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DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITALIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL WARGAME “RACE FOR THE ARCTIC”
Full text linkThis capstone aims to develop and optimize the award-winning educational wargame “The Race for the Arctic” by Howell and Leisinger, published in 2023. The conceptual approach has been to add further realism and learning objectives to the game without sacrificing its entertainment value. The capstone work consisted of extensive playtesting (board game and digital), field studies, consultations with subject matter experts in various Arctic disciplines, and literature research. Major findings include a redesign around the Svalbard Archipelago and Chinese activities in the Arctic, modeling fisheries as a separate resource, and a redesign of the game’s victory conditions. Minor suggested implementations include various enhancements to improve game mechanics and the overall game experience. Many of the recommended implementations offer scalable options, and future game development must adopt a holistic approach when determining which elements to include in future versions.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Major, Norwegian Arm
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF SOCIOTECHNICAL VULNERABILITIES ON ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES
No full textThe rapid expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) industry has rendered EV chargers essential to the U.S. There is, however, a notable gap in understanding the impact of losing existing chargers due to disruptive events, especially from sociotechnical vulnerabilities that arise from asset ownership and operation. This thesis addresses this gap by examining the extent of influence that EV charging companies, partners, investors, and employees have on consumer accessibility to charger infrastructure. To achieve this, we develop novel methods to construct and analyze an adversarial sociotechnical network that includes a physical network of chargers and vehicles alongside a social network of EV charging companies, investors, and employees. Results show that Tesla has an out-sized influence on EV charging access in North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia, despite having less infrastructure than competitors. Moreover, we are able to identify companies and individuals not part of EV charging station companies that may have out-sized influence on the industry, and indirectly, on charging services across each state.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Ensign, United States Nav
THE COST OF LETHALITY: A COMPARATIVE MODEL OF PAST AND FUTURE MARINE CORPS BATTLE RIFLES
No full textIn 2019, the Army identified a shortfall in the ability of their battle rifle, the M4, to deliver lethal effects against modern adversary body armor. To overcome the shortfall, they developed their Next Generation Squad Weapon, the XM7. In 2017, the Marine Corps equipped its infantry forces with the M27, a new rifle with the same caliber as the M4. The Marine Corps now needs to determine whether to adopt the XM7 as its battle rifle. The Marine Corps has directed a study of ballistics and load testing, as well as a combat model to be developed by the Marine Corps’ Operations Analysis Directorate. Agent-based simulation in the Map Aware Nonuniform Automata combat modeling environment is used to determine what characteristics are key for an infantry fighting rifle to maximize mission success and minimize casualties. A scenario where a meeting engagement occurs between a Marine rifle squad and an adversary squad is simulated 16,100 times while varying Marine rifle characteristics. Results indicate that it is critical that an infantry fighting rifle be able to engage targets at long ranges with high lethality. The rifle must also provide precise fires and manageable recoil to allow quicker reengagement of targets. It is recommended that the Marine Corps pursue improvements to the lethality of the round fired by the M27. If the round cannot be improved, the Marine Corps should consider the XM7, but must lighten the load of infantrymen to allow them to carry more ammunition.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Captain, United States Marine Corp
Honoring Lieutenant Colonel Victor Roeske as the March 2025 Veteran of the Month
Full text linkHelater served as an Instructor and Assistant Professor at West Point and as a faculty member at the Naval Postgraduate School, shaping the next generation of military leaders through his expertise in mathematics and operational research.Mrs. MCCLAIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional service and lifelong dedication of Lieutenant Colonel Victor Roeske, USA (Ret.), a distinguished U.S. Army veteran and our March 2025 Veteran of the Month from Michigan’s 9th Congressional District. Throughout his decades of military and civilian service, LTC Roeske has exemplifed duty, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to his country and community
Faces of NPS: Adm. Michael Mullen, USN (Ret)
No full textFaces 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/E89s4aV_HtA?si=OB0wNy0nyN4dMEc
Faces of NPS: Lt. Col. Jesse Attig, USMC
Full text linkFaces of NPS features interviews spotlighting the students, faculty, staff and alumni of our Nation's premier defense education and research institution
THE EFFECT OF INLET AREA RATIO AND ISOLATOR LENGTH ON REFRESH DYNAMICS IN AN AXIAL FLOW ROTATING DETONATION ENGINE
No full textThe refresh dynamics in an ethylene-air axial-flow rotating detonation engine were analyzed to determine the impact of inlet blockage ratio and isolator length on injector recovery. The performance of these engines hinge on effective refresh dynamics, which involves expelling combustion products and reintroducing a fresh fuel-air mixture to support a continuously propagating detonation. These geometry features were analyzed both computationally and experimentally. The inlet area ratio was varied by changing the maximum thickness of the aerodynamic centerline fuel injectors to influence local air flow velocities and a constant thickness isolator length inserted to determine the effect of impeding the upstream flow induced by the high pressures behind the detonation. Nine different injector designs were computationally analyzed and a design with an inlet area ratio of 0.4 and an isolator length of 12.7mm was selected to be tested. The new design was experimentally found to limit the upstream propagation distance to 3.91mm compared to 12.8mm of the original injector design and improved lean operating conditions. Computational and experimental results qualitatively agree but do not match magnitudes due to the optical measurements used to track the combustion interface. Isolator lengths greater than 12.7mm were observed to have minimal impact. Inlet area ratios were not observed to significantly affect refresh dynamics and injector recovery due to temporal and spatial resolution.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Outstanding ThesisEnsign, United States NavyPicatinny Arsenal, US Army DEVCOM AC. Bldg. 94, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, 0780
Faces of NPS: Capt. Grant Wilson, USAF
No full textFaces of NPS features interviews spotlighting the students, faculty, staff and alumni of our Nation's premier defense education and research institution
EVALUATING NAVFAC’S PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE STRATEGY: COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND LIFECYCLE IMPACTS ON EQUIPMENT LONGEVITY
Full text linkThis thesis examines the cost-effectiveness and life cycle outcomes of the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command’s (NAVFAC) standardized preventive maintenance (PM) plans compared to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)-guided PM plans. Using a statistical analytical approach that incorporates Robert Snow Means costing, Consumer Price Index adjustments, and Uniform Classification of Construction Systems and Assemblies (UNIFORMAT) coded MAXIMO asset records, the study analyzes over 173.82 per task, while OEM-guided PMs were modeled at $439.01—2.5 times higher. NAVFAC PMs, though more affordable, underperformed in extending asset longevity for complex subsystems. Findings support a hybrid strategy, applying OEM frequencies to high-value or aging systems and NAVFAC standard PMs to low-risk assets. Recommendations include refining PM tracking procedures, prioritizing critical assets using asset age and design life, and piloting dynamic PM plans to improve lifecycle cost control and operational readiness.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant Commander, United States Nav