As the Marine Corps pursues greater energy efficiency in expeditionary operations, the HOMER micropower optimization model provides potential to serve as a powerful tool for improving Marine Corps power planning. The HOMER software was developed for the modeling and simulation of micropower systems over long periods of time. Although a deterministic model, HOMER uses stochastic input data, specifically solar irradiance, temperature, and load profiles. HOMER simulation fidelity is therefore affected by the inter-annual variability of these profiles. This research quantifies HOMER robustness...

Life Cycle Cost (LCC) assessments are of interest during the design phase for new systems. These often involve costs that must be estimated from a variety of different sub-models including cost models constructed from historical data, forecast models that attempt to predict future economic conditions, and economy-of-scale models that impact production schedules and more. When these disparate models are put together to obtain an overall cost model many of these individual sources of uncertainty end up being aggregated or ignored. Consequently, the cost estimates may not provide program...

The Korean Diaspora in Japan is a legacy of Japan's colonization of Korea in the first half of the 20th century and has always been the largest group of foreign residents in an otherwise ethnically homogenous Japan. A major issue is the role that Koreans in Japan play in supporting North Korea. Although a very small segment of the population, Koreans affiliated with the organization known as Chosen Soren have figured prominently in the triangular relationship between Japan, North Korea, and South Korea over the past 50 years. During the Cold War, Chosen Soren activities in support of North...

First responders "protect and serve." They maintain order, prevent chaos, and keep this country safe and secure. Many of the freedoms enjoyed today are the result of U.S. first responders protecting and caring for U.S. citizens. Whether it is a terrorists attack, a criminal victimizing a citizen, or a natural disaster, first responders will be among the first on the scene to deal with the crisis. For this reason, their role in homeland security is so critical. Traumatic stress experienced by first responders may impact their ability to function and handle the next critical incident, as well...

This cost-benefit analysis conducted on behalf of MSC compared HSVs against C-17 aircraft. Using financial and operational data garnered from the WestPac Express, as well as third-party research, the researchers investigated the following questions: Is the HSV a better choice for intra-theater lift than AMC? Should DoD buy or lease? Should the crew be military or civilian? What other theaters require an intra-heater lift platform? How many HSVs does DoD need? The results indicate that in ranges of up to 1,500 nautical miles, HSVs have a speed advantage over C-17 airlift. One HSV can move a...

This thesis analyzes the current intelligence reform initiatives in light of multiple recommendations from post-9/11 commissions tasked with studying intelligence shortcomings. Using North Korea as a case study, it examines how reform efforts will increase capabilities to better understand Pyongyang's WMD programs and affect U.S. strategy on North Korea. Three reform sets should significantly improve U.S. understanding of North Koreas WMD programs. Collection reforms should allow intelligence agencies to gather more information to gain increased insight into Pyongyangs WMD programs. Analysis...

Commander, Logistics Group, Western Pacific (COMLOGWESTPAC) is concerned with the delivery of high priority material, ordnance, and passengers to U.S. Navy ships due to a very large operations area and limited Combat Logistics Force (CLF) assets. High-speed vessels (HSVs) may have the potential to improve the delivery of these materials when used to complement existing logistics shuttle ships. This thesis quantifies current levels of traditional naval logistics support and provides comparison to HSV-based alternatives in various scenarios. The CLF Scenario Analysis Tool (CLFSAT), a newly...

The ability to transition technology developments to operational systems is of great importance to the Department of the Navy (DoN). One way to achieve increased transitions is to operate more efficiently - more "like a business." Over the years significant programmatic and policy changes have been introduced in the DoN. One of these changes was the initiation of a new science and technology (S&T) transition process for delivering new capabilities in a more focused manner -- the Future Naval Capability (FNC) process. This thesis examines the FNC technology transition process from a business...

In pursuit of the objectives of the U.S. National Security Strategy and the National Military Strategy, the U.S. Armed Forces require access to military and logistics facilities overseas to be able to support and sustain its combat power projection. Access to these places translates into capabilities. An American military forward presence in time of peace as well as during a regional crisis lends credibility to U.S. diplomacy. Moreover, access to forward locations is expedient when engaging transnational threats or supporting humanitarian missions, e.g., the South and Southeast Asia tsunami...

What is the role of Wahhabism in the rise of global terrorism? Is Saudi Arabia and its Wahhabi ideology a contributing factor in the spread of violent radicalization in the Muslim world? What are the possible causal mechanisms linking Wahhabism to violence? How it is possible to ascertain these mechanisms and disentangle them from other sources of radicalization in the Muslim world? Three potential hypotheses may provide answers to these questions: (1) Wahhabism provides passive ideological support for extremism, but is not a sufficient cause of violent radicalization, (2) Wahhabism provides...