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The military's identification of an information environment that is somehow separate from the traditional operational environment has created organization, theoretical, and philosophical schisms in how we think about military operations. This divide has resulted in recognized gaps and overlaps in how the military plans and executes operations; basically, although still highly effective, the military is recognizing that they are becoming highly inefficient in blending information (non-kinetic) options with traditional (kinetic) options. This research is designed to help identify the gaps and overlaps in planning and employment of non-kinetic and kinetic approaches to reaching operational objectives. The intent is to independently analyze behavioral objectives based on mission sets and the means by which they may be achieved. The use of kinetic weapons and projectiles is well understood among military planners, therefore this means-analysis will focus on the extensive number of options available that function via the phenomenon of information (i.e., non-kinetic delivery.). The results will be a matrix of options for matching means-to-objectives that will help inform operational planners in developing effective and efficient allocation of resources.

Currently, a disconnect exists between procurement speed and final delivery of capabilities that require IT/IS solutions. Schedules for delivering these capabilities have remained a cumbersome and lengthy hindrance. War-fighting capabilities are consistently degraded as time-dependent requirements are outpaced by new technology before delivery. To determine the current impediments within the IT/IS procurement process, we limit our examination to the IT/IS decision-making processes, policies, and organizational structures that may be affecting the timely delivery of IT/IS systems. For the purpose of this thesis, the term governance encompasses these focus areas. Though we discuss aspects of the acquisition process and its guiding policies, a full analysis of the process remains outside the scope of this thesis. Instead, we chose to focus on how governance is affecting the timely delivery of IT/IS capabilities to the warfighter. A timeline analysis of relevant defense program cases forms the basis of our assessment of IT/IS governance. The aim of this thesis is to right-size the governance, or authority therein, required to effectively deliver IT/IS solutions to the war-fighter. We conclude with findings and recommendations as well as further research into adjusting responsibilities and authorities for IT agencies and acquisition professionals.

This study evaluates eSUPPO and suggests an updated version for the U.S. Navy Supply Corps community. To accomplish this task effectively, a comprehensive examination of the current capabilities, via focus groups and surveys, assesses how well the mobile app meets the needs of the Supply Corps community. The analysis begins by understanding the unmet needs experienced by Supply Corps officers while using eSUPPO. Next, the authors of this study identify the improvements that should be made to the app. After a complete analysis of eSUPPO's current As-Is processes, the study takes the information gathered from both the survey and focus groups, develops and recommends a To-Be process, and presents the result to NAVSUP Business Systems Center (BSC). The authors of this study estimate that the Supply Corps community should benefit greatly from an upgraded app, as easy access to the most important information would be readily available when needed. The upgraded version of the app would include a mentoring section to provide junior Supply Corps officers with the opportunity to receive advice from a senior officer in any fleet concentration area. The app would also bring the fleet closer together by including an announcement section for all the fleet concentration areas, which would list current and future events taking place in each location. An operational icon will also be included in the upgraded version with the contact information for all the Fleet Logistics Centers.

The explosive growth of cyberspace into many aspects of peoples' lives over the last twenty years has been matched with an equally explosive growth in the number and sophistication of cyber incidents. Governments have recognized that these incidents pose a threat to the security and economy of their constituencies and use this reasoning as a basis for intervening on behalf of private entities. In this project, we compare the cybersecurity policies of the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and Singapore to explore what the United States does to protect its private entities in cyberspace, what more it could be doing, and how decision makers could compare future policy options. Despite differences in focus, we found significant homogeneity between the policies of each government, with one gap in the U.S. approach--a long-term solution for the dearth of skilled cybersecurity workers. In conclusion, we provide a recommendation for expansion of U.S. subsidies for primary school education to meet this gap as well as an outcome-based framework to aid future analyses.

The models for providing computing services have changed over the recent years, thereby allowing many lab-computing options. However, currently at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), thick client computers provide computing services to students in the learning and resource centers (LRC). Due to various budget restrictions, decreased manpower, and the directives set forth by the Navy, the existing LRC solution at NPS has become increasing difficult to maintain efficiently. These reasons allow the following research questions to be asked: what viable options are available to provide the same level of capabilities in the LRCs at NPS and for the viable options, does a cost comparison show which solution would be preferable for the labs and classrooms at NPS? To answer the questions, the NPS Cloudlab virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution, as well as the computing solutions at three universities, was selected as the basis for comparison. The research method used includes a qualitative methods approach that utilizes case studies to perform the analysis. Analysis performed in the research looks to find the most effective solution in terms of cost, manpower, and availability of the systems in question. The results showed, in terms of hardware and software costs and manpower that Stanford University has the most cost effective solution provided by their private cloud solution. In regards to availability, the greatest system availability was at the Naval War College, California State University, Monterey Bay, and Stanford University. All three solutions were available 99.9% of the time. The recommendations made were to implement a private cloud computing solution similar to the technology used at Stanford University, implement a bring your own device (BYOD) policy at NPS, and to expand the NPS Cloudlab solution both in terms of licensing and into the LRCs using BYOD and thin clients.

