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The Secret Service conducts Protective Intelligence (PI) investigations as part of its integrated mission of investigating financial crimes and protecting certain elected federal government officials. An integral part of the PI investigation is the PI interview. Although Special Agents and Uniformed Division Officers receive PI interview training, they still struggle with four key components of the interview: rapport and relationship building, elicitation, deception detection, and decision-making. As a result, they may not conduct thorough PI interviews, thus negatively impacting the PI investigation. Faulty PI investigations may result in unwanted outcomes for Secret Service protective interests. These outcomes may include death or injury to protectees, Secret Service employees, or the public. A potential solution is the mPEAK mindfulness program that the Secret Service already uses to improve employee wellness. This thesis reviews literature on mindfulness training and its utility in performance enhancement to determine to what extent the Secret Service should leverage mPEAK to improve PI interviewing and to offer recommendations for the inclusion of mPEAK in the current PI training curriculum. It finds that elements of mindfulness—presence, nonjudgment, enhanced listening skills, and increased attention—can improve investigators’ PI interview skills. Finally, this thesis gives recommendations for a working group to adapt mPEAK for improved PI interviewing., Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

The Q-natural flood management project has co-developed with the Environment Agency 18 monitored micro-catchments (~1?km2) in Cumbria, UK installing calibrated flumes aimed at quantifying the potential shift in observed flows resulting from a range of nature-based-solutions installed by local organizations. The small-scale reduces the influence of variability characterizing larger catchments that would otherwise mask any such shifts, which we attempt to relate to a shift in model parameters. This paper demonstrates an approach to applying donor-parameter-shifts obtained from modelling two of the paired micro-catchments to a much larger scale, in order to understand the potential for improved distributed modelling of nature-based solutions in the form of additional tree-planting. The models include a rainfall-runoff model, Dynamic Topmodel, and a 2D hydrodynamic model, JFlow, permitting analysis of changes in hillslope processes and channel hydrodynamics resulting from a range of distributed measures designed to emulate natural hydrological processes that evaporate, store or infiltrate flows. We report on attempts to detect shift in hydrological response using one of the paired-micro-catchment moorland versus forestry sites in Lorton using Dynamic Topmodel. A donor-parameter-shift approach is used in a hypothetical experiment to represent new woodland in a much larger catchment, although testing all combinations of spatial planting strategies, responses to multiple-extremes, failure-modes and changes to synchronization becomes intractable to support good decision making. We argue that the problem can be re-framed to use donor-parameter-shifts at multi-local-scale catchments above communities known to be at risk, commensurate with most of the evidence of NbS impacts being effective at the small scale (ca. 10?km2). This might lead to more effective modelling to help catchment managers prioritize those communities-at-risk where there is more evidence that NbS m

The threats facing America today are different from the threats on 9/11. The actions the United States took to defend against similar attacks were necessary; however, the increase in attacks by non-foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) requires agencies to evolve. This thesis explores how the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) can be leveraged to enhance the intelligence capabilities of the U.S. government. This thesis begins by identifying the threats facing America in 2021. Through a review of legislation, government sources, and scholarly work, this thesis presents the debate amongst sources on the threats America is facing and the role the U.S. government is taking to defeat the threats. This thesis lays out the TSA's current intelligence structure and the legislation in which the TSA operates against today's threats. Finally, this thesis provides the existing legal framework that allows the TSA to enhance its intelligence activity for U.S. national security. The findings reveal FTOs are no longer the number one threat. The research shows an increase in different threats to America, such as domestic terrorism, transnational organized crime, and espionage within the homeland. To confront these threats, the TSA must evolve to defend the U.S. transportation sector by enhancing its intelligence activity with the U.S. government. Further, this thesis shows current legislation provides a roadmap for the TSA to participate in additional intelligence activities., Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

The thesis investigates how U.S. national interests have been defined in the country’s immigration policy, and whether the current policy, which prioritizes family-based immigration, supports those interests. The Donald J. Trump administration has looked to Canada’s points-based system, which has brought highly skilled and educated immigrants into the country. Through a comparative analysis of Canada’s and the United States’ immigration policies, this research provides perspective on whether screening immigrants is an effective way to meet a country’s national interests, particularly economic interests, and whether other factors must be considered for immigration policies. Ultimately, this thesis found that current U.S. immigration policies do not best serve national interests. This is not because the U.S. prioritizes family-based immigration but rather because the stagnant immigration policy does not respond to the changing needs of the country. Common-sense immigration reform requires more than looking to foreign partners for solutions; it requires us to review current practices and identify ways to enhance existing policies., http://archive.org/details/reformingusimmig1094564161, Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Over 109 years after the United States swore in its first female officer, women still constitute only 13.3 percent of law enforcement personnel. Women have always been, and continue to be, a minority in law enforcement careers. The numbers are disproportionate because female officers face challenges that negatively affect gender equality in law enforcement career paths. These challenges involve law enforcement culture, gender perception, gender role expectations, balancing motherhood, and a disparity in promotion opportunities. This thesis set out to answer the following question: How can law enforcement agencies modernize human resources policies and practices to improve the career paths of women in law enforcement, in an effort to ensure retention? This research demonstrated that female officers leave their law enforcement careers prematurely for reasons associated with policies and practices in their agencies. Law enforcement culture and the discriminatory manifestations of those within the sector discourage longevity for the female officer. Gender perception and gender role expectations continue to exhibit the historical masculine traditions that do not embrace the benefits of having the female officer on the force. Additionally, the issues surrounding current policies or the lack thereof that would allow equality in career assignments continue to stifle the law enforcement career progression of women., http://archive.org/details/leveltheplayingf1094563488, Outstanding Thesis, Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.