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Assessment of Energy Storage and Generation for the Amphibious Assault Ships
No full textNPS NRP Executive SummaryThis report addresses the critical challenge of early-stage microgrid planning for directed energy weapon systems, which present significant pulsed power demands on naval vessels. To tackle this, the research employed a two-pronged approach: leveraging existing simulation tools and developing a custom scenario analysis application. The research identified hybrid energy storage system of a battery and a supercapacitor as the best alternatives.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
Performance Evaluation and Promotion Recommendation: Best Practices for Selection Boards
Get PDFNPS NRP Executive SummaryThis study examines how Navy promotion and selection boards process information from performance evaluation reports and other records to determine promotions. These records contain a large amount of information presented in a form that does not readily facilitate rapid, accurate information processing. As the Navy continues to transform its Performance Evaluation System toward alignment with “Get Real Get Better” behaviors, it is crucial to identify where cognitive habits or existing practices might hinder accurate promotion decisions. We focus on three key questions: how board members process information, the friction points that lead to cognitive errors under load, and the best practices for designing tools that address these issues. To explore these, structured interviews and think-aloud protocols were conducted with Navy and Marine Corps promotion board members, assessing their experiences processing information with current decision support tools. We also developed and presented alternative decision support tools to board members for their feedback. Findings highlight three major challenges. First, board members face time pressures, exacerbating cognitive load and leading to decision fatigue. Second, while Navy board members focus on contextual information to evaluate candidates, Marine board members are more focused on the actual performance records. Third, board members rely on “lay theories” or personal standards to evaluate candidates, which introduces bias and inconsistency. While alternative machine learning tools were seen as helpful for post-decision analysis, board members preferred human judgment to remain central. To improve the promotion board process, we recommend the Navy and Marine Corps address the challenges posed by time constraints and idiosyncratic lay judgement.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)N1 - Manpower, Personnel, Training & Educatio
AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Partnership: Impacts on Regional Security & Global Nonproliferation Regime
No full textNPS NRP Executive SummaryThis project investigated the effects of the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) partnership on regional security and the global nonproliferation regime. We disaggregated multiple input factors: AUKUS Pillar 1’s emphasis on sharing technology to jointly produce nuclear-propulsion submarines, AUKUS Pillar 2’s exploration of collaborating on other high-end capabilities, and AUKUS’ overall indication of a perceived rebalancing of US alliance priorities away from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, France, and Europe, towards the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Indo-Pacific. We also examined how AUKUS might impact other states’ interests, policies, and posture regarding force modernization, and regional security including alliances and partnerships. The research team examined these questions in key middle powers with varying preexisting U.S. relationships: the Republic of Korea (ROK, South Korea), Iran, Brazil, and Japan. The project produced three deliverables: a report featuring three case studies (on the ROK, Iran, and Brazil), and two NPS Master’s theses (on the ROK and Japan, respectively). Case studies drew on a range of data sources, leveraging to the extent possible in-country interviews with US and partner nation officials. Military and civilian officials were interviewed to ensure a frank exchange of views on policy overlaps and to identify areas of divergence regarding naval platform acquisition, security cooperation, and nuclear trajectories. We found that AUKUS is generating minimal nuclear proliferation risks, moderate acceleration of preexisting trends regarding force modernization, and mixed results for regional security and US partnerships. For the United States Navy (USN) to shape regional security outcomes and enhance allied deterrence of great power competitors, our findings recommend redoubled attention to security cooperation in the maritime domain and beyond. Consistent naval engagement is crucial to sustain trust and influence with ever more capable partners who face increasing strategic incentives and domestic political pressures to preserve national autonomy and freedom of maneuver.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)N3/N5 - Plans & Strateg
VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORKS OVER SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS IN SUPPORT OF SECURE TELEMEDICAL COMMUNICATION IN EXPEDITIONARY ENVIRONMENTS