Every organization has four layers that connect its vision, goals, scopes and ideals to their execution through the data, processes, applications and technology used. In recent years, technology has been considered as the answer to every problem. For every problem, technology could find a particular solution. Different results, however, have been obtained by many organizations. Many enterprises that initially were successful failed to maintain the pace; others managed to thrive in an increasingly competitive environment made up of an increasingly demanding public. Recently, some methodologies have been developed to assess how an organization can improve its overall performance and gain capabilities. In this way, an organization is less flexible but stronger and more agile. This can be done by getting a holistic view of the organization and achieving a blueprint, in order to align the four layers that compose an organization. The purpose of this thesis is to explore how these methodologies can be implemented in the Argentinian Army, what benefits can be obtained from them and how they would impact the organization. The Argentinian Army wants to be a modern organization. Implementing modern organizational methodologies is a way to achieve the desired final state.

This thesis explores the Defense Health Agency's (DHA) implementation and sustainment of the newly acquired electronic health record (EHR). The Military Health System (MHS) is utilizing a disjointed taxonomy of patient health record systems to deliver health services that are cumbersome to both the end users and the health information technology specialists in its use and delivery. The acquisition of the new commercial off-the-shelf EHR in 2016 from Cerner-Leidos-Accenture offers an enterprise solution to the MHS. This advanced IT solution requires detailed, deliberate implementation and deployment planning by the DHA, which will result in the effective, efficient, and economical delivery of healthcare services to Department of Defense personnel. Utilizing a case study approach, the authors conducted interviews at two sites within the DHA EHR deployment footprint and correlated results with the application and research of Kates and Galbraith's star model. The authors conclude that with appropriate change management efforts, communication of strategy and structure, measurement of metrics, and investment in people, the DHA has the ability to implement MHS GENESIS within reasonable schedule parameters and achieve equitable sustainment.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is an immense organization that utilizes thousands of business systems at a cost in the billions of dollars for the operation, maintenance, and modernization of these systems. During the past decade Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have become a primary focus within the DoD in an effort to minimize the amount of business systems, and bring about process integration across the Services. The DoD has invested billions of dollars toward the development and implementation of numerous ERPs in the past decade. Unfortunately, a few of these ERP implementations have resulted in failure, while a majority of other ERPs are experiencing cost overruns and schedule delays. With existing budget constraints it is imperative that the DoD conducts research to further the development of appropriate ERP implementation approaches. One key attribute of implementing an ERP is change management. Extensive private industry research has been conducted on change management and identifies change management as a critical success factor for any widespread organizational changes. ERPs fit this model and typically involve drastic organizational change. As the DoD seeks to enlarge and transform its enterprise, there is a need for change management research on recent DoD ERP implementations. .

Marine Corps commanders have inadequate tools for energy awareness on the battlefield. The purpose of this study is to explore how vehicle telematics could impact operational reach through improving awareness of fuel stocks from hours to near-real time. The research uses an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to establish how current practices may change with the introduction of telematics. The first-phase qualitative findings suggest that the tactical fuel supply chain is inherently unstable due to information delays and information processing distortion. The second phase tests the hypothesis that telematics has a positive effect on operational reach. This is accomplished through a supply chain simulation that compares the current process against a reengineered solution with telematics. Between the two models, the reengineered supply chain produced the opportunity for higher tempo, more agile combat units, and increased system stability. While these are desirable effects, operational reach was reduced by 7% as fuel was more available to combat units. In addition to fuel-saving initiatives that telematics may inform, there may be long-term benefits that warrant the full integration of fuel telematics throughout the military supply chain

