"Li-ion Batteries and the Electrification of the Fleet"

Naval Engineers Journal

Daniel V. Camp; Nathan L. Vey; Paul W. Kylander; Sean G. Auld; Jerald J. Willis; Jonathan F. Lussier; LCDR Ross A. Eldred, USNR; Douglas L. Van Bossuyt, Ph.D.

The article's abstract is as follows:

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have begun to proliferate across the U.S. Navy fleet, commercial shipping, and in many other naval contexts. Naval engineers must account for Li-ion batteries when designing new vessels to ensure safety and adequate integration of the batteries into ship electrical systems. This article examines current Li-ion battery usage and predicted battery requirements for the U.S. Navy’s operating force in 2035 and 2045 from a mission engineering perspective and surveys battery chemistry, energy density, charge/discharge rate, safety concerns, etc. Projections of future battery requirements for the operating force in 2035 and 2045 are developed which clearly show that several classes of vessels will have significant growth in Li-ion batteries aboard the future fleet. The role of Li-ion batteries, however, will likely be limited to running specific subsystems or equipment and will not replace ship generators. This will remain true until the energy density of battery technology even begins to approach that of petrochemicals, which is many years away if possible. With recent high-profile Li-ion battery fires aboard civilian vessels, this research makes clear that Li-ion batteries will become more prevalent aboard ships over the next 20+ years and that naval engineers must begin accounting for Li-ion batteries now. (go to article)

Posted May 28, 2023

"Reducing Asymmetry in Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems"

Naval Engineers Journal

Capt Christian M. Thiessen, USMC; Dr. Douglas L. Van Bossuyt; Dr. Britta Hale

The article's abstract is as follows:

Current Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) rely heavily on low-efficiency techniques such as broadband radio frequency (RF) jamming and high-intensity lasers. Not only do such techniques come at the cost of second and third order effects—such as collateral jamming risks to operational systems, a large RF footprint, and high energy use—but they also present an asymmetry between threat and response. Many commercial, off-the-shelf UAS devices are inexpensive compared to the C-UAS systems historically under focus in DoD acquisition. This work argues for leveling that asymmetry by exploring C-UAS autonomy-on-autonomy options by using cyberattack payload capabilities residing on a UAS. By reducing the attack surface to focus on a particular target, these cyber techniques provide scalpel-edged control to the operator, reducing risk to own systems, RF footprint, and collateral damage. (go to article)

Posted May 28, 2023

"Special Operations Forces Require Greater Proficiency in Artificial Intelligence"

War on the Rocks

MAJ Kelley Jhong, U.S. Army

Also see the author's Outstanding Thesis on "how SOF should evaluate AI technologies to conduct operations in the information environment."

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are proliferating, becoming increasingly accessible to users without especial technical knowledge. However, dividing those who interact with AI into technical "experts" and non-technical "users" creates particular problems and missed opportunities in the case of special operations.

As MAJ Jhong notes, special operations forces will be at the vanguard of AI usage in the operational environment; therefore, they "may be called upon to assist with . . . determining the most appropriate AI approaches," as well as testing and evaluation of systems. Moreover, they "often operate at the tactical edge in semi- to non-permissive environments and, thus, require the ability to troubleshoot their equipment unassisted" and to "assess whether the data being fed into the AI system is relevant, current, and representative" of real conditions.

Thus, "if special operations forces want to fully employ AI applications in the military and drive their evolution," they will need "skills, education, and knowledge beyond those of a general user." The author proposes that "each special operations team [have] at least one individual with more advanced AI knowledge" to be "adequately poised for an AI-driven future." (go to article)

Posted March 25, 2023

"Capitalizing on Non-alignment Policy of Nigeria to Balance Economic Relations with the United States of America and the People's Republic of China"

Small Wars Journal

CDR Abubakar S. Nura, Nigerian Navy

As part of their competition for global influence, the United States and China have turned their attentions to Nigeria, an important economic player in West Africa, creating for it both challenges and opportunities.

U.S. strategy with respect to Nigeria comprises activity in the economic, health, education, and governance sectors, including promotion of bilateral trade, investment in small and medium enterprises, and support for economic reforms. Meanwhile, China, which is making substantial Belt and Road investments in Africa, has concentrated in Nigeria on energy and infrastructure; it has also established more than 150 businesses in the country and has facilitated direct currency exchange between the yuan and naira.

The U.S. strategy aims to support the long-term robustness of the Nigerian market economy, but with a relatively slow pace of implementation to match; Nigeria's relationship with China addresses its immediate needs for trade and infrastructure development, although at the cost of some economic security. To maximize benefit from these complementary relationships, the author argues, Nigeria should leverage its policy of non-alignment to "ensure that it balances relations with both great powers . . . in consonance with its national interest and other core international values" while taking steps to mitigate obstacles and drawbacks. (go to article)

Posted March 20, 2023

"Unmanned Future Threatens Pilot Identity"

Proceedings

ENS Sarah Clark, USN

 First Prize, NPS Foundation and U.S. Naval Institute NPS Essay Contest

An increasing focus in naval aviation on the technical capabilities of uncrewed aircraft has, the author argues, neglected a burgeoning identity crisis among pilots, who increasingly must grapple with the fact that "the physical root of their identity"—operating aircraft from within the cockpit—"is being replaced."

This situation is not new to the Navy, as demonstrated by the transition from sail to steam in the 19th century and the QH-50 drone antisubmarine helicopter in the 1960s. Such technological challenges to identity not only "create conflict among personnel, but they also affect overall force effectiveness" and create resistance to innovation.

Today's aviation innovation calls for "a common identity for operators of all aircraft types," reinforced through consistent messaging at all levels, including discarding the categories of "manned" vs. "unmanned," and through "career paths . . . [that] reinforce unity." Leaders can thereby "minimize internal conflict and increase naval aviation’s ability to project a united front against adversaries." (go to article)

Posted December 17, 2022

"Develop Separate Navy Cyber and Signal Warfare Communities"

Proceedings

CDR Christopher Landis, USN

Also see the author's interview on this article with CIMSEC. 

Various authors have identified the Navy’s need to improve its cyber operations and electromagnetic maneuver warfare (EMW) capabilities; however, they have also overlooked the true source of the problem: the lack of specialization in either area afforded by the current cryptologic warfare (CW) and information professional (IP) career paths, which "often alternate between cyber-related jobs and signals-related jobs."

This approach "will not help develop the most effective cyber operations or EMW workforce"; indeed, "having to relearn one’s trade at each duty station diminishes readiness, but also sailor job satisfaction and retention."

