Naval Postgraduate School
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LEVERAGING HUMAN TALENT: PROVIDING AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND WITH A STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE THROUGH LONG-TERM COUNTRY-SPECIFIC PRESENCE
No full textThis research addresses a critical gap in U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) force employment: the absence of a prolonged, human-centric deployment model in strategic competition environments. By examining the historical cases of Russell Volckmann, Donald Nichols, and Edward Lansdale, this thesis explores how persistent presence, measured in years, not months, enables deeper trust, an information advantage, enhanced partner capacity, and more effective influence with partners and allies. Using historical qualitative analysis, this research links various social science frameworks such as cultural intelligence theory, trust and cooperation theory, and the proximity principle with the success of these notable service members. The research determines that prolonged, embedded assignments with specific nations increased operational intelligence, knowledge of key terrain, local relationships, and strategic access. Findings suggest that AFSOC’s current short-term rotation model underutilizes its most effective asset, human capital. The thesis recommends establishing a formal, country-aligned employment program to build enduring relationships, expand partner force capacity, and inform operational plan requirements. Institutionalizing expert advisors and persistent presence will allow AFSOC to shape Phase 0 and intra-conflict environments more effectively than traditional major weapon systems or episodic engagements can achieve.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Senior Master Sergeant, United States Air Forc
Faces of NPS: Lt. Col. Scott Humr, USMC
No full textFaces of NPS features interviews spotlighting the students, faculty, staff and alumni of our Nation's premier defense education and research institution
Faces of NPS: Amela Sadagic, 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
THE UTILITY OF PROXY WARFARE
No full textProxy warfare continues to be actively employed by both Western powers and states in the Global South. Contemporary proxy wars retain many characteristics that concerned Great Powers during the Cold War, particularly the issue of a proxy’s utility or effectiveness. One way to evaluate this utility is through the nature of the relationship between the proxy and its patron. This thesis seeks to determine whether the character of this relationship can predict the success of a patron-proxy pair in war.Through statistical analysis, this study aims to assess whether the ideological or strategic basis of a patron-proxy relationship influences conflict outcomes. While the analysis shows no statistically significant correlation, the findings still contribute meaningfully to the broader discourse on proxy warfare. In particular, they provide a foundation for comparing American and Iranian strategies for proxy engagement.The results should encourage American policymakers to reassess the criteria used when choosing proxies. In a world where direct intervention is often politically unviable, a nuanced understanding of what makes proxy relationships effective, or ineffective is essential for advancing U.S. strategic goals in complex geopolitical environments.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States Nav
TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIME AND TERRORIST INSURGENCIES IN THE SAHEL: ANALYZING THE CRIME–TERROR NEXUS
Get PDFFueled by transnational criminal organizations, terrorist and separatist groups have deeply undermined states’ legitimacy, weakened governance, and obstructed development efforts in the Sahel. This research examines the interactions between terrorist groups and transnational organized crime in the Sahel, seeking to capture their precise nature and impacts on conflict dynamics. The study adopts a qualitative approach relying primarily on scholarly publications, reports, and academic works. Both “crime–terror continuum” and “crime–terror nexus” models are used to create a hybrid theoretical framework to help determine the types of links between these phenomena. The interactions between armed groups in the Sahel and organized crime are constantly evolving and deeply intricate. The main jihadist groups maintain ambiguous relationships with criminal networks, benefiting indirectly from the traffic by taxing smuggling routes. Other terrorist and separatist groups are overtly involved in illegal trafficking, and some even reach a point where the profit motive takes precedence over political goals. The connections between crime and terror can therefore be categorized on a broad spectrum, including alliances of convenience and appropriation of criminal methodologies by jihadist groups, leading to the hybridization of certain factions without, however, reaching the phase of total transformation, at least so far.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.LTC, Royal Moroccan Arm
DIGITAL MODEL-BASED SYSTEMS ENGINEERING OF ON-ORBIT SATELLITE SYSTEM UPGRADING AND ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION
No full textOn-orbit servicing is a constantly growing focus in space systems, and constructing models to accurately represent these missions can be crucial to organizations, such as the Space Warfighting Analysis Center, whose primary mission is creating operational concepts and force design in the space environment. Using digital model-based systems engineering, SysML, and small, descriptive subsystem models to construct a large and complex model, this research aimed to develop a model to simulate the fuel and time cost effects of servicer satellite sensor accuracies on the approach strategies for satellite upgrading and orbital debris mitigation. The model was based on previous on-orbit servicing models and improved upon their design by enabling more variety in waypoints for navigation in addition to simulating more realistic rendezvous and proximity operations regarding relative sensor navigation. These models were designed to integrate with the physics-based modeling software STK to extrapolate the mission cost data caused by inaccuracies from the modeled on-orbit servicing satellite sensor suites. These models were also developed using a specific modeling language and structure to enable reuse and improvement by the Space Warfighting Analysis Center in space systems simulations, wargaming, and to help with future research and development of on-orbit servicing models.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Ensign, United States NavyUSSF Space Warfighting Analysis Cente
CASE STUDY ON A SUCCESSFUL TECHNICAL DATA PACKAGE PROCUREMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION FOR F/A-18 E/F SERIES AIRCRAFT
No full textThis explanatory case study examines the strategic utilization of Technical Data Packages (TDPs) to mitigate obsolescence in the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain, focusing specifically on the Navy's F/A-18 E/F fighter jet. Recognizing the criticality of securing intellectual property rights for sustained weapon system readiness, this study investigates NAVSUP PMA-265's acquisition of F/A-18 E/F TDPs from Boeing. Furthermore, it analyzes the Navy's current practices in leveraging TDPs for uninterrupted F/A-18 E/F sustainment. Additionally, this study explores the challenges and requirements associated with obtaining TDPs from independent DoD contractors. Through a comparative analysis of the FAA's successful IP procurement strategies and a detailed case study of the F/A-18 E/F program, this research identifies best practices and proposes actionable recommendations for optimizing TDP acquisition and utilization within the Navy. The findings advocate enhanced acquisition of technical data through Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement contract clauses, early DoD investment in research and development, and utilizing special licensing agreements as a secondary method of procurement, to promote long-term cost savings and supply chain resilience within the F/A-18 E/F program and beyond.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States NavyLieutenant Commander, United States Nav
IMPLEMENTING ASYMMETRICAL WARFARE STRATEGY AGAINST CHINA: A PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS PERSPECTIVE
No full textConventional defense research frequently prioritizes modernization and alliance-building, often overlooking the strategic value of asymmetric and hybrid strategies for resource-constrained states confronting superior adversaries. This thesis examines how nations like the Philippines can leverage innovative defense approaches to counter China's escalating assertiveness in Southeast Asia. Through qualitative analysis, this study integrates historical and contemporary case studies including Ukraine’s resistance against Russia and the unconventional tactics of non-state actors to extract critical lessons for modern warfare. The use of DIME and SWOT frameworks reveals three core insights: First, the Philippines is heavily reliant on traditional defense strategies on doctrines, force build-up, and military modernization. Second, internal security concerns and financial instability hamper the country’s reorientation to external defense priorities. Third, the country’s dependence on alliances for security creates significant vulnerabilities. Asymmetric and hybrid strategies offer a way to mitigate these shortfalls, enhancing adaptability and resilience amid evolving threats and uncertainties. As hybrid conflicts increasingly shape the Indo-Pacific, this study offers a forward-looking framework for weak nations seeking to strengthen deterrence, resilience, and strategic adaptability in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Colonel, Philippine Air Forc