This research examines the Marine Corps’ implementation of its private cloud computing environment into its Enterprise Architecture. Specifically, this analysis reviews the challenges presented in migrating the USMC College of Distance Education and Training’s (CDET) entire portfolio of IT applications to the Marine Corps Enterprise Information Services (MCEITS) cloud data center. This study explores the necessary modifications to CDET’s applications and business processes to make the migration a success, and how the modifications may help CDET realize the intrinsic benefits of cloud computing. The analysis begins by establishing an understanding of the MCEITS' hosting environment and CDET’s system requirements. Next, a review of cloud migration models and lessons learned from a commercial migration case provide context for examining the migration of CDET’s applications. After providing an understanding of CDET’s current As-Is processes, the research focus is on applying the migration guidance to develop and propose To-Be processes for post-migration operations. This research concludes that CDET will benefit from the migration, as MCEITS will become responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the network operating systems, database management systems, and infrastructure, and for competing data backups. This frees CDET personnel to concentrate on the development of CDET’s applications. Also, the migration will result in a more streamlined change and procurement processes for acquiring computing resources. However, CDET will need to create new processes to facilitate coordination between the organizations.

The United States Marine Corps is operating in an increasingly resource-limited and fiscally constrained environment while simultaneously becoming more dependent on information technology systems to efficiently train and operate. Balancing budget and mission requires innovative solutions to current problems. One such innovation that could potentially save the Marine Corps money, while increasing its ability to prepare for and conduct its mission, is the use of commercial mobile devices. This research used case study methodology to describe three processes that could benefit from the implementation of commercial mobile devices in the Marine Corps. Each independent case study was presented with three courses of action with implementation strategy variations. Socio-technical systems theory was used to analyze the intersection between the proposed new technology and the user. The technology acceptance model was used to analyze the likelihood of actual usage based on implementation strategy used. Finally, each course of action was analyzed with regard to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data. The conclusion of this research is that no one-size-fits-all implementation strategy of these devices will minimize risks and maximize benefits in all processes. This is likely due to the variations in confidentiality, integrity, and availability requirements of each process.

The Navy leases more than 3,300 vehicles annually to commands and bases throughout the United States; however, the management model is antiquated, and there are now new fleet management options available. The purpose of this study is to examine the costs and benefits of utilizing a commercial car-sharing model or implementing a Fleet-Sharing solution to replace the current ownership model administered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). We will use a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) framework to analyze a data set provided by NAVFAC for the Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville (JAX) locality and compare the net benefit of three available alternatives. The first alternative is continued operation with the current model (Status Quo). The second alternative is replacement of the current model with a contractor operated commercial car-sharing model. The third alternative involves integrating a fleet management hardware/software solution (fleet-sharing). The goal of this CBA is to compare alternatives in order to identify the one with the highest net benefit. The data set conclusively supports alternative three, which provides a reduced initial cost versus the status quo and a cumulative net present value. Therefore, we recommend implementing a fleet-sharing solution to the existing fleet at NAS JAX.

The overabundance of data created by modern information systems (IS) has led to a breakdown in cognitive decision-making. Without authoritative source data, commanders’ decision-making processes are hindered as they attempt to paint an accurate shared operational picture (SOP). Further impeding the decision-making process is the lack of proper interface interaction to provide a visualization that aids in the extraction of the most relevant and accurate data. Utilizing the DSS to present visualizations based on OLAP cube integrated data allow decision-makers to rapidly glean information and build their situation awareness (SA). This yields a competitive advantage to the organization while in garrison or in combat. Additionally, OLAP cube data integration enables analysis to be performed on an organization’s data-flows. This analysis is used to identify the critical path of data throughout the organization. Linking a decision-maker to the authoritative data along this critical path eliminates the many decision layers in a hierarchal command structure that can introduce latency or error into the decision-making process. Furthermore, the organization has an integrated SOP from which to rapidly build SA, and make effective and efficient decisions.

Software has a huge and negative impact on the economy. Formal verification is an effective method to check whether a piece of software contains certain kinds of errors. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) started the Crowd Sourced Formal Verification (CSFV) program to propose a new model for formal verification by using five online games. CSFV aims to explore whether an online game player with no formal verification expertise can achieve formal verification more efficiently than through conventional processes. We observe that, currently, no quality criteria exist to measure CSFV gamers’ efforts. The study suggests that machine detectability of a solution detected by a gamer indicates poor quality for that solution. The solutions in one of the games, StormBound, were selected for examination. An automated tool was developed to check the machine detectability of the solutions, and 78 percent of the assertions were seen to be machine detectable.