Thus, the author says, "the CW and IP communities should be realigned as signal warfare and cyber warfare communities" by recoding existing billets. Under this "more effective community structure . . . their training will be more relevant for longer and their enhanced expertise will increase the Navy’s lethality and reduce risk to its missions." (go to article)

Posted November 28, 2022

"The Unconventional Approach to Arctic Security: Increasing Domain Awareness through the US Army Special Operations Forces' Indigenous Approach"

Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs

MAJ W. Barrett Martin, U.S. Army; MAJ Michael K. Tovo, U.S. Army; and MAJ Devin Kirkwood, U.S. Army

The article's abstract is as follows:

This article explores various requirements needed for the Department of Defense to be competitive in the Arctic region. In particular, the role of US Army Arctic Special Operations Forces should be developed and leveraged as part of competitive operational solutions. While capability definitions and gaps remain a persistent doctrinal challenge in development and implementation, history, culture, exercises, and allies could greatly contribute to Arctic ARSOF progress. Furthermore, Indigenous knowledge must be acknowledged and leveraged to ensure the greatest chance for enduring Arctic operational success. Only then will all the specialized gear and training lead to genuine competitive advantages needed to deter adversaries and secure the homeland. (go to article)

Posted November 27, 2022

"The Pacific Deterrence Initiative: Defending Guam Is Paramount"

Proceedings

LT James Magno, USN

Given the importance of the Indo-Pacific in the current competition environment, among the priorities of the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) is to bolster the defensive capabilities of Guam—a key site of U.S. logistics support and power projection in the region.

Developments in China's long-range strike capabilities, supported by improved C4ISR, have left Guam vulnerable to missile and bomber attacks. The PDI thus appropriates funding for an integrated air- and missile-defense system on Guam, along with enhanced reconnaissance infrastructure. It also funds more robust exercises with allies and partners in the region, including modernization of communications systems.

These deterrence measures, the author argues, "adequately address the IndoPaCom commander's priorities" and "sufficiently [defend] the U.S. territory of Guam"; indeed, "implementing the PDI is critical to preparing U.S. forces should confrontation between China and the United States escalate to war." (go to article)

Posted October 23, 2022

"Unleashing Computational Organization Theory with Quantum Probability Theory"

David Mortimore

A PhD candidate in information sciences at NPS, David Mortimore has won the Best Student Paper Award at the 15th International Conference on Social Computing, Behavioral-Cultural Modeling & Prediction and Behavior Representation in Modeling and Simulation.

The paper, coauthored with NPS professor Dr. Mustafa Canan, "addresses the limitations of existing computational models and simulations that rely on classical probability theory to describe decision-making and other organizational behaviors, and proposes the use of an alternate theoretical basis, quantum probability theory." This new approach "could transform decision support systems used in the Fleet today." Congratulations to the authors! (go to story)

Posted October 22, 2022

"Keep MQ-9 Pilots Flying"

War on the Rocks

Maj Tyler Jackson, USAF

With the approaching viability of autonomous aircraft, the U.S. Air Force has slated the retirement of its remotely piloted systems—but has produced "no clear guidance" regarding the career path of the more than 2,000 "highly skilled[,] . . . combat-experienced, tactically minded" remote pilots who operate them. Meanwhile, the Air Force has grappled with a sixteen-year pilot shortage on the order of 1,650 personnel. Current remote pilots could contribute to closing that gap; however, at present, “the only available option for remote pilots to transition to manned pilot crew positions is to start the process from scratch."

While acknowledging the cultural and organizational challenges that will need to be overcome, the author argues that "a more flexible model is needed"—one that "builds on the airmanship of the MQ-9 pilot community with tailorable training." Such a model "will save time, money, and effort" and will give the Air Force "the opportunity to address its pilot shortage while retaining critical combat experience within its ranks." (go to article)

Posted October 16, 2022

Speaking up, getting credit, creating change: an interview with Lt Col Regan Lyon, USAF on the importance of publishing

Lt Col Lyon is an Air Force emergency medicine physician and award-winning NPS graduate in defense analysis; she is also a widely published author, with articles in Military Medicine, Journal of Special Operations Medicine, and Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, among others. In this interview, she shares her thoughts about the value and process of publishing and offers advice on making the most of graduate-school writing.

Posted May 29, 2022

"Flying Dirty: Unmanned Casualty Evacuation on the Contaminated Battlefield"

War on the Rocks

LCDR Mike Hicks, USN, and MSgt John Stoodley, USAF

In this piece, the authors argue that remotely piloted or autonomous aircraft should be leveraged to accomplish "one of the military’s most dangerous and dirty missions: evacuating wounded and dead servicemembers from a battlefield where chemical or biological weapons have been used."

They note that the use of such weapons remains a possibility and that evacuation efforts under such circumstances impose significant hazards and tradeoffs on aircrews. Emerging technologies in the realm of urban air mobility, they say, could offer an effective and cost-effective solution. 

Although recognizing that "the technological and ethical hurdles of unmanned casualty evacuation will remain challenging," the authors assert that uncrewed aircraft have the potential to "remov[e] warfighters from one of the highest risk missions on the battlefield while enabling the force to fight and win in the face of chemical and biological weapons." (go to article)

Posted June 18, 2022

Review of War and Chance: Assessing Uncertainty in International Politics, by Jeffrey A. Friedman

Air University Press

Maj Spencer Reed, USAF

According to Maj Reed, Friedman's War and Chance argues that "assessments of uncertainty in the complex world of international politics are more valuable than conventional wisdom portrays" and that, therefore, "uncertainty should be better framed, thus allowing for more informed decisions by government leaders."

While Maj Reed notes that "there is merit to many of [Friedman's] ideas," which include a proposed decision-making framework, he also argues that Friedman overstates the possibility of extracting objective assessments from subjective information, observing that the author is vague and selective in his use of terminology and sources of evidence.

Ultimately, while Maj Reed acknowledges that the book contributes to a worthy line of research, he concludes that, "despite [Friedman’s] praiseworthy intention to create a common lexicon to discuss and debate uncertainty, the scale of implementing such a lexicon and the abstractness of his concept leave this reader unconvinced that implementation in its current form is possible." (go to article)

Posted June 18, 2022

"Killing with a Borrowed Knife: Exploring Chinese Influence in Hollywood"

Small Wars Journal

MAJ Morgan Martin and MAJ Clinton Williamson, U.S. Army

This article supports and updates the argument of a 2017 piece in Small Wars Journal asserting that "China's entry into—and consolidation of its holdings in—the entertainment field provide a vector" for information warfare. The authors of the present article note that, since that time, "the PRC has expanded its de facto control over the American film industry," asserting that "the PRC's creeping influence has become a grave security threat indeed."

