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JUS IN BELLO IN THE ERA OF DRONE WARFARE: DISCRIMINATION, PROPORTIONALITY, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GREAT POWER COMPETITION
No full textThe rise of unmanned aerial systems has reshaped the ethical and operational environment of warfare. This thesis examines how the historical use of sophisticated and unsophisticated UAS, and adherence to jus in bello principles, informs their role in Great Power Competition, particularly against China. Through case studies of the Global War on Terror and the Ukraine–Russia conflict, it analyzes the application of discrimination and proportionality and how UAS influence future deterrence and engagement strategies. The GWOT study investigates how sophisticated systems enabled ISR and precision strikes in permissive environments against non-state actors. In contrast, the Ukraine–Russia study highlights the disruptive power of low-cost, commercial drones in contested battlespaces. These cases assess jus in bello adherence and inform recommendations for drone warfare in a future conflict with China, where advanced anti-access/area denial systems present major challenges. This study examines the challenges of UAS integration in contested environments with advanced anti-access/area denial systems. It recommends using sophisticated UAS for ISR and precision strikes while deploying unsophisticated drones for swarming and attrition. The research concludes with UAS development strategies focused on technological innovation, decentralized control, while adhering to jus in bello principles to ensure effectiveness, deterrence while minimizing escalation risks in Great Power conflict.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Outstanding ThesisMajor, United States Air Forc
INNOVATING MARINE CORPS PRODUCTION PLANNING: THE MARINE CORPS ADVANCED PRODUCTION PLAN MODEL
Get PDFEach year, the Marine Corps assesses approximately 36,000 new recruits. The Production Plan allocates these entrants across 139 Military Occupational specialties, ensuring operational fleet units are manned with qualified personnel. Accurate forecasts are critical to meeting force requirements while staying within fiscal year end-strength constraints.This thesis develops and validates the Marine Corps Advanced Production Plan Model to improve Production Plan forecast, comparing its accuracy to the current methods used by manpower planners at Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. The model incorporates a constrained optimization algorithm that accounts for first-term MOS health and annual attrition when generating forecasts. Results show a 44% reduction in forecasting error for the fiscal year 2018 Production Plan compared to the executed Production Plan, cutting deviation nearly in half. This improvement leads to a more accurate forecast for 119 out of 139 Primary Occupational Specialties. This thesis recommends further testing across additional fiscal years, along with simulations, to evaluate long-term performance against the existing production planning process.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Captain, United States Marine CorpsNPS Naval Research ProgramThis project was funded in part by the NPS Naval Research Program
MONGOLIA'S PARTICIPATION IN UN PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS IN THE LAST DECADE
No full textSince 2012, the continuous participation of the Mongolian Armed Forces in peacekeeping operations has had a positive impact on Mongolia’s foreign policy, the development of its defense sector, and its economy. However, there is limited understanding of how this participation has evolved and the key factors that influence involvement in peacekeeping operations. This thesis examines the scale of participation in peacekeeping operations by the Mongolian Armed Forces which has intensified since 2012 and identifies the influences that have driven these changes. It utilizes comparative and detailed analyses of legal documents related to peacekeeping operations and media reports, official statements, articles, academic research, and other materials. In addition, the study pays special attention to the different categories of peacekeeping participants. The research reveals that Mongolia’s participation in peacekeeping operations has remained stable, with an expanding scope of responsibilities. The primary factors influencing this participation are Mongolia’s unique geographic position implementing a foreign policy between its two neighbors and the strategic priorities of further strengthening the defense sector and enhancing economic capabilities. Through its involvement in peacekeeping operations, Mongolia has gained multiple advantages, such as elevating their regional prestige and organizing diverse training programs to enhance their international peacekeeping capabilities.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Major, Mongolian Armed Force
SEEKING REFUGE: INNOVATIVE IMMIGRATION PROCESSING IN RESPONSE TO MASS MIGRATION FROM HUMANITARIAN DISASTERS
