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THE ROLE OF ISLAMIC SCHOLARS IN COMBATING EXTREMISM
Get PDFThis thesis examines the role of Muslim religious scholars (ulema) in countering extremist ideologies and combating terrorism. It analyzes the foundational ideologies of violent Islamist groups, explores how the ulema confront and counteract these ideologies, and assesses the effectiveness of their efforts in reducing violent extremism. The thesis traces the historical roots of modern Islamist extremism, examines the complex narratives and theological justifications employed by terrorist groups, and analyzes the multifaceted efforts of the ulema to counteract these dangerous ideologies. The thesis finds that while ulema play a crucial role in confronting extremist ideologies through counter-narratives, rehabilitation programs, and community resilience building, their effectiveness faces significant challenges in the modern era. These challenges include the erosion of ulema authority due to historical and societal shifts and the perceived alignment of some ulema with political regimes. The thesis concludes that despite these obstacles, the ulema's expertise in Islamic jurisprudence uniquely positions them to challenge the religious justifications used by extremist groups, making their role significant in the ideological struggle against extremism.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Colonel, Jordanian Armed Force
KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE: MAKING SENSIBLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS
Get PDFIn the late 2010s, many states began reforming their criminal justice systems to make them more equitable. Some of these policies, however, have had unintended consequences which have inadvertently decreased public safety. This thesis explores how the United States should be careful as to not create policies that increase crime and decrease quality of life for law-abiding citizens while attempting to create policies that are more equitable. Using the research methodology of case studies and policy analysis, this thesis assesses crime reform policies such as the ending of broken windows policing, Proposition 47, and others, showing a link between the reforms, an increase in crime, and a degradation of quality of life. Many criminal justice reforms aim to achieve greater fairness for all. The policy to eliminate cash bail was intended to prevent the poor from being incarcerated simply because they could not afford bail. However, this policy also allowed dangerous individuals to reoffend while awaiting trial. Other criminal justice reforms similarly have good intent, yet unintentionally allow criminals to commit more crime without consequences. This thesis concludes that although an equitable criminal justice system is one of the most important goals of the system, public safety must be the overall driving concern. Any reforms to the system must not unintentionally decrease public safety.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Civilian, New York City Police Departmen
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN PUERTO RICO: THROUGH THE LENS OF THE WICKED AND SUPER-WICKED PROBLEMS
Get PDFThe catastrophic damage to Puerto Rico’s infrastructure and essential services from near-constant hurricanes and earthquakes has repeatedly overwhelmed the local government’s ability to repair and recover. Despite changes to systems, processes, and decision-making within the emergency management area, the changes have failed to yield meaningful improvements to Puerto Ricans’ safety, security, or quality of life. This thesis asks whether the problem set is impervious to solution because it is not linear or simple but rather wicked or super-wicked, which are inherently complex and interconnected. By analyzing the emergency management ecosystem through the lens of the distinct characteristics of wicked and super-wicked problems as defined by Rittel, Webber, and Levin et al., this thesis concludes that no current or future attempts to prevent, mitigate, respond to, or recover from disaster will be effective unless aligned to fit the complex and ever-changing nature of the challenges faced. Moreover, this thesis highlights the critical impact of Puerto Rico’s uncertain political status as a U.S. territory and the geographical vulnerabilities because of its location as a Caribbean island on the overall emergency management capability. This thesis recommends that Puerto Rico’s emergency management stakeholders recognize these constraints and adopt approaches designed for wicked and super-wicked problems, which are characterized by dynamic, multi-faceted, and flexible tactics.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Civilian, Department of Homeland Securit
INCREASING THE ENDURANCE OF THE COYOTE UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE BY APPLICATION OF THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
Get PDFUnmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as indispensable assets across various industries, necessitating prolonged flight endurance for extended missions. This thesis delves into the exploration of integrating thin-film solar cells to enhance the endurance capabilities of Group 1 UAVs, with a specific focus on the Raytheon Coyote. The research meticulously assesses the feasibility and performance enhancements achieved through the strategic incorporation of these solar cells.The experimental framework involved the application of thin-film solar cells to the Raytheon Coyote, accompanied by comprehensive performance evaluations conducted under diverse flight conditions. The study revealed a notable 21% increase in endurance, crediting this improvement to the supplementary power generated by the integrated thin-film solar cells.Moreover, through simulations incorporating enhanced efficiency solar cells within the same configuration, the research posits the potential for a more substantial endurance improvement of up to 88%. These advanced efficiency cells hold the promise of significantly augmenting the power output and, consequently, the endurance of the Raytheon Coyote. This renders it an even more compelling choice for protracted missions, encompassing surveillance, reconnaissance, environmental monitoring, and beyond.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Lieutenant, United States Nav