In particular, they argue, the CCP has long valued cinema as a tool of propaganda, and Chinese companies' investment and involvement in the U.S. film industry gives them leverage to shape the content of films, influencing what and whom audiences see onscreen.

While the authors note that "it is unclear how effective China's efforts have been," the scale of Chinese investment in Hollywood, coupled with the CCP's mandated presence in nominally private enterprises, suggests that "it's time for decision makers throughout the US government to recognize the threat that China's infiltration of the entertainment industry represents." (go to article)

Posted May 29, 2022

"Mosaic Warfare Networks Can Serve Naval Expeditionary Forces"

SIGNAL

Dr. Scott Jasper, NPS Department of National Security Affairs, and MSgt Travis Hollingshead, USMC

In the present competition environment, two important concepts of maneuver are Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), in which "stand-in forces will persist inside an adversary’s threat range and facilitate a larger naval campaign," and mosaic warfare, which "combines functional characteristics of different platforms" to "source effects from across an array of options based on shifting mission demands." In this article, the authors argue that incorporating automation into cyber defense through mosaic warfare–style network configurations can make EABO technology more defendable, "maximiz[ing] the operational opportunity for Marines in a fluid and shifting environment." (go to article)

Posted May 29, 2022

"From Bombs to Bits: Air-to-Ground Operations as a Model for the Tactical Information Environment"

War on the Rocks

Maj Terry Traylor and MSgt David Nass, USMC

In this article, the authors argue that the role of the tactical air controller can be advantageously adapted to the cyber, information, and space realms. Tactical air controllers and joint terminal attack controllers are battalion- to platoon-level personnel who act as liaisons between ground commanders and air assets, "provid[ing] expertise . . . on when and how to properly employ aviation assets . . . , passing on targeting information and controlling air-delivered ground attacks."

Similarly, on-the-ground, tactical-level "multi-domain terminal effects controllers" with training in information, cyber, and space would be able to respond quickly to the dynamic circumstances of combat operations, "identify[ing] local physical or virtual targets, relay[ing] their positions to information, cyber, or space experts at a higher command, and synchroniz[ing] the timing of their effects with the ground force's maneuver."

The authors conclude that "bridg[ing] the gap between ground maneuver and national-level information, cyber, and space capability . . . can help equip every level of command with the right personnel and equipment to gain and maintain an information advantage." (go to article)

Posted April 17, 2022

"Feasibility and Assessment of Applying Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) to U.S. Navy Ships"

Master's thesis, systems engineering, Naval Postgraduate School

Jonathan Burnette

In this video (20:32), the author presents his findings on using UVC irradiation in HVAC systems to combat the spread of airborne pathogens aboard naval vessels. For more information on this research, see the project's webpage.

Posted January 24, 2022

"The COVID-19 Response Has Uncovered and Increased Our Vulnerability to Biological Warfare"

Military Medicine

Lt Col Regan Lyon, USAF

Lt Col Lyon has authored or coauthored many articles in various publications, including the Journal of Special Operations Medicine and Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.

The 2018 National Biodefense Strategy underscored the threat to the United States from biological weapons. Now, the author observes, the COVID-19 pandemic has disclosed the nation's vulnerability to a major biological event, creating "the potential for disastrous effects on national security."

In particular, PPE shortages, public resistance to health measures, and events surrounding the deployment of the USNS Comfort have been detrimental to U.S. deterrence of and possible defense against bioterrorism, having disambiguated the country's response strategy and level of readiness and signaled opportunity to would-be attackers.

However, she argues, these events also can and should be used to bolster U.S. preparedness against a biological attack, informing supply requirements and distribution models, public outreach campaigns, and other response efforts, including those by military medicine personnel. (go to article)

Posted December 17, 2021

"ISIS Medical System as a Target for Counterterrorism Efforts"

Combating Terrorism Exchange (CTX)

Lt Col Regan Lyon, USAF

To support its capacity as both a fighting force and a governance apparatus, the Islamic State (ISIS) established the Islamic State Healthcare System. However, the author reports, ISIS "exaggerated its medical capabilities," neglected to treat civilians, allegedly medically abused prisoners, and "was unable to provide adequate trauma care to its warfighters."

Given the importance of medical care in recruiting and retaining fighters and securing broader public support, these vulnerabilities, she argues, can potentially be exploited "through a combination of information operations and humanitarian aid as part of a holistic counterterrorism approach" that aims to "undermine ISIS’s community support, decrease ISIS warriors' motivation to fight, [and] prevent the enlistment of Western physicians into the terrorist group."

These measures, she says, can "play a crucial role in delegitimizing ISIS and preventing the resurgence of its caliphate." (go to article)

Posted December 17, 2021

"Adapting Naval Cultures for Advantage at Sea"

Center for International Maritime Security (CIMSEC)

LtCol Scott Humr, USMC

The U.S. military's diminishing technological advantage has led to an emphasis in the Sea Services on occupying the "high ground of technological overmatch." While this enterprise is necessary, the author says, the raw capability to conduct "increasingly remote warfare" is insufficient; success will require that technological innovations be coupled with cultural ones.

In particular, "Force Design concepts . . . that place personnel in spartan locations with minimal contact for extended periods of time" necessitate "a reinvigoration of the ability to thrive in austerity," both mentally and logistically—calling for modifications in areas such as personnel skills, information exchange, command and control, and naval integration. Also essential are education and training optimized for these cultural changes, as well as metrics to assess progress, including the streamlining of commands and regular 360-degree feedback for leaders.

Though they might prove challenging, it is through such efforts, the author says, that "the Sea Services must develop a common culture characterized by a shared consciousness"—a task increasingly important as competitors persist in violating the norms of the international system. (go to article)

Posted November 26, 2021

"Talent Management for the 21st Century"

Marine Corps Gazette

LtCol Scott Humr, USMC

Many recent Navy and Marine Corps documents identify human capital as an essential asset. However, the author notes, the Marine Corps's current concept of Manpower and Personnel Administration (MPA) is largely "defensive," emphasizing regulatory compliance and retrospective analysis. He argues for the necessity of a complementary "offensive mindset"—an agile, future-oriented leveraging of robust personnel data that "places Marines with the right skill sets in the right occupation based on the needs of the unit or commander."

Accomplishing this task, the author says, will require the aggregation of presently siloed data sets "to provide a complete picture of individual and unit readiness." Likewise, it will call for "an extensive culture of data literacy within MPA" and an outlook that "avoid[s] shoehorning [data] technologies into outmoded processes," instead imagining how those technologies might enable revolutionary new processes.