This thesis explores the perceived need or lack of need for an active defense system afloat (e.g., the covert analysis detection [CAD] system) to protect shipboard networks from possible cyber-attacks. As hacking methods evolve, it is likely that nation-states and terrorists will attempt to interfere with or take control of shipboard systems remotely. This thesis builds on the work of previous NPS theses that suggest the Navy consider deploying a CAD system in the Aegis Combat System to secure better the system against potential cyber intrusions or attacks. This system could covertly detect intrusions of malicious programs and track their activities and behavior, deceive the malicious software, and/or isolate it to keep it from causing irreparable harm while deceiving the attacker with regard to system status. The data would only be available to the CO and designated shipboard personnel. In order to determine a need for such a system, 10 current and former commanders afloat were surveyed. The overwhelming majority saw a need to defend ships from cyber-attacks. Most of them saw the benefit of a CAD system in the cyber defense of U.S. Navy warships. This thesis recommends the development of the CAD system for shipboard use.

This thesis analyzes the current, planned, and potential future first responder policies, procedures, networks, and architecture in theMarine Corps. The current technology and information systems are studied to examine the level of interoperability between civilian and military first responders. Camp Pendleton Safety and Emergency Services Battalion is used as a case study in order to assess how these groups can combine their efforts in the case of an emergency or natural disaster. The planned first responder program, Emergency Management Command and Coordination (EMC2), is also assessed to examine the potential capabilities and interoperability that can be garnered through modernization of technology, networks, and information systems. The current and planned systems will be analyzed to determine how theMarine Corps can integrate into the Department of Commerce’s first responder network (FirstNet) in the future. This integration planning is vital in order to vet misalignment of civil and Department of Defense information technology security policies, foster ease of implementation of FirstNet for theMarine Corps, and to ensure early planning based on possible implementation models and metrics.

This thesis explores the perceived need or lack of need for an active defense system afloat (e.g., the covert analysis detection [CAD] system) to protect shipboard networks from possible cyber-attacks. As hacking methods evolve, it is likely that nation-states and terrorists will attempt to interfere with or take control of shipboard systems remotely. This thesis builds on the work of previous NPS theses that suggest the Navy consider deploying a CAD system in the Aegis Combat System to secure better the system against potential cyber intrusions or attacks. This system could covertly detect intrusions of malicious programs and track their activities and behavior, deceive the malicious software, and/or isolate it to keep it from causing irreparable harm while deceiving the attacker with regard to system status. The data would only be available to the CO and designated shipboard personnel. In order to determine a need for such a system, 10 current and former commanders afloat were surveyed. The overwhelming majority saw a need to defend ships from cyber-attacks. Most of them saw the benefit of a CAD system in the cyber defense of U.S. Navy warships. This thesis recommends the development of the CAD system for shipboard use.

The Department of Defense (DOD) spends an enormous amount of money on maintenance. For fiscal year 2011, the DOD spent almost $80 billion. Of this amount, the Navy spent almost $5.5 billion on ship depot maintenance. Going forward, the amount of money available for all DOD activities is expected to be reduced because of budgetary pressures. Unlike the budget, the need for deployed units and the maintenance to keep them operating is increasing. Given this challenge, the Navy needs to find ways to reduce costs while retaining readiness. Reducing maintenance costs is a promising way to help achieve this goal. The purpose of this thesis is to use knowledge value added (KVA) methodology to identify additional cost savings that can be achieved in the ship maintenance (SHIPMAIN) process by implementing information technologies. Specifically, the technologies considered in this study are 3D printing, product lifecycle management, and 3D laser scanning. Using the current process as a baseline, KVA is applied to two notional scenarios, one using 3D printing only and one using all three technologies to reengineer the current process. The KVA methodology establishes evidence indicating that costs would be decreased by nearly $120 million a year and shipyard productivity would increase.

This thesis will provide Marine Corps acquisitions and communications personnel a general understanding of wireless communications capabilities, financial feasibility, benefits and the risks of implementing a wireless solution into the current existing communications infrastructure in particular, the Combat Operations Center (COC) CapSet models already employed and deployed throughout the Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force. The content of this thesis is of an unclassified nature. This thesis is intended to serve as a reference for acquisitions or communications personnel dealing with the acquisition, procurement, planning, and implementation of wireless technologies in the Marine Corps, so that they will be able to intelligently articulate the financial feasibility, benefits, and risks of adopting or implementing a wireless solution to the Marine Corps Enterprise Network and COC infrastructure, and make informed decisions on the subject.

A process at the TSO-KC to realize positive change. Areas of follow on study to augment the research in this thesis are also briefly discussed., http://archive.org/details/applyingbusiness109454510, US Marine Corps (USMC) author., Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

A process at the TSO-KC to realize positive change. Areas of follow on study to augment the research in this thesis are also briefly discussed.