No full textWhile the U.S. military continues to deploy around the world, the need for medical support in austere environments remains. The ability to effectively fulfill this need is augmented by the use of telemedical support. The ability to effectively provide telemedical assistance from afar requires the use of satellite communications and often resorts to civilian service providers. This thesis evaluates the efficacy of using satellite networks with the added security and privacy of virtual private networks (VPNs). We evaluate the performance impact of internet protocol security (IPsec), OpenVPN, and Wireguard when applied over a geostationary satellite provider, Viasat, and a low Earth orbit satellite provider, Starlink. We find that the implementation of VPNs induces a small but consistent performance impact on latency and a negligible impact on Inter-Packet Delay Variation. The implementation of a VPN results in a reduction in throughput, especially in download throughput. We specifically find that OpenVPN has the largest impact on throughput with Wireguard providing the highest overall throughput. IPsec is the most consistently performing VPN and is our recommendation for enterprise applications.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States NavyAir Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 4543
SIMULATION-BASED PROCESS IMPROVEMENT FOR THE DDNV MATERIAL PROCESSING CENTER
Get PDFThe Material Processing Center (MPC) at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution Norfolk faces intermittent workload surges, leading to backlogs, delays, and reduced fleet readiness. With little knowledge of future workload, MPC supervision struggles to manage resources effectively during peak throughput. Since the MPC manages last-mile logistics for over 70 fleet units in the Norfolk area, their package delivery delays directly impact mission readiness. To address this, we utilize Simio software to map workflow dynamics and predict system stability, conducting experiments to optimize resource allocation through each business cell (induction, consolidation, manifestation). Once we understand the current package flow, we design experiments to mirror peak workload, which will highlight the most common failure points that lead to backlogs and delays. After this, we design experiments, adjusting resources, personnel and equipment, to better realize the optimal positioning for the resources. Success is measured through a proof-of-concept demonstration, risk assessment, cost-benefit analysis, stakeholder engagement, and recommendations for reporting and analytics. Ultimately, our goal is to equip DDNV with sustainable strategies for enhancing operational efficiency and adaptability through efficient and effective resource allocation, ensuring long-term success in managing workload surges and maintaining fleet readiness.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant Commander, United States NavyDefense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, VA, 22060-622
Class Schedule AY/AQ: 2025/3
No full textMaster Schedule Listing: CourseID / Seg / Course Name / Class Type / Instructor / Lec/Lab Hours / Class Schedul
FEMA’S CONTESTED LOGISTICS: TOWARDS CRISIS STANDARDS FOR RESOURCE PRIORITIZATION WHEN NATURE IS YOUR ENEMY
Get PDFDuring a crisis, emergency managers prioritize limited resources despite access constraints and uncertainty about community needs. This thesis addresses the question: How can the United States improve resource prioritization and adjudication during the initial response to a crisis? Analysis of current policies, practices, and technologies for national-level resource adjudication reveals there is no single policy outlining who decides which American communities get lifesaving and life-sustaining resources first during a national-level crisis. There is also a lack of consensus on how lifesaving and life-sustaining resources should be prioritized across multiple American communities that need help during crisis. While some technology and equipment exist to support last-mile delivery of resources and development of a common operating picture during crisis, there are significant opportunities for investment in technology. This thesis finds emergency managers can adopt U.S. military contested logistics concepts including pre-positioning and force projection, partnerships and unity of effort, transportation networks and supply chain (redundancy and contingency planning), real-time data analytics, and use of autonomous technology and artificial intelligence to improve resource prioritization and broaden distribution strategies when nature is the enemy constraining access to the impacted area.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Civilian, Department of Homeland Securit
ONTOLOGY FOR AUTONOMOUS SURFACE VESSEL COLLISION AVOIDANCE DECISION AID
Get PDFMaritime collision avoidance is essential for both manned and unmanned vessels, yet effectively applying the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) remains challenging. This research addresses this by formalizing key COLREGs rules within the machine-interpretable Suggested Upper Merged Ontology (SUMO) and validating its reasoning capabilities using the Vampire Automated Theorem Prover (ATP). The study tested 288 maritime scenarios covering no-situation, crossing, overtaking, and head-on encounters. The ATP identified situations and determined appropriate vessel actions with a 99.4% true-positive rate, while providing transparency and traceability for each conclusion. The model demonstrated local logical consistency, and although global satisfiability could not be confirmed due to computational complexity, no evidence of unsatisfiability was found. This work establishes a foundation for a transparent, traceable autonomous vessel decision aid. Beyond unmanned systems, the model shows promise as a decision-support tool for manned vessels and a training aid for mariners. Future research should expand the ontology to handle complex multi-vessel scenarios, incorporate temporal reasoning, and integrate with real-time maritime simulation software to enhance validation and scalability.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States Nav