These initiatives, the author concludes, will prepare the MPA community for its imminent role in talent management and provide a more granular and effective approach to managing personnel—all to, as the Commandant puts it, "unleash the incredible talent of the individual Marine." (go to article)

Posted November 26, 2021

"Humans and Hardware: How Special Operations Can Pioneer Wearable Technology"

War on the Rocks

MAJ Kevin Butler and MAJ Frank Foss, U.S. Army

In light of the increasing practicality and sophistication of wearable technologies, the authors challenge the dichotomy between military personnel and equipment, arguing that "investing in wearable technology for special operations forces is now the best way to put humans first."

The possibilities presented by wearables are already gaining traction in the Department of Defense, and they align particularly well, the authors observe, with U.S. Special Operations Command's Preservation of the Force and Family strategy, with its emphasis on "holistic health." Indeed, given operators' "long hours under highly stressful conditions, having a tool that provides an objective measurement of readiness is uniquely valuable" in formulating successful prevention and intervention measures; in turn, this population affords an important opportunity to gauge the utility of wearables.

While acknowledging the obstacles to wide implementation of wearable technology, including security and privacy concerns and the unfeasibility of a one-device-fits-all approach, the authors argue that these challenges can be mitigated through pilot testing. Such efforts, particularly by Special Operations Command, "can bring humans and hardware together in the safest and smartest way possible." (go to article)

Posted November 19, 2021

"Outweighing Communism: The Role of the Military in Land Reform"

Small Wars Journal

Col Ernest John Jadloc, Philippine Army

"In 1952," Col Jadloc begins, "U.S. officials approved the establishment of an international anticommunist movement for rural reconstruction in the Philippines." While that effort eventually came to an end, "land reform and its security implications . . . are at work today," as the turbulent course and ultimate success of the 2015 Hacienda Matias land reform demonstrates. In addition to communist insurgent activity in the area, conflict arose between resident farmers and newly installed land-reform beneficiaries. Through a campaign of education and mediation, Col Jadloc, his battalion, and associates from various agencies resolved the conflict and spread the word about the land reform process, giving the landless an alternative to armed struggle. He concludes that "implementing this program in areas threatened by communist insurgents requires sustained availability of government services"; "the responsibility of the Armed Forces is to ensure that communist insurgents [are] unable to disrupt the collaborative works of the farmers and the civilian government agencies." (go to article)

Posted September 27, 2021

"Breaking Out of Our Silos: How to Strengthen Relationships between Service-Specific Information Operations Communities, and Why We Need to"

Modern War Institute

Capt Robert Stelmack, USAF, and CPT Don Gomez, U.S. Army

Capt Stelmack is the first Air Force information operations officer to enroll in the Defense Analysis department's Information Strategy and Political Warfare program.

In response to the increasing importance of information warfare (IW) in the context of great power competition, a forthcoming publication by the Joint Staff will formalize the definitions of key IW concepts and establish the services' roles and responsibilities in information operations. While recognizing the importance of this strategic development, the authors argue that "there are activities and initiatives that can be done now to ensure that we are best postured to compete globally"—in particular, "strengthening the relationship between information warfare professionals spread across the military services," including the new Air Force Information Operations (14F) officers and Army PSYOP and FA30 (IO) officers, to minimize stovepiping and promote “communicating, integrating, and operating together." Opportunities to increase such collaboration include joint training exercises, unit exercises, mission tasking, and training courses. "Ultimately," the authors argue, "the United States must learn to unify and coherently wield its IW capabilities in concert to gain strategic advantage and to win in great power competition.” (go to article)

Posted August 26, 2021

Review of Will China Dominate the 21st Century? by Jonathan Fenby

Strategic Studies Quarterly

Maj Jonathan Pryor, USAF

As Maj Pryor summarizes it, Fenby's core assertion is that "China's one-party system and its regime's unrelenting desire for self-preservation are doomed to stall economic progress," thereby preventing China from realizing what Fenby refers to as its "full potential." While this argument is "plausible," Maj Pryor says, "the book neglects to address an important question: What constitutes domination in the twenty-first century?" Does China need to achieve its "full potential" to outpace its rivals? Is "domination" necessary to substantially influence the international order? Though the book's scope precludes a thorough treatment of these questions, the review concludes that "readers seeking a synopsis of China's political and social challenges that threaten its continued economic growth will find this book worth their study." (go to article)

Posted June 10, 2021

"Impose Costs on Russia in the Information Environment"

Proceedings

MAJ Travis Florio, U.S. Army

"Over the past decade," MAJ Florio observes, "Russian information warfare has become more openly aggressive"; meanwhile, the United States "lacks a coherent, comprehensive, and coordinated approach to counter" these activities. However, given that Russian influence campaigns seem in some cases to be undermining themselves, rather than "engaging in wasteful counterpropaganda efforts," the author argues, the United States should impose costs on Russia by "siphoning Russian cyber talent" and "more aggressively promot[ing] human rights to encourage protests against the Russian government," in addition to educating the American public about Russian information warfare. (go to article)

Posted May 13, 2021

"Implementing Expeditionary ASW"

Proceedings

Capt Walker Mills, USMC; LCDR Collin Fox, USN; LCDR Dylan Phillips-Levine, USN; LCDR Trevor Phillips-Levine, USN

During the Falklands War, the Royal Navy tasked 11 destroyers, 6 submarines, and 25 helicopters with locating a single Argentine submarine. While antisubmarine warfare (ASW) technology has since advanced, the authors explain, so have submarines, in both sophistication and numbers—yet, despite the "disproportionate resources" still required for ASW, "the U.S. Navy fields proportionally fewer dedicated ASW platforms than it did in World War II or the Cold War." The authors therefore mount a case in support of Gen Berger's argument that, in their words, "ASW should be considered a cross-domain mission supported by" the Marine Corps, which "could provide valuable capabilities in the littorals, and at key maritime chokepoints." (go to article)

Posted May 13, 2021

"Planning and leadership...perspective from across the Atlantic" / "Plan for failure...the importance of problem comprehension"

MAJ Johan Selin, Swedish Army

In these articles, MAJ Selin offers, as Calhoun summarizes, "insight into the US Navy's training and education for leadership, and a book review . . . of Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq, by Michael R. Gordon and General Bernard E. Trainor" (in Swedish). (go to articles)

Posted May 12, 2021

"Reimagine Offensive Mining"

Proceedings

LT Christopher Hevey, USN, and Maj Anthony Pollman, USMC (ret.)