The FY 2003 Federal Budget contains provisions for over $52 billion in IT investments (Federal CIO Council 2002). The Navy portion of those funds is over $5 billion. One of the most difficult issues facing the DON is determining how these funds should be used and evaluating the validity of current IT investments. Rapid change and increasing uncertainty in the technology field has resulted in a high degree of financial risk associated with IT capital investment. Addressing this risk has become more important as the cost of IT investment continues to rise and financial resources become more constrained.

The federal government has mandated that agencies consolidate data centers in order to gain efficiencies and cost savings. It is a well-established fact that both public and private organizations have reported considerable cost savings from consolidating data centers; however, in the case of federal agencies, no established methodology for valuing the benefits has been delineated. Nevertheless, numerous federal policies mandate that investments in IT demonstrate a positive return on investment (ROI). The problem is that the Department of Defense does not have clear instructions on how to measure ROI in order to evaluate an opportunity to consolidate data centers. While calculating ROI for IT can be very challenging, most private and public firms have methods for demonstrating a return ratio and not only cost savings. Therefore, choosing metrics and methodologies for calculating ROI is an important step in the decision-making process. This complexity complicates estimating a data centers utility and the true value generation of merging data centers. This thesis will explore the challenges that the Marine Corps faces for calculating ROI for data center consolidation.

