Naval Postgraduate School
Calhoun, Institutional Archive of the Naval Postgraduate SchoolNot a member yet
71232 research outputs found
Sort by
AN ANALYSIS OF POST-COVID FOOD INSECURITY IN THE NAVY
Get PDFReports of significant instances of food insecurity among service members is a pressing concern, given their voluntary commitment to serve. This issue is particularly salient in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has increased food insecurity rates across the nation. My research aims to gain a better understanding of post-COVID food insecurity by analyzing geographic disparities in food cost and food insecurity rates along with understanding potential risk factors to food insecurity. Using data from 2020-2023 from the United States Census Current Population Survey, I analyzed the state-level food insecurity rates following the pandemic and generated a LASSO model to determine which variables in the dataset are the best at predicting food insecurity in the sample. States with the Navy’s fleet-concentrated areas saw an increase in food insecurity rates from 2021 to 2023. The preferred LASSO model identified associations between income, race, education, sex, and state-level interactions that when further studied with military personnel data could predict higher food insecurity rates.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States Nav
MAKING POST-QUANTUM KEY EXCHANGE EFFICIENT: IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE MESSAGING LAYER SECURITY PROTOCOL
Get PDFThe continual development of quantum computer technology poses a serious and credible threat to modern public-key cryptography, which is a pillar of secure communications. This work develops code to implement, test, and substantiate the feasibility of the Hybrid Post-Quantum Messaging Layer Security (HPQMLS) Combiner protocol as a means of balancing performance with the security provided by new post-quantum (PQ) encryption schemes. Comparisons are drawn between the HPQMLS and traditional Messaging Layer Security (MLS) using traditional and post-quantum cipher suites. Consideration is made for the impact of group size, and computational effort was measured through the runtime of practical simulations. The HPQMLS performed faster across the board when compared to MLS running a post-quantum cipher suite, and at small group sizes performs comparably to MLS using a traditional cipher suite. This work shows that HPQMLS is a viable means of achieving efficient PQ security for MLS communication and is therefore a proof of concept for achieving more efficient PQ integration writ large.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Outstanding ThesisLieutenant, United States Nav
THE INDONESIAN NAVY'S PARTICIPATION IN MULTINATIONAL NAVAL EXERCISES (2012–2024)
Get PDFSince 2012, the Indonesian Navy has increasingly participated in multinational naval exercises, marking a shift in its defense diplomacy approach. However, there is a limited understanding of how this participation has evolved and its driving factors. This research examines the evolution of the Indonesian Navy’s participation in multinational naval exercises from 2012 to 2024 and identifies the external and internal factors behind these changes. Using comparative analysis of data from official documents, media reports, and academic journals, this study focuses on shifts in participation patterns over three distinct periods. The findings indicate that the Indonesian Navy has expanded its involvement geographically, progressed from participant to exercise host, and balanced its participation in exercises with competing powers, demonstrating its strategic use of naval exercises as a tool for defense diplomacy. These changes were driven by external factors (great power relations, maritime security conditions, ASEAN architecture evolution) and internal factors (strategic policy changes and naval organizational development). The Indonesian Navy should maintain balanced relations with major powers through naval exercises, develop maritime operation procedures, enhance exercise planning capabilities, and strengthen professional cooperation while respecting each country’s sensitivities.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Outstanding ThesisLieutenant Commander, Indonesian Nav
READ @your library Nancy Roberts (poster)
Get PDFA project of the Dudley Knox Library at the Naval Postgraduate School
STRENGTHENING MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH INTELLIGENCE AT THE LOCAL AND REGIONAL LEVELS
Get PDFThe integration and collective interpretation of medical intelligence (MEDINT) are critical for an effective emergency response to public health crises. Examining established collaborative systems, the collective analysis of MEDINT, and forecasting, this thesis presents case studies of Israel’s intelligence community and the Association of Bay Area Health Officers (ABAHO) in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic to investigate how public health and intelligence communities at local and regional levels can strengthen the collective interpretation of MEDINT. As demonstrated by Israel and ABAHO, by integrating medical and public health intelligence into collaborative systems through multi-agency coordination or fusion centers, thereby integrating expertise across agencies, emergency responders can enhance situational awareness, improve resource allocation, and respond proactively to emerging threats. Thus, policymakers and emergency response agencies should prioritize the development of collaborative systems, cross-sector training, and the integration of MEDINT into fusion centers to enhance public health and safety management at all levels. This thesis recommends formalizing processes to collectively interpret MEDINT at local and regional levels to enhance operational readiness, contributing to more effective emergency management strategies.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Civilian, San Mateo Count
IN WHAT WAYS DO THE OVERLAPPING THREATS OF CRIMINALITY AND TERRORISM CHALLENGE THE EXISTING SECURITY APPARATUS IN BENIN?