Winner of the second prize in the Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest, this article draws upon an episode in the American Revolution, the Battle of the Kegs, to illustrate the utility of offensive mine warfare. However, the authors note, "the Navy's expertise dedicated to mine warfare, responsible for doctrine and operations, has deteriorated to a point of near nonexistence." Moreover, current technology consists of mines that "[lack] the ability to network with . . . each other or operational forces" and "cannot distinguish friend from foe." To address this gap, the authors advocate the adaptation of existing delivery platforms and swarm network technology to create "cooperative, mobile mines" that "inform a dynamic sea-control and -denial strategy aimed at instilling fear and uncertainty in adversaries, whether they are moored in their homeports or conducting open-ocean operations." (go to article)

Posted May 12, 2021

"Information Warfare Demands More Foreign Language Proficiency"

Proceedings

LT Seth Steber and CPO Aaron Utsler, USN

In this article, the authors make a case for greater foreign-language proficiency among the information warfare community, which, they assert, "broadly lacks language capabilities and is under-invested in routinely training its members in particularly useful languages." This situation, they argue, "creates issues in information exchange with allies and a void in the deeper understanding of adversaries and competitors." In response, the authors propose "a number of relatively low-cost, high-yield investments" aimed at "paving the way toward a multilingual fleet." (go to article)

Posted May 12, 2021

Review of War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century, by David Patrikarakos

Infantry

MAJ Kevin Bernhardt, U.S. Army

MAJ Bernhardt's book review examines David Patrikarakos's thesis that, as the author paraphrases it, "anyone with access to the internet can serve as an actor in war." To support his argument, Patrikarakos points to examples of individuals outside the media establishment who (in MAJ Bernhardt's words) "shaped the conflict around them by way of social media" and open-source data. Ultimately, the author finds that a certain amount of bias in Patrikarakos's treatment of his subject "does not take away from the greater lessons" of the book regarding "the potential effects of social media in war for leaders in an operational environment." (go to article)

Posted February 10, 2021

return to top ↑

"Understanding Plan Colombia through Principal/Agent Theory: The Importance of Interest Alignment"

FAOA Journal of International Affairs

Capt Spencer Marsh, USMC

Captain Marsh's article employs Stephen Biddle's principal/agent theory to analyze the successes and failures of Plan Colombia—in particular, "why Plan Colombia was able to increase Colombia's state security and capacity but failed in U.S. anti-drug efforts." The author argues that "where principal/agent objectives did not overlap, in this case the Drug War, failure was imminent." After 9/11, however, which altered U.S. priorities with respect to Colombia, "objective overlap centered on fighting insurgencies . . . enabled Plan Colombia’s narrow success" by "caus[ing] two powerful forces to align: Colombia's political will and the U.S. resources and expertise." Based on these findings, the article recommends that "security cooperation/assistance policy makers focus on initiatives that converge with the partner nation's priorities." (go to article)

Posted December 30, 2020

Review of Chinese Foreign Policy: An Introduction, by Marc Lanteigne

Strategic Studies Quarterly

Maj Temesha Christensen, USAF

Maj Christensen's review of Marc Lanteigne's book Chinese Foreign Policy: An Introduction was published earlier this year by the U.S. Air Force's Strategic Studies Quarterly. As the announcement by the NPS Department of National Security Affairs explains, "Maj. Christensen read the book for an NSA course and subsequently wrote and submitted the review"; "she finds the book is a good foundational piece . . . 'to understand Chinese foreign policy, China’s role in international security, and China’s economic impact on the global market.'" (go to article)

Posted July 23, 2020

"The Navy Needs Problem-First Innovation"

Proceedings

LCDR Ashley McAbee, USN

In this featured article in the U.S. Naval Institute's Proceedings, LCDR McAbee argues that, as the article summary states, "innovation is meaningless or even harmful if it is done merely for its own sake"; instead, says the author, invoking Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, "to outpace adversaries, the Navy must adopt a problem-first, future-focused, and sailor-driven ethos"—an ethos critical to "maximiz[ing] our chances of improving the Navy’s position, sharpening the edge, and cementing the advantage we inherited." (go to article)

Posted July 7, 2020

"The Friction Points, Operational Goals, and Research Opportunities of Electronic Warfare and Cyber Convergence"

The Cyber Defense Review

CW4 Judy Esquibel, U.S. Army

CW4 Esquibel, an NPS information sciences PhD student, co-authored this article for The Cyber Defense Review 4.2 (2019). According to the abstract: "With Electronic Warfare joining the Cyber Branch in October 2018, numerous opportunities and challenges that affect warfighters are surfacing. To capture and consolidate some of these observations, the Electronic Warfare Cyber Convergence (EWC2) workshop, held in conjunction with the 2018 Cyberspace Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) conference, provided an opportunity for experts from military, government, commercial and academic backgrounds to compare insights, explore friction points, consider deeper issues and note potential research opportunities within the EWC2. In this workshop, participants learned that the convergence of EW and cyberspace operations is only the initial step towards the greater goal of controlling information on the battlefield." (go to article)

Posted June 30, 2020

"The Bering Strait: An Arena for Great Power Competition"

Joint Force Quarterly

Maj Ryan Tice, USMC

Major Tice's latest, published in Joint Force Quarterly 96, examines how (as JFQ summarizes it) "The rapidly changing environmental conditions in the Arctic Region have increased the potential for great power competition . . . the US is now in a position of weakness in the Arctic. If steps are not taken, the status of the Arctic as a place of peaceful cooperation and exploration will be jeopardized." The author's solution? Combined Joint Task Force–Alaska. (go to article)

Reposted March 9, 2020

"Naval Integration Begins in the Classroom"

Proceedings

Maj Ryan Tice, USMC

In response to the DON's Education for Seapower study, Major Tice's article identifies professional military education as a key vehicle for greater Navy–Marine Corps integration. In particular, Major Tice calls for increased interservice student and faculty representation at Navy and Marine Corps institutions of higher learning, which he describes as "incubator[s] for ideas that drive innovation." Bringing officers together in the classroom, the author says, is "a first step toward achieving the Navy–Marine Corps team the nation expects and needs." (go to article)

Posted January 31, 2020

return to top ↑

“Part the Seas” / "Submarine Warfare in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War and the Falklands War and the Implications for the U.S. Navy Today"

LCDR Ryan Hilger / LT Bryan Lowry, USN

"NPS alumnus LCDR Ryan Hilger and current student LT Bryan Lowry were awarded top honors in the Naval Submarine League's Literary Award competition, presented during the organization's annual symposium in Washington, D.C., Nov. 7." See MC2 Taylor Vencill's complete story.