This thesis explores the perceived need or lack of need for an active defense system afloat (e.g., the covert analysis detection [CAD] system) to protect shipboard networks from possible cyber-attacks. As hacking methods evolve, it is likely that nation-states and terrorists will attempt to interfere with or take control of shipboard systems remotely. This thesis builds on the work of previous NPS theses that suggest the Navy consider deploying a CAD system in the Aegis Combat System to secure better the system against potential cyber intrusions or attacks. This system could covertly detect intrusions of malicious programs and track their activities and behavior, deceive the malicious software, and/or isolate it to keep it from causing irreparable harm while deceiving the attacker with regard to system status. The data would only be available to the CO and designated shipboard personnel. In order to determine a need for such a system, 10 current and former commanders afloat were surveyed. The overwhelming majority saw a need to defend ships from cyber-attacks. Most of them saw the benefit of a CAD system in the cyber defense of U.S. Navy warships. This thesis recommends the development of the CAD system for shipboard use., http://archive.org/details/thecommandingoff1094544034, Lieutenant, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis analyzes the current, planned, and potential future first responder policies, procedures, networks, and architecture in theMarine Corps. The current technology and information systems are studied to examine the level of interoperability between civilian and military first responders. Camp Pendleton Safety and Emergency Services Battalion is used as a case study in order to assess how these groups can combine their efforts in the case of an emergency or natural disaster. The planned first responder program, Emergency Management Command and Coordination (EMC2), is also assessed to examine the potential capabilities and interoperability that can be garnered through modernization of technology, networks, and information systems. The current and planned systems will be analyzed to determine how theMarine Corps can integrate into the Department of Commerce’s first responder network (FirstNet) in the future. This integration planning is vital in order to vet misalignment of civil and Department of Defense information technology security policies, foster ease of implementation of FirstNet for theMarine Corps, and to ensure early planning based on possible implementation models and metrics., http://archive.org/details/usmcinstallation1094543884, United StatesMarine Corps, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The Department of Defense (DoD) is an immense organization that utilizes thousands of business systems at a cost in the billions of dollars for the operation, maintenance, and modernization of these systems. During the past decade Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have become a primary focus within the DoD in an effort to minimize the amount of business systems, and bring about process integration across the Services. The DoD has invested billions of dollars toward the development and implementation of numerous ERPs in the past decade. Unfortunately, a few of these ERP implementations have resulted in failure, while a majority of other ERPs are experiencing cost overruns and schedule delays. With existing budget constraints it is imperative that the DoD conducts research to further the development of appropriate ERP implementation approaches. One key attribute of implementing an ERP is change management. Extensive private industry research has been conducted on change management and identifies change management as a critical success factor for any widespread organizational changes. ERPs fit this model and typically involve drastic organizational change. As the DoD seeks to enlarge and transform its enterprise, there is a need for change management research on recent DoD ERP implementations. ., http://archive.org/details/navyerpnnalysiso1094537589, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The overabundance of data created by modern information systems (IS) has led to a breakdown in cognitive decision-making. Without authoritative source data, commanders’ decision-making processes are hindered as they attempt to paint an accurate shared operational picture (SOP). Further impeding the decision-making process is the lack of proper interface interaction to provide a visualization that aids in the extraction of the most relevant and accurate data. Utilizing the DSS to present visualizations based on OLAP cube integrated data allow decision-makers to rapidly glean information and build their situation awareness (SA). This yields a competitive advantage to the organization while in garrison or in combat. Additionally, OLAP cube data integration enables analysis to be performed on an organization’s data-flows. This analysis is used to identify the critical path of data throughout the organization. Linking a decision-maker to the authoritative data along this critical path eliminates the many decision layers in a hierarchal command structure that can introduce latency or error into the decision-making process. Furthermore, the organization has an integrated SOP from which to rapidly build SA, and make effective and efficient decisions., http://archive.org/details/knowledgevisuali1094545877, Outstanding Thesis, Outstanding Thesis, Major, United States Marine Corps, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This research examines the Marine Corps’ implementation of its private cloud computing environment into its Enterprise Architecture. Specifically, this analysis reviews the challenges presented in migrating the USMC College of Distance Education and Training’s (CDET) entire portfolio of IT applications to the Marine Corps Enterprise Information Services (MCEITS) cloud data center. This study explores the necessary modifications to CDET’s applications and business processes to make the migration a success, and how the modifications may help CDET realize the intrinsic benefits of cloud computing. The analysis begins by establishing an understanding of the MCEITS' hosting environment and CDET’s system requirements. Next, a review of cloud migration models and lessons learned from a commercial migration case provide context for examining the migration of CDET’s applications. After providing an understanding of CDET’s current As-Is processes, the research focus is on applying the migration guidance to develop and propose To-Be processes for post-migration operations. This research concludes that CDET will benefit from the migration, as MCEITS will become responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the network operating systems, database management systems, and infrastructure, and for competing data backups. This frees CDET personnel to concentrate on the development of CDET’s applications. Also, the migration will result in a more streamlined change and procurement processes for acquiring computing resources. However, CDET will need to create new processes to facilitate coordination between the organizations., http://archive.org/details/migratingtocloud1094548564, Outstanding Thesis, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Marine Corps commanders have inadequate tools for energy awareness on the battlefield. The purpose of this study is to explore how vehicle telematics could impact operational reach through improving awareness of fuel stocks from hours to near-real time. The research uses an exploratory sequential mixed methods design to establish how current practices may change with the introduction of telematics. The first-phase qualitative findings suggest that the tactical fuel supply chain is inherently unstable due to information delays and information processing distortion. The second phase tests the hypothesis that telematics has a positive effect on operational reach. This is accomplished through a supply chain simulation that compares the current process against a reengineered solution with telematics. Between the two models, the reengineered supply chain produced the opportunity for higher tempo, more agile combat units, and increased system stability. While these are desirable effects, operational reach was reduced by 7% as fuel was more available to combat units. In addition to fuel-saving initiatives that telematics may inform, there may be long-term benefits that warrant the full integration of fuel telematics throughout the military supply chain, http://archive.org/details/exploringimpacto1094550494, Outstanding Thesis, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis explores the Defense Health Agency's (DHA) implementation and sustainment of the newly acquired electronic health record (EHR). The Military Health System (MHS) is utilizing a disjointed taxonomy of patient health record systems to deliver health services that are cumbersome to both the end users and the health information technology specialists in its use and delivery. The acquisition of the new commercial off-the-shelf EHR in 2016 from Cerner-Leidos-Accenture offers an enterprise solution to the MHS. This advanced IT solution requires detailed, deliberate implementation and deployment planning by the DHA, which will result in the effective, efficient, and economical delivery of healthcare services to Department of Defense personnel. Utilizing a case study approach, the authors conducted interviews at two sites within the DHA EHR deployment footprint and correlated results with the application and research of Kates and Galbraith's star model. The authors conclude that with appropriate change management efforts, communication of strategy and structure, measurement of metrics, and investment in people, the DHA has the ability to implement MHS GENESIS within reasonable schedule parameters and achieve equitable sustainment., http://archive.org/details/defensehealthage1094551700, Lieutenant, United States Navy;Lieutenant, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The United States Marine Corps is operating in an increasingly resource-limited and fiscally constrained environment while simultaneously becoming more dependent on information technology systems to efficiently train and operate. Balancing budget and mission requires innovative solutions to current problems. One such innovation that could potentially save the Marine Corps money, while increasing its ability to prepare for and conduct its mission, is the use of commercial mobile devices. This research used case study methodology to describe three processes that could benefit from the implementation of commercial mobile devices in the Marine Corps. Each independent case study was presented with three courses of action with implementation strategy variations. Socio-technical systems theory was used to analyze the intersection between the proposed new technology and the user. The technology acceptance model was used to analyze the likelihood of actual usage based on implementation strategy used. Finally, each course of action was analyzed with regard to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data. The conclusion of this research is that no one-size-fits-all implementation strategy of these devices will minimize risks and maximize benefits in all processes. This is likely due to the variations in confidentiality, integrity, and availability requirements of each process., http://archive.org/details/commercialmobile1094550536, Major, United States Marine Corps, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