No full textThe United States (U.S.) prides itself on being a nation of immigrants and a leader in the global refugee regime. However, recent conflicts have swelled migration flows to untenable volumes for the immigration system. This thesis identifies opportunities to maximize U.S. federal immigration response to acute humanitarian mass migration crises. The research uses case studies and comparative policy analysis, supplemented by interviews of leaders in the field, to develop a toolkit approach to improve U.S. immigration response to rapid-onset migration. Preparation for acute crises and inter-departmental collaboration are critical for effective response. Safe, orderly, and regular migration is a goal that aligns with U.S. law, humanitarian mandate, and national security goals. Accurate and timely background and security vetting upholds the legitimacy of the immigration system and protects the American public. U.S. immigration reform will increase the dexterity and effectiveness of humanitarian emergency response, reduce pressure on currently overburdened systems, increase the veracity of security vetting, advance the goals of the Homeland Security Enterprise, and save more vulnerable migrants’ lives.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Civilian, Department of Homeland Securit
ANCHORED IN UNDERSTANDING: NAVIGATING EMPATHY IN NAVY LEADERSHIP
No full textEmpathy is increasingly recognized as a critical leadership trait that enhances team cohesion, communication, and operational effectiveness. This study investigates how Navy personnel conceptualize and experience empathy in leadership and assesses its impact on organizational outcomes. It tests the hypothesis that officers emphasize long-term, strategic applications of empathy, while enlisted personnel focus on immediate, situational expressions of empathy. Through qualitative content analysis of participant interviews, seven key themes of empathetic leadership emerged, including understanding and emotional connection, action-oriented empathy, and empathy as a leader expectation. Findings suggest that empathetic leadership fosters trust, improves morale, and enhances mission success, while its absence contributes to disengagement and retention concerns. Additionally, quantitative analyses reveal variations in how empathy is expressed across ranks and career stages, supporting the hypothesis. This study informs leadership development initiatives and contributes to the creation of an Empathy Behavioral Checklist, a tool designed to provide actionable strategies for Navy leaders. Ultimately, these insights support ongoing efforts to integrate empathy into Navy leadership training and policy, fostering a more resilient and mission-ready force.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Captain, United States Marine CorpsNPS Naval Research ProgramThis project was funded in part by the NPS Naval Research Program
ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCT LINE ARCHITECTURE IN AIRSHIP DESIGN USING MODEL-BASED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Get PDFAs anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations become increasingly complex and expensive, new platforms are required to enhance detection, tracking, and engagement capabilities while maintaining cost efficiency. This proposal presents a modular and scalable ASW airship combat system, leveraging model-based product line engineering (MBPLE) to optimize design, integration, and sustainment. The proposed airship will incorporate sonar systems, sensor suites, and weapons payloads, utilizing product line engineering (PLE) principles to enable component reuse and mission-specific customization. To assess the feasibility and economic benefits of the ASW airship, a detailed reused model based on the Constructive Product Line Investment Model (COPLIMO) was applied to evaluate cost savings, development efficiency, and return on investment (ROI). This approach quantifies the financial impact of component reuse across multiple airship variants, demonstrating how the product line strategy reduces lifecycle costs. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess how modifications in relative cost of development for reuse (RCDR) impact ROI, ensuring that cost-effectiveness is maintained across varying operational requirements. This research offers a methodology and adapts COPLIMO aimed at the design of airship ASW systems, while also setting a new foundation for further exploration in ASW system product line engineering.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States Nav
IS THIS AN EMERGENCY? ADDRESSING NON-EMERGENT AMBULANCE USE
Get PDFNon-emergent ambulance use is a growing concern for emergency medical services (EMS) systems across the United States. This phenomenon reduces the ability of EMS providers to respond to life-threating emergencies. There are multiple approaches to mitigate this problem. This thesis examines how mitigation strategies reduce the impact of non-emergent ambulance use and which strategies are a good fit for different types of communities. The research design includes developing a typology of mitigation approaches using case studies and academic research. The researcher uses emergent coding of the case studies and research to identify pertinent community characteristics. Community types are then analyzed against mitigation types to evaluate their fit. The researcher uses the findings to develop tools to assist community leaders in determining a mitigation approach that would suit their specific community.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Civilian, Sacramento Fire Departmen
A Methodology for Evaluating Decisions in the Navy's POM Process