Posted November 26, 2019

return to top ↑

"Iranian Natural Gas: Opportunities and Risks" / "A Marriage of Convenience Between Natural Gas Giants Iran and Russia"

Atlantic Council blog

Majors Thang Q. Tran and Alan W. Lancaster, U.S. Army

Major Tran is pursuing his master's in defense analysis, while Major Lancaster recently earned his. They just published their joint thesis, "Iranian Natural Gas: Opportunities and Risks." As a follow-up, their co-written article "Iran’s Natural Gas: A Gateway to US-Iran Cooperation" appears on the Atlantic Council blog of October 17; the article explores the relationship between renewed U.S. economic sanctions and Iranian oil exports. Their article "A Marriage of Convenience Between Natural Gas Giants Iran and Russia" appears on the Atlantic Council website for November 5.

Last modified November 6, 2018

"Influence at Machine Speed: The Coming of AI-Powered Propaganda" 

Mad Scientist Laboratory

Captain Chris Telley, U.S. Army

Captain Telley strikes again: his article "Influence at Machine Speed: The Coming of AI-Powered Propaganda" appears on the Army's Mad Scientist Laboratory website. The article addresses "how Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be understood as an Information Operations (IO) tool if U.S. defense professionals are to develop effective countermeasures and ensure our resilience to its employment by potential adversaries." (go to article)

Posted April 16, 2018

"NPS Students Teach CyberOps Fundamentals Through Gaming"

Master Sergeant David "Ty" Long, U.S. Army, and Captain Chris Mulch, USN

This article by Matthew Schehl of the NPS Public Affairs Office profiles the joint thesis work of two NPS graduates, Master Sergeant David "Ty" Long and Captain Chris Mulch. For their thesis, they developed CyberWar 2025, a "computer-based strategy wargame which challenges players to navigate through the core concepts of the cyber realm." The goal of the game is to "bridge a training gap in U.S. military cyber operations." (go to article)

Posted April 16, 2018

Review of The Moon Is Down, by John Steinbeck

Kaitse Kodu!

Captain Andres Lapp, Estonian Army

Captain Lapp reviewed John Steinbeck's WWII novel The Moon Is Down for Kaitse Kodu! (Protecting Your Home!), the Estonian Defence League journal.

Posted April 16, 2018

Reviews of Warrior Geeks: How 21st-Century Technology Is Changing the Way We Fight and Think About War and The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present (2nd ed.)

Media, War and Conflict

Major John Huntsman, USAF

Major Huntsman reviewed two new books for Media, War and Conflict that explore the idea of the warrior: Christopher Coker's Warrior Geeks: How 21st-Century Technology Is Changing the Way We Fight and Think About War and Shannon French's The Code of the Warrior: Exploring Warrior Values Past and Present (2nd ed.). Major Huntsman notes that "the ideal warrior is a student of history, science, art, and philosophy" and that "Service members who read and reflect on war better execute their duties in combat." (go to article)

Posted April 16, 2018

Review of Psychological Warfare in the Arab-Israeli Conflict, by Ron Schleifer

Small Wars Journal

Major Joe Davis, USAF

Major Davis concludes that, overall, Schleifer's book "is a valuable history lesson useful for both [the] strategic analyst and the battlefield planner alike. It offers insight into the background of the decades-long wars and sheds light on the nature of the continued geopolitical struggles of the Middle East. Above all, any military professional who takes up this book will understand what PSYWAR is good for." (go to article)

Posted April 16, 2018

"A Coin for the Tsar: The Two Disruptive Sides of Cryptocurrency"

Small Wars Journal

Captain Chris Telley, U.S. Army

In this article, Captain Telley warns about the dangers of Russia getting into the cryptocurrency business. The author summarizes: "This paper examines the evolving power of cryptocurrency, describes threat behaviors enabled by the technology, and recommends some ways to counter threat activity in this nascent digital economic environment while preserving the possibilities for healthy innovation." (go to article)

Posted April 16, 2018

return to top ↑

Review of El Dorado Canyon: Reagan's Undeclared War with Qaddafi, by Joseph T. Stanik

Air & Space Power Journal

Major Brian R. Huston, USAF

Stanik's book covers the U.S. battle against Libya's state-sponsored terrorism in the 1970s and '80s. As Major Huston summarizes, "El Dorado Canyon is an excellent analysis of two decades of US-Libyan relations and how the United States dealt with a state sponsor of terrorism. Joint air operations planners will benefit from reading this book due to the complex nature of the operation and detailed planning. Also, students of national policy processes can gain insight into how national-level policy is shaped." (go to article)

Posted December 7, 2017

"Future Airpower: Trends and Implications for Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)"

Canadian Military Journal

Major David Johnston, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command

As Major Johnston explains, "This article analyzes broad trends in Air and Aviation as they relate to SOF Airpower. It clarifies the need for SOF Airpower, explores six technological trends: unmanned systems, autonomy, next-generation rotary wing, future precision strike, alternate-service delivery, and fuel requirements, and ultimately, presents implications for CANSOFCOM in order to advocate for future SOF Airpower." (go to article)

Updated November 27, 2017

Review of Ghost Fleet: A Novel of the Next World War, by Peter W. Singer and August Cole

Royal Canadian Air Force Journal

Major David Johnston, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command

Major Johnston summarizes as follows: "Ghost Fleet tells the story of World War III from the perspective of American, Chinese and Russian soldiers, sailors, airmen and air women." He concludes that "This thriller of a novel appears to have uncanny predictive power for present and future conflict. . . . This novel is highly recommended to Canadian military professionals for both personal enjoyment and professional development." (go to article)

Updated November 27, 2017

Review of A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order, by Richard Haass

Air & Space Power Journal

Major F. Bart Doyle, USAF

Major Doyle describes Haass's book as "a quick-reading account of global politics since the end of World War II [that] provides the layman with an abridged account of the actions that created the modern world." He concludes that "Haass's insight into his expert policy-making philosophy promises to be valuable to military professionals interested in diplomatic history, international relations, and the future of American foreign policy." (go to article)

Posted October 12, 2017

Review of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley McChrystal et al.

Norwegian Military Journal

Captain Marius Kristiansen, Norwegian Army

Captain Kristiansen's review of Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World, by General Stanley McChrystal, Tantum Collins, Chris Fussell, and David Silverman, was published in the September 2017 issue of the Norwegian Military Journal. (go to article)

Posted October 4, 2017

"The Rise of Close Air Support after World War II: Did the US Army and US Air Force Inter-Service Rivalry Benefit Close Air Support?"

Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) Journal

Major Paul R. Andrews Jr., USAF

Major Andrews's article appears in the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) Journal edition 24. As Major Andrews notes, "The history of CAS within the US military is one of sometimes bitter inter-service rivalry, but the lessons learned benefit US and NATO forces in the field today." (go to article)

Posted August 23, 2017

Review of Splittelsen i global jihad: Kampen mellem IS og al-Qaeda

Krigsvidenskab

Major Bo Anderson, Royal Danish Air Force

Major Andersen's review of Splittelsen i global jihad: Kampen mellem IS og al-Qaeda (The rift in global jihad: The battle between IS and Al Qaeda) appears in Krigsvidenskab (War Science; in Danish). (go to article)

Posted July 7, 2017

Review of American Spartan: The Promise, the Mission, and the Betrayal of Special Forces Major Jim Gant, by Ann Scott Tyson

Small Wars Journal

Major Jennifer Jantzi, U.S. Army

Major Jantzi is a Civil Affairs Officer working on her master's in defense analysis. As the article describes, Major Jantzi’s own experiences in Afghanistan gave her special insights into the unusual story of Major Gant. (go to article)

Posted April 17, 2017

"Time to Engage in Social Media"

Military Review: The Professional Journal of the U.S. Army

Major Brenton Pomeroy, USAF

Major Pomeroy, making a case for the multifarious utility of social media, argues that "many of the lower-level units across all branches of the military . . . need to reconsider the risk and value of adopting this modern form of communication." (go to article)

Posted April 17, 2017

Review of Islamist Terrorism in Europe: A History, by Petter Nesser

Small Wars Journal

Major Daniel Sigler, German Army

Defense analysis master's student Major Sigler recently published his review of Nesser's 2015 book in Small Wars Journal. As Prof. Kalev I. Sepp (DA) puts it, this review "provides both an excellent summary, and insight into European jihadi organization, in only two pages." (go to article)

Posted February 15, 2017

Review of Iran's Strategic Penetration of Latin America, ed. Humire and Berman

Small Wars Journal

Captain Matt Bauer, U.S. Army

Captain Bauer, a student in the defense analysis department, begins his review with this assessment: "This dispassionate analysis of Iranian involvement in Latin America is an ambitious and successful attempt to persuade readers of the profound national security implications of Iran's growing influence in that region." (go to article)

Posted January 30, 2017

"Writing: A Way to Maximize Returns on the Army's Investments in Education" / "Future Conflict: Adapting Better and Faster Than an Adversary"

Military Review / Army Logistics and Technology Magazine

Major Hassan Kamara, U.S. Army

Major Hassan Kamara, U.S. Army, recently published two award-winning articles: "Writing: A Way to Maximize Returns on the Army's Investments in Education" received second place in the 2016 General William E. Deputy Special Topics Writing Competition and was published in the Jan–Feb 2017 issue of Military Review (go to article); "Future Conflict: Adapting Better and Faster Than an Adversary" was awarded the Future Operations Category of the 2016 MG Harold J. Greene Awards for Acquisition Writing and was published by Army Logistics and Technology Magazine in a special supplement to its Jan–Mar 2017 issue. (go to article)

Posted January 25, 2017

return to top ↑

"Uncloaking the Dagger: Does Adherence to the Geneva Conventions Betray Special Operations Forces?"

Small Wars Journal

Captain Charles Staab, U.S. Army

Captain Staab is a student in the defense analysis department. As the abstract reads, "The United States should petition a reclassification of perfidy from the United Nations to ensure the legal protections and force protection of SOF while conducting clandestine operations." (go to article)

Posted December 27, 2016

Review of Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice 

Defense Journal

Captain Bleard Vuçaj, Albanian Army

Captain Vuçaj wrote a book review for DA 3880: History of Special Operations—then got it published! His review appears in the Albanian-language Defense Journal no. 11 (pp. 33–34). (go to article)

Posted December 15, 2016

"Empirical Study of Router IPv6 Interface Address Distributions"

IEEE Internet Computing

LCDR Blake LaFever, USN

LCDR LaFever graduated from NPS with a master's in cyber systems and operations. His thesis, with Professor Beverly advising, is "Methods for Intelligent Mapping of the IPv6 Address Space." LCDR LaFever's article was co-authored with Professors Robert Beverly and Justin Rohrer. (go to article)

Posted September 22, 2016

"Revisiting AS-Level Graph Reduction"

IEEE International Workshop on Network Science for Communication Networks

Captain Erik Rye, USMC

Captain Rye presented "Revisiting AS-Level Graph Reduction," co-authored with Professors Justin Rohrer and Robert Beverly, at the 2016 Eighth IEEE International Workshop on Network Science for Communication Networks (NetSciCom) in San Francisco. The same paper was published in April 2016 in the proceedings of the workshop. While at NPS, Captain Rye co-wrote, with Professor Rohrer, the technical report Graph Reduction for Emulated Network Experimentation. He graduated from NPS with master's degrees in computer science and applied mathematics. His thesis is "Evaluating the Limits of Network Topology Inference via Virtualized Network Emulation," co-advised by Professors Beverly and Gera.

Posted September 22, 2016

"Application-Transparent Deployment of DTN via SmartNet"

ACM MobiCom Workshop on Challenged Networks

Lieutenant Lance Alt, USN

LT Alt's paper, co-authored with Professors Justin Rohrer and Geoffrey Xie, was published in the proceedings of the Ninth ACM MobiCom Workshop on Challenged Networks in September 2014. LT Alt graduated from NPS in with a master's in computer science. His thesis, co-advised by Rohrer and Xie, is "Application Transparent HTTP Over a Disruption Tolerant Smart-Net." (go to article)

Posted September 22, 2016

Review of Harnessing the Sky: "Trap" Trapnell, the U.S. Navy's Aviation Pioneer, 1923–1952, by Frederick M. Trapnell Jr. and Dana Trapnell Tibbitts

Air and Space Power Journal

Major James Capra, USAF

Major Capra, USAF, reviewed Harnessing the Sky: "Trap" Trapnell, the U.S. Navy's Aviation Pioneer, 1923–1952 in the Air and Space Power Journal, summer 2016. His thesis is titled "Slow Gains and Rapid Costs: Airpower in Irregular Warfare," advised by Professor Kalev Sepp. (go to article)

Posted August 31, 2016

"Questioning Risk-Based Fire and Life Safety Education Age Priorities"

Injury Prevention

LT Timothy McNamara, FDNY

Lieutenant McNamara, Fire Department of the City of New York, published "Questioning Risk-Based Fire and Life Safety Education Age Priorities" in Injury Prevention, an international peer-reviewed journal for health professionals. Lieutenant McNamara holds a master of arts in security studies from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. His thesis, "Lighting a Fire Under Public Health and Safety Education: Influence through Rational Choice, Reasoned Behavior, and Behavioral Economics," was co-advised by Professors Christopher Bellavita and Rodrigo Nieto-Gomez. Upon graduation, Lieutenant McNamara plans to continue working as an officer in the FDNY, where he will use the conclusions from his thesis to improve public health and safety interventions, as well as intradepartmental training. (go to article)

Posted August 31, 2016

"Radiation Detection with Heavy Oxide Inorganic Scintillator Crystals for Detection of Fast Neutrons"

HEART Conference / INMM ANS/USNA Technical Meeting on Nuclear Energy & Cyber Security

Major Jacob Capps, U.S. Army

Major Capps presented "Radiation Detection with Heavy Oxide Inorganic Scintillator Crystals for Detection of Fast Neutrons" at two conferences: 1) the Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology Technical Interchange Meeting (HEART) Conference, April 4–7, 2016, Monterey; and 2) the INMM ANS/USNA Technical Meeting on Nuclear Energy & Cyber Security, April 17–19, Annapolis, Maryland.