MBA Professional Report, The Navy leases more than 3,300 vehicles annually to commands and bases throughout the United States; however, the management model is antiquated, and there are now new fleet management options available. The purpose of this study is to examine the costs and benefits of utilizing a commercial car-sharing model or implementing a Fleet-Sharing solution to replace the current ownership model administered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC). We will use a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) framework to analyze a data set provided by NAVFAC for the Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville (JAX) locality and compare the net benefit of three available alternatives. The first alternative is continued operation with the current model (Status Quo). The second alternative is replacement of the current model with a contractor operated commercial car-sharing model. The third alternative involves integrating a fleet management hardware/software solution (fleet-sharing). The goal of this CBA is to compare alternatives in order to identify the one with the highest net benefit. The data set conclusively supports alternative three, which provides a reduced initial cost versus the status quo and a cumulative net present value. Therefore, we recommend implementing a fleet-sharing solution to the existing fleet at NAS JAX., http://archive.org/details/costbenefitnalys1094551677, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The models for providing computing services have changed over the recent years, thereby allowing many lab-computing options. However, currently at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), thick client computers provide computing services to students in the learning and resource centers (LRC). Due to various budget restrictions, decreased manpower, and the directives set forth by the Navy, the existing LRC solution at NPS has become increasing difficult to maintain efficiently. These reasons allow the following research questions to be asked: what viable options are available to provide the same level of capabilities in the LRCs at NPS and for the viable options, does a cost comparison show which solution would be preferable for the labs and classrooms at NPS? To answer the questions, the NPS Cloudlab virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution, as well as the computing solutions at three universities, was selected as the basis for comparison. The research method used includes a qualitative methods approach that utilizes case studies to perform the analysis. Analysis performed in the research looks to find the most effective solution in terms of cost, manpower, and availability of the systems in question. The results showed, in terms of hardware and software costs and manpower that Stanford University has the most cost effective solution provided by their private cloud solution. In regards to availability, the greatest system availability was at the Naval War College, California State University, Monterey Bay, and Stanford University. All three solutions were available 99.9% of the time. The recommendations made were to implement a private cloud computing solution similar to the technology used at Stanford University, implement a bring your own device (BYOD) policy at NPS, and to expand the NPS Cloudlab solution both in terms of licensing and into the LRCs using BYOD and thin clients., http://archive.org/details/thenextgeneratio1094551633, Civilian, Department of the Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Currently, a disconnect exists between procurement speed and final delivery of capabilities that require IT/IS solutions. Schedules for delivering these capabilities have remained a cumbersome and lengthy hindrance. War-fighting capabilities are consistently degraded as time-dependent requirements are outpaced by new technology before delivery. To determine the current impediments within the IT/IS procurement process, we limit our examination to the IT/IS decision-making processes, policies, and organizational structures that may be affecting the timely delivery of IT/IS systems. For the purpose of this thesis, the term governance encompasses these focus areas. Though we discuss aspects of the acquisition process and its guiding policies, a full analysis of the process remains outside the scope of this thesis. Instead, we chose to focus on how governance is affecting the timely delivery of IT/IS capabilities to the warfighter. A timeline analysis of relevant defense program cases forms the basis of our assessment of IT/IS governance. The aim of this thesis is to right-size the governance, or authority therein, required to effectively deliver IT/IS solutions to the war-fighter. We conclude with findings and recommendations as well as further research into adjusting responsibilities and authorities for IT agencies and acquisition professionals., http://archive.org/details/navyndmarinecorp1094556883, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

MBA Professional Report, This study evaluates eSUPPO and suggests an updated version for the U.S. Navy Supply Corps community. To accomplish this task effectively, a comprehensive examination of the current capabilities, via focus groups and surveys, assesses how well the mobile app meets the needs of the Supply Corps community. The analysis begins by understanding the unmet needs experienced by Supply Corps officers while using eSUPPO. Next, the authors of this study identify the improvements that should be made to the app. After a complete analysis of eSUPPO's current As-Is processes, the study takes the information gathered from both the survey and focus groups, develops and recommends a To-Be process, and presents the result to NAVSUP Business Systems Center (BSC). The authors of this study estimate that the Supply Corps community should benefit greatly from an upgraded app, as easy access to the most important information would be readily available when needed. The upgraded version of the app would include a mentoring section to provide junior Supply Corps officers with the opportunity to receive advice from a senior officer in any fleet concentration area. The app would also bring the fleet closer together by including an announcement section for all the fleet concentration areas, which would list current and future events taking place in each location. An operational icon will also be included in the upgraded version with the contact information for all the Fleet Logistics Centers., http://archive.org/details/esupponextgenera1094556731, Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