No full textNPS NRP Executive SummaryBased on air-cargo demand data provided by The Navy Air Logistics Office (NALO), we have analyzed the Fleet Logistics Support Wing’s (FLSW) current operational practices and squadron allocation, with the objective of identifying potential improvements in operations and deployment (i.e., re-allocation). We have addressed two main questions: 1. Given the current deployment of aircraft in bases, can we improve the employment of aircraft, that is, the assignment of aircraft from bases to missions? 2. Can we improve the deployment of aircraft, that is, the allocation of aircraft to bases? We have developed two variants of a mixed-integer program (MIP) that address these two questions. One variant is called employment model, and the other is called deployment model. The employment model, which optimizes assignments of aircraft to missions, is run twice: once with respect to the current FLSW deployment of aircraft, and once with respect to a redeployment of aircraft in bases, which results from running the deployment optimization model. With these models, we identify some inefficiencies in the current operations and propose directions for improvement. For example, we recommend redeploying aircraft such that more aircraft are allocated to bases closer to the higher U.S. Navy fleet concentration areas. Specifically, move aircraft from Naval Air Facility Washington and Andrews Air Force Base, and Naval Air Station (NAS) Fort Worth, to NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, NAS North Island in San Diego, and NAS Point Mugu in CA. In our optimization-simulation runs, such reallocations could yield cost savings averaging about 3%, under the constrained allocation.Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)N9 - Warfare System
The Impact of Respect and Empathy on Harmful Behaviors in Command Climate
Get PDFThe purpose of this project is to increase the Navy’s understanding of what officers and enlisted Sailors deemed to be emphatic and respectful leader behaviors. This project stems from Navy senior leadership acknowledging the nexus of three issues: 1) that leader behavior is a significant driver of command climate perceptions; 2) that follower command climate perceptions are largely shaped by how followers are treated by unit leaders; and 3) that there is often a strong association between unit command climate perceptions and a range of harmful Sailor behaviors that in turn have deleterious effects on the Navy. In the case of the current project, we approached leader empathy and respect as essential to a positive command climate. If leaders are empathetic and respectful, then leader-follower attachment bonds are strengthened. These leader behaviors then set the conditions for Sailor pro-social and pro-unit behaviors. Conversely, a lack of empathy and respect breeds Sailor discord while also increasing the probability of harmful behaviors that are detrimental to command climate and readiness. Both contentions are supported by empirical academic research, yet extant research also suggests that the specific behaviors constituting leader empathy and respect are determined “through the eyes of the beholder.” This is especially true within military organizations like the Navy, which are nested hierarchies of ranks, rates, platforms, and professional communities. As hypothesized and later confirmed in this study, how Sailors define, categorize, and classify leader empathetic and respectful behavior varies based upon career path (officer vs. enlisted) and career stage (early-, mid-, and late-career). We applied a mixed methods research approach. Our team interviewed 39 Navy officers, Chiefs, and enlisted Sailors and applied artificial intelligence platforms and qualitative data analysis software to create three deliverables for Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Navy Culture & Force Resilience Office (OPNAV N17): 1) a tool to measure leader empathy and respect within the Navy; 2) a behavioral checklist focused on leader empathy and respect to be integrated into Naval leader education and training efforts; and 3) two technical report-quality student theses that document and analyze the attitudes, opinions, and cognitive models of what constitutes leader empathy and respect across a range of Naval demographics.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Naval Research ProgramN17 - Navy Culture and Force Resilience Offic
Enhancement of Active and Passive SWIR Imaging Using Artificial Intelligence
Get PDFNPS NRP Executive SummaryShort wave infrared (SWIR) sensors offer advanced imaging capabilities for a range of military applications, including targeting, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. When used for outdoor imaging over extended distances, SWIR images may experience aberrations such as blurring, noise, and distortion, primarily caused by atmospheric effects and the lighting conditions of the imaging platform. The primary objective of this project is to explore the application of artificial intelligence (AI)-based deep learning techniques to develop a software model that can enhance the quality of SWIR images in real time, while also evaluating its performance to assess improvements in image accuracy. Unlike traditional deep learning-based image deblurring methods, the deep learning architecture developed under this project enables concurrent training of the aberration prediction and the image enhancement tasks, resulting in significantly improved performance in compensating for optical aberrations and recovering the pristine image compared to the traditional image deblurring models. The studied deep learning architecture also provides a means to measure the reliability of predictions output by the deep learning models, which could be applicable to various military imaging applications.Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.This research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)ASN(RDA) - Research, Development, and Acquisitio