subjects to use the size of the virtual hand to compare it with other objects in the VEs and improve their height estimation. Based on these results, system refinements such as those described can improve future training results and enhance readiness.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Outstanding ThesisLieutenant Colonel, Mexican Arm
CHINA'S LESSONS FROM RUSSIA'S WAR IN UKRAINE: THE CASE OF JOINT OPERATIONS AND UAVS
Get PDFThis thesis examines how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has adjusted its military strategy and tactics in response to Russia’s War in Ukraine. The study focuses on two key areas: the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) joint operations strategy and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Russia’s War in Ukraine has given China valuable insights for refining both these domains. The key findings of this thesis indicate that based on the lessons learned from Russia’s War in Ukraine, the PLA is moving toward a more comprehensive joint force by increasingly conducting real-combat training, developing asymmetric maritime tactics, and reorganizing its structure to better conduct joint operations in complex environments. In the UAV domain, the role of UAVs has shifted from merely symbolic deterrence to practical operational tools. The rapid development of diverse UAV platforms suggests that the PLA will likely use numerous UAVs in future conflicts. In both areas, it is clear that the war in Ukraine has significantly informed the PLA’s military strategy as well as its preparations for a potential conflict with Taiwan.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant Commander, Taiwan Nav
Faces of NPS: Capt. Christian Wachter, USAF
Get PDFFaces of NPS features Interviews spotlighting the students, faculty, staff and alumni of our Nation’s premier defense education and research institution.Link to video can be found at: https://youtu.be/QPbtRSA6ZyQ?si=9I8tQMG806U2IY0
ANALYZING FAMILY TIMELINES AND FACTORS AFFECTING CAREER LONGEVITY OF SINGLE MALE ARMY OFFICERS
Get PDFThere is growing awareness that the timing of starting a family, whether through marriage or having children, combined with factors such as age, number of deployments, years in service, paygrade, and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), plays a significant role in an Army officer's decision to remain in or leave the service. Prior analyses of this dataset have shown that single male Army officers are more likely to separate compared to their counterparts with families. To better understand these dynamics, it is essential to examine the factors influencing their decisions to depart. We developed a random forest model to investigate the impact of these factors on the retention of single male Army officers. Additionally, we constructed a robust linear regression model to evaluate the relationship between the timing of when a male Army officer starts a family and their total years in service. The random forest model results revealed that paygrade is the most significant predictor of retention, whereas MOS has the least impact. The robust linear regression findings indicated that, on average, male officers who start families later tend to serve longer. Based on these insights, we recommend that Army policymakers explore the barriers preventing single male officers, particularly those who wish to start a family, from doing so. Addressing these barriers proactively may offer a viable strategy to improve officer retention and career longevity.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Captain, United States Arm
THE IMPACT OF THE CHIPS ACT ON INTEL’S MANUFACTURING CAPACITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
No full textThe United States remains heavily dependent on foreign sources for advanced semiconductors (SCs), posing national security risks. This thesis examines how the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act addresses vulnerabilities by promoting domestic production, focusing on Intel’s strategic response. It analyzes Intel’s integrated device manufacturing (IDM) 2.0 strategy, its efforts to expand U.S.-based fabrication, and challenges in achieving high-volume, leading-edge manufacturing for external customers. The study uses policy analysis, industry reports, and case comparisons to assess Intel's role in reducing foreign reliance. Findings show that Intel’s expansion—supported by federal incentives—improves resilience, but U.S. capacity remains insufficient to meet domestic demand. Complete independence is unrealistic due to reliance on global supply chains for rare earth elements, back-end processing, and critical minerals. The research highlights China’s influence on the global value chain and risks from geopolitical tensions. It recommends sustained government investment, workforce development, and international cooperation to strengthen security and competitiveness. This thesis informs U.S. SC policy by mapping vulnerabilities and offering policy paths to reinforce defense-related technology supply chains.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Civilian, Department of the Air ForceCivilian, Department of the Air ForceCivilian, Department of the Nav