Strengthening Alliances Through Learning, NPS Hosts European International Alumni Symposium
No full textAssessing the Relationship Between Diversity, Inclusion, and Navy Unit Performance
No full textNPS NRP Executive SummaryThis study empirically assessed relationships between crew diversity and crew performance across six years of observation of the U.S. Navy’s fleet of destroyer ships (DDGs). Our primary research objective was to understand the degree to which crew diversity on a variety of dimensions—including gender, race, age, cognitive diversity, cultural diversity, and family structure diversity—was associated with objective indicators of operational performance and effectiveness. Across all diversity and performance indicators examined, there was non-uniformity in the relationships observed, and none of the diversity indicators were consistently and reliably associated with both indicators of performance. We observed small, but significant, statistical relationships between crew performance and indicators of gender, racial, and cultural diversity: gender diversity was negatively associated with the likelihood of winning a Battle Efficiency Award, whereas racial and cultural diversity were positively associated with aggregated Afloat Training Group (ATG) evaluations of critical mission areas. Exploratory analyses using a small set of Afloat Surface Climate Assessment Survey (ASCAS) data shed light on team and culture dynamics that might underpin relationships observed between crew diversity and performance. This research offers a starting point for understanding how the Navy can achieve operational effectiveness utilizing the full range of talent within its ranks, including current challenges and opportunities for managing this diverse workforce.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
From AI to Ships to People, NPS Acquisition Research Symposium Explores New Frontiers for Defense Innovation
No full textUsing AI and ML to Assess Submarine Critical Platforms Operational Availability
No full textNPS NRP Executive SummaryThe Navy’s submarine fleet is a vital asset to the security and military posture of the United States. Currently, the fleet consists of 79 active, nuclear-powered vessels, but at any time, only a subset of the fleet is deployable, due to both planned and unplanned maintenance periods. Maintenance delays contribute to a substantial reduction in the number of deployable vessels, leaving the Navy short of its goal of having 40 to 45 submarines constantly deployable (Cropsey, 2023). Among the factors contributing to this shortfall cited by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) (2020) is the Navy’s use of software without predictive capability for analyzing data on submarine operations, including maintenance. Our project examines how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) techniques, applied to submarine maintenance data, can be used to address this factor. We apply two established machine-learning models, random forests, and association-rule mining, to data on trim and drain systems from 18 Virginia-class submarines during fiscal years 2010 to 2022, to predict corrective maintenance time and the availability of material to perform such maintenance. The data consists of maintenance records (2-kilos) obtained from two sources: the Material Readiness Data Base (MRDB) and the Maintenance and Material Management Open Architectural Retrieval System (3M OARS). Application of AI/ML techniques on the combined data shows that these techniques perform better than conventional models and that they can produce valuable information to better manage submarine maintenance.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)N8 - Integration of Capabilities & Resource
Recognizing Captain Dave Richardson, United States Navy, Ph.D., for Winning the 2024 United States Naval Academy Military Professor Teaching Excellence Award
Get PDFHe has achieved excellence at every echelon of academia: graduating with merit from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995, with his M.S. in Leadership from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2000, with distinction from the Naval War College in 2007, and finally with his Ph.D from The George Washington University in 2018.Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Dave Richardson, United States Navy, the 2024 recipient of the United States Naval Academy Military Professor Teaching Excellence Award
ELECTION VIOLENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY: NIGERIA IN PERSPECTIVE
Get PDFNigeria’s history of electoral violence threatens its democratic stability and national security. The recurring bloodshed across republics reflects entrenched drivers like ethnic tensions, youth unemployment, godfatherism, and institutional deficiencies. This research examines the critical roles of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies in mitigating electoral unrest and upholding integrity during polls for a stable democracy. The study adopts a qualitative case study approach relying primarily on scholarly articles, reports, and policy documents analyzing these institutions and electoral reforms. While notable reforms occurred, ranging from legislating voting procedures to coordinating security platforms, systematic constraints persist. Partisanship, overburdened mandates, logistical failures, compromised neutrality, and legal uncertainties still enable manipulation and malpractices during elections. Ultimately, this fragility precipitates coups, conflicts, and instability, jeopardizing national security. Thus, reforms must address root deficiencies. Recommendations include streamlining INEC’s expansive duties, strengthening independence through decentralizing appointments, expanding civic education, and enhancing security agencies’ capacity.Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.Outstanding ThesisLieutenant Colonel, Nigerian Arm