MBA Professional Report, The explosive growth of cyberspace into many aspects of peoples' lives over the last twenty years has been matched with an equally explosive growth in the number and sophistication of cyber incidents. Governments have recognized that these incidents pose a threat to the security and economy of their constituencies and use this reasoning as a basis for intervening on behalf of private entities. In this project, we compare the cybersecurity policies of the United States, United Kingdom, Israel, and Singapore to explore what the United States does to protect its private entities in cyberspace, what more it could be doing, and how decision makers could compare future policy options. Despite differences in focus, we found significant homogeneity between the policies of each government, with one gap in the U.S. approach--a long-term solution for the dearth of skilled cybersecurity workers. In conclusion, we provide a recommendation for expansion of U.S. subsidies for primary school education to meet this gap as well as an outcome-based framework to aid future analyses., http://archive.org/details/roleofusgovernme1094556812, Major, United States Army, Civilian Officer, Singapore Ministry of Defense, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis will provide Marine Corps acquisitions and communications personnel a general understanding of wireless communications capabilities, financial feasibility, benefits and the risks of implementing a wireless solution into the current existing communications infrastructure in particular, the Combat Operations Center (COC) CapSet models already employed and deployed throughout the Marine Corps Air Ground Task Force. The content of this thesis is of an unclassified nature. This thesis is intended to serve as a reference for acquisitions or communications personnel dealing with the acquisition, procurement, planning, and implementation of wireless technologies in the Marine Corps, so that they will be able to intelligently articulate the financial feasibility, benefits, and risks of adopting or implementing a wireless solution to the Marine Corps Enterprise Network and COC infrastructure, and make informed decisions on the subject., http://archive.org/details/theeconomicndris1094537735, Captain, United States Marine Corps, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis is in response to the annual requirement for departmental planning and scheduling of courses and instructors within all departments at NPS. This project thesis explains the process of analyzing, designing and implementing a web-enabled database capable of providing an effective and efficient tool for departmental planners. Using standard systems analysis procedures, this thesis provides a definition of the current business process, establishes an entityrelationship diagram for the desired process, constructs an operable database using MySQL, and provides a web-enabled interface for the population of data elements, creation of annual plans and reports for the extraction of decision making information., http://archive.org/details/analysisnddevelo1094537699, Lieutenant, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The Department of Defense (DOD) spends an enormous amount of money on maintenance. For fiscal year 2011, the DOD spent almost $80 billion. Of this amount, the Navy spent almost $5.5 billion on ship depot maintenance. Going forward, the amount of money available for all DOD activities is expected to be reduced because of budgetary pressures. Unlike the budget, the need for deployed units and the maintenance to keep them operating is increasing. Given this challenge, the Navy needs to find ways to reduce costs while retaining readiness. Reducing maintenance costs is a promising way to help achieve this goal. The purpose of this thesis is to use knowledge value added (KVA) methodology to identify additional cost savings that can be achieved in the ship maintenance (SHIPMAIN) process by implementing information technologies. Specifically, the technologies considered in this study are 3D printing, product lifecycle management, and 3D laser scanning. Using the current process as a baseline, KVA is applied to two notional scenarios, one using 3D printing only and one using all three technologies to reengineer the current process. The KVA methodology establishes evidence indicating that costs would be decreased by nearly $120 million a year and shipyard productivity would increase., http://archive.org/details/reducingcostsndi1094541413, Lieutenant, United States Navy, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Software has a huge and negative impact on the economy. Formal verification is an effective method to check whether a piece of software contains certain kinds of errors. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) started the Crowd Sourced Formal Verification (CSFV) program to propose a new model for formal verification by using five online games. CSFV aims to explore whether an online game player with no formal verification expertise can achieve formal verification more efficiently than through conventional processes. We observe that, currently, no quality criteria exist to measure CSFV gamers’ efforts. The study suggests that machine detectability of a solution detected by a gamer indicates poor quality for that solution. The solutions in one of the games, StormBound, were selected for examination. An automated tool was developed to check the machine detectability of the solutions, and 78 percent of the assertions were seen to be machine detectable., http://archive.org/details/frameworkforeval1094547350, Captain, Turkish Army, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.