No full textThis thesis examines the challenges of terrorism and criminality in Benin, highlighting their impact on regional security in West Africa. Situated in a strategic geographic location, Benin is vulnerable to transnational criminal networks and terrorist incursions from the Sahel, illustrating a complex security dilemma where terrorism and criminality hybridize. Through qualitative analysis of academic literature, security reports, and empirical data, this study identifies the convergence of criminal and terrorist tactics that complicate traditional security approaches. Key findings reveal that activities such as kidnapping, smuggling, and violent acts serve dual roles: financing operations and destabilizing the region. These challenges are magnified by governance gaps, especially in remote border areas, facilitating the proliferation of hybrid threats. In response, the thesis advocates for an intelligence-driven security strategy tailored to Benin's context, emphasizing improved intelligence capabilities, robust border security, and enhanced regional collaboration. This approach aims to tackle the socio-economic and political root causes of these threats, providing strategic insights for policymakers and security practitioners in West Africa.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant Colonel, Benin Armed Force
A COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF THE CARAT EXERCISE
Get PDFThe Indonesian Navy conducts military exercises such as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) to achieve objectives at strategic, operational, and tactical levels. The CARAT exercise is a bilateral naval exercise involving the Indonesian Navy and the U.S. Navy. It is important to evaluate the tradeoffs between CARAT costs and effectiveness in meeting its objectives. This study uses a cost-effectiveness analysis to compare two courses of action (COA): COA 1 involves continuing CARAT as a joint exercise with the U.S. Navy, while COA 2 proposes conducting the exercise without U.S. Navy participation. Due to limited access to financial data, the study relies on open-source materials and critical assumptions to construct a framework for comparison. One key assumption is that the costs for the Indonesian Navy under COA 1 and COA 2 are the same. The findings of this study show that conducting CARAT jointly with the U.S. Navy (COA 1) is more effective than conducting it independently (COA 2), with a measure of effectiveness (MOE) score for COA 1 being 0.8 and for COA 2 being 0.6 at the same cost. The result is supported by sensitivity analysis with a MOE score for COA 1 of 0.76 and a MOE score for COA 2 of 0.49. In conclusion, this study estimates that COA 1 is a more effective approach than COA 2 in achieving CARAT objectives. Therefore, this study recommends that the Indonesian Navy continue to perform CARAT as a joint exercise with the U.S. Navy.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant Commander, Indonesian Nav
U.S. ACCESS TO DIEGO GARCIA: WHAT HAPPENS IF BRITAIN CEDES SOVEREIGNTY TO MAURITIUS?
Get PDFDiego Garcia, a pivotal U.S. military installation in the Indian Ocean, has long been secured under British sovereignty within the British Indian Ocean Territory. However, the United Kingdom’s 2024 decision to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius introduces significant uncertainties for U.S. military operations. This thesis examines how a shift in sovereignty could impact U.S. strategic access, operational autonomy, and regional security posture. It compares the terms of the agreements that have permitted U.S. access to Diego Garcia since the 1960s with the terms of a new treaty Mauritius and the United Kingdom have pledged to negotiate. Under the original agreements, U.S. military forces have enjoyed almost unlimited autonomy to operate from facilities on Diego Garcia. Although Mauritius and the United Kingdom assure the U.S. military could continue using those facilities for 99 years, this thesis identifies three possible changes that would limit U.S. operations. These include the risk of increased Chinese influence, less privacy due to Chagossian resettlement, and potential restrictions on nuclear-capable platforms. This thesis recommends the U.S. engage in diplomatic negotiations to preserve its strategic foothold in the Indian Ocean while preparing contingency plans to mitigate operational disruptions following a change in sovereignty.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States Nav
SATELLITE COMMUNICATION LINK PERFORMANCE IN A CONTESTED ENVIRONMENT USING AN NS3-BASED SIMULATION MODEL
Get PDFThis thesis explores the network performance of satellite communication links for telemedical applications in a contested environment using an NS-3 based simulation framework. GEO and LEO satellite configurations are tested and evaluated on their performance using throughput, latency, and jitter metrics. The simulations are performed with single and multi-application use case scenarios to analyze the effect of multi-application usage on network performance in a contested environment. These results are compared to a real world test using Starlink to validate our LEO simulation model. For the recorded metrics, we find that the impact on network performance is driven mainly by the error amount and is not significantly affected by single versus multi-application scenarios. The LEO satellite configuration produces better performance over the GEO system, but the latency of the LEO network is more sensitive to increased error within the link.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States NavyAir Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433
