By Javier Chagoya

NPS students in the Department of Operations Research (OR) Wargaming Applications class execute a scenario designed and developed as part of their coursework in Glasgow Hall, May 27. The wargame was designed to address an allied nation's future political and military needs when an adversarial neighboring government becomes determined to achieve regional supremacy.

The initiative is part of a newly-formed NPS Wargaming Activity Hub, under the direction of OR Senior Lecturer Jeff Appleget and Department of Defense Analysis Senior Lecturer Robert Burks.

"Wargaming Applications is a course focused on military decision making that teaches students wargaming techniques, and provides a structured environment for military professionals to gain insights into complex military problems," said Appleget.

The course's capstone exercise involved student teams designing, developing and executing a wargame sponsored by a NATO ally. Students and faculty role-played as members of an adversarial nation's president and cabinet throughout the exercise.

"The hybrid threat exercise helps us to advance alternative courses of action for our sponsor," continued Appleget. "By the end of the operation, the sponsor can use the results as a significant step toward understanding threats to their national security."