Posted May 25, 2016

"Experimental Verification and Military Employment of a Centrifugal Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector for Trace Radiation Sources"

HEART Conference / INMM ANS/USNA Technical Meeting on Nuclear Energy & Cyber Security

Captain Dominic Chiaverotti, USMC  

Captain Chiaverotti presented "Experimental Verification and Military Employment of a Centrifugal Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detector for Trace Radiation Sources" at two conferences: 1) the Hardened Electronics and Radiation Technology Technical Interchange Meeting (HEART) Conference, April 4–7, 2016, Monterey; and 2) the INMM ANS/USNA Technical Meeting on Nuclear Energy & Cyber Security, April 17–19, Annapolis, Maryland.

Posted May 25, 2016

"#eVALUate: Monetizing Service Acquisition Trade-offs Using the Quality-Infused Price© Methodology"

Defense ARJ

Captain Daniel J. Finkenstadt, USAF  

Captain Finkenstadt co-authored this article with Lt. Col. Timothy G. Hawkins, USAF (Ret.). Captain Finkenstadt graduated from NPS in fall 2011 with an MBA in strategic sourcing. His MBA professional report, co-authored with Andrew J. Peterson, was "A Benchmark Study of the Air Force Program Executive Office for Combat and Mission Support." Captain Finkenstadt has authored six additional articles related to contract management. (go to article)

Posted May 25, 2016

"The Lessons I Learned: Civil–Military Cooperation in Post-Conflict Sri Lanka"

CTX

LTC U. L. J. Sylvester Perera, Sri Lanka Army

This second article by LTC Perera was published by CTX in May 2016. (go to article)

Posted May 25, 2016

"The Sri Lankan Civil War: A Personal Reminiscence"

CTX

LTC U. L. J. Sylvester Perera, Sri Lanka Army

LTC Perera's article was published by CTX in November 2015. Advised by Professor Douglas Borer and Colonel Ian Rice, his defense analysis thesis is titled "The Influence of the Tamil Diaspora on Stability in Sri Lanka." (go to article)

Posted January 11, 2016

"Three Wars of Ideas about the Ideas of War"

Comparative Strategy

Major Ryan Nomura, U.S. Army

Major Nomura's article, co-authored with John Arquilla, was published in the prestigious journal Comparative Strategy (vol. 34, issue 2, 2015). Major Nomura is a December 2012 NPS graduate in defense analysis. His thesis is titled "Issues in Strategic Thought: From Clausewitz to Al-Qaida"; his advisors were Professors John Arquilla and Nancy Roberts. (go to article)

Posted January 11, 2016

return to top ↑

Major Lemar Farhad, U.S. Army

Major Farhad has had five articles published recently! "The Relationship Between Liberty and Democracy," "Promises and Pitfalls: Sino-Afghan Relations," and "A Tale of Two Afghan Armies" appear in Small Wars Journal. "Why Peace with the Taliban Is a Bad Idea: What Needs to Happen Instead" appears on The Bridge. "China's Internal Migration Woes" appears in International Affairs Review of the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

Posted November 16, 2015

"The Radicalization Puzzle: A Theoretical Synthesis of Empirical Approaches to Homegrown Extremism"

Studies in Conflict and Terrorism

Major Creighton Mullins, USAF

Major Mullins's article was published in Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 38, 11 (November 2015). The article is co-authored by Dr. Mohammed M. Hafez of the Department of National Security Affairs at NPS. Additionally, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) has provided a short educational video that summarizes the article.

Major Mullins graduated from NPS in Spring 2015 with a master's in national security affairs. His thesis is titled "Syria and the Rise of Radical Islamist Groups"; his advisor was Professor Anne Marie Baylouny.

Posted September 29, 2015

LCDR Thomas Parker, USN

LCDR Parker had three articles accepted for presentation at conferences and published in conference proceedings:

• "Identifying Congestion in Software Defined Networks Using Spectral Graph Theory," 48th Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers, November 2014
• "Dynamic State Determination of a Software-Defined Network via Dual Basis Representation," 8th International Conference on Signal Processing and Communication Systems (ICSPCS), December 2014
• "Analysis of the Robustness Dynamics of Wireless Mobile Ad Hoc Networks via Time Varying Dual Basis Representation," 48th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), January 2015

LCDR Parker's dissertation focuses on how to use software-defined networks to automate network defensive measures. His research explores analytical methods to detect network attacks and an implementation of automated detection and response actions. His dissertation supervisors are Professors Murali Tummala and John McEachen.

Posted July 15, 2015

"Making Long Range Planning Work: The Case of the U.S. Army’s 30-Year Strategic Modernization Plan"

Defense and Security Analysis

Captain Hassan Kamara, U.S. Army

Captain Kamara's article has been published in the July/August issue (volume 31, no. 3) of Defense and Security Analysis. Captain Kamara graduated from NPS in winter 2015 with an MA in security and strategic studies; his thesis is titled "The Influence of Strategic and Organizational Cultures on the Revolution in Military Affairs within the U.S. Army." (go to article)

Posted July 15, 2015

"Peru and Chile's Ocean View Resolved Dispute" / "Root Causes of Violence in Post–Civil War Guatemala: A Literature Review"

E-International Relations

Captain Duilia Mora Turner, USAF

Captain Turner had two articles published by E-International Relations: "Peru and Chile's Ocean View Resolved Dispute" (March 17, 2015) and "Root Causes of Violence in Post–Civil War Guatemala: A Literature Review" (April 8). Captain Turner, an Air Force meteorologist, received a master of arts degree in security studies (western hemisphere) in March 2015. Her thesis is entitled "Violent Crime in Post-Civil War Guatemala: Causes and Policy Implications"; her advisors were Thomas C. Bruneau and Florina Cristiana Matei.

Posted May 7, 2015

return to top ↑