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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The purpose of this thesis is to use wargaming and simulation to gain insight into the effective employment of a new Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) system, the Adaptive Joint C4ISR Node (AJCN). The AJCN provides the supported commander with several capabilities, to include: range extension, waveform bridging, signal intelligence, electronic warfare, and information operations. Two methods are used to gain insight to the support generation of the concept of operations for the AJCN's employment. The first method is wargaming. The wargaming method utilized a class of NPS students and the JCATS combat simulation model. The wargaming generated insights concerning the AJCN's employment. The second method is the use of a constructive simulation model, POA 2. Insights gained from the two methods include: the need for commanders to differentiate the AJCN and its supporting platform; the need for effective information processing techniques; the importance of maintaining at least two-tiers of AJCN coverage to enhance situational awareness of the supported units. / Major, United States Army / Captain, United States Army

This thesis describes an Extensible Markup Language (XML) based analysis and comparison method that could be used to identity equivalent components of heterogeneous databases. In the Department of Defense there currently exist multiple databases required to support command and control of some portion of the battlefield force. Interoperability between forces will become crucial as the force structure continues to be reduced. This interoperability will be facilitated through the integration of these command and control databases into a singular joint database or by developing inter- communication schema to support inter-database communications. The first step in either of these alternatives is the identification of equivalent components among the multiple databases. This thesis describes how XML can be used to facilitate the process of analyzing and comparing multiple databases. Each step of the process is described in detail accompanied by explanations of the XML tools/resources required to execute the step and rationale of why the step is necessary. Detailed graphics and examples are employed to simplify and justify the step by step explanations. The JavaScript code developed as part of the research to execute the XML based analysis is included. This thesis concludes with discussions of the overall value of this XML based analysis and comparison process and of potential future work, that could be pursued to further exploit this XML analysis and comparison method. / Naval Postgraduate School author (civilian)

With the DoD acquisition of programs and projects becoming increasingly expensive, it is imperative that the method or measure for determining value for a particular project, real or conceptual, be identified and used enterprise-wide. The form of analysis known as the Knowledge Value Added (KVA) methodology, KVA will evaluate the Office Force Transformation Wolf-PAC / Stiletto concepts. This thesis will explore two distinctly different areas which demonstrate the KVA method's use and benefit: 1. The use of the KVA method to find improvements in a Command and Control (C2) process, and 2. To demonstrate the increase value that the Stiletto ship brings to littoral operations (i.e., Mine hunting). The resulting values will be compared in varying notional scenarios to assess potential improvements for knowledge processes. This method of analysis will demonstrate how a reengineered process, resulting from the KVA method, enables organizations to maximize knowledge creation and production capacity.

Control (C2) process. Situations often occur in which forward air controllers (FACs) from one service integrate into the structure of another service, yet still report to their own leadership. Many non-interoperable communications systems are used, further adding to the confusion. This thesis analyzes the effectiveness of current Joint Close Air Support doctrine in providing the guidelines necessary for the warfighter at all echelons to plan, prepare and execute integrated close air support missions seamlessly when operating in a joint environment. Themes which hamper the ability to efficiently employ command and control (C2) to provide close air support to the Ground Combat Commander are examined. Finally, Naval Surface Fire Support is studied to determine its place in the JCAS architecture and where, within that architecture, it should be implemented. The analysis of case studies involving situations in which JCAS was not used effectively revealed that, though there has been significant progress made in revising Joint CAS doctrine, weaknesses still exist. Joint doctrine must keep pace with emerging technology but for that doctrine to remain relevant, warfighters at all levels must know it, use it and provide feedback when it doesnâ t work so future iterations can mature and flex with the force. / US Naval Reserve (USNR) author.

Using traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), which is typically reserved for understanding how indigenous societies function successfully, and applying this to developed countries' ideas of disaster planning and response, emergency planners, public officials, and lay-persons can gain an understanding of their environment. Stories, history, education, and The waterborne evacuation of Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2001 provides a backdrop with which to test the tenets of TEK in a developed nation setting. This dissertation has found that TEK was effective when used by a developed nation and should be integrated into the current disaster system in the US.

Le maintien de personnes âgées au domicile le plus longtemps possible est censé apporter une réponse à la croissance de l’espérance de vie en occident et a des coûts toujours croissants pour la société. ce travail de thèse a été réalisé dans le cadre du projet CompanionAble, qui vise a fournir une solution intégrée maison intelligente - robot aux personnes âgées, vivant seules. L'objectif est de maintenir un confort en fin de vie à un niveau élevé et à traiter les situations dangereuses pour elles, comme les chutes, avant que les conséquences ne deviennent trop importantes. Les éléments qui m’intéressent dans ce cadre sont le robot et l’opérateur, qui se trouve à l’extérieur de la maison, et qui peut téléopérer le robot en vue d’interagir avec la personne âgée, soit pour des activités ludiques (visioconférence, exercices de stimulation cognitive), soit pour des situations d’urgence (chute, perte de connaissance… de la personne âgée). Pour maintenir les coûts du système à un niveau raisonnable, on a envisagé l’utilisation de l’internet public pour la connexion entre le site maître (où se trouve l‘opérateur) et le site esclave (où se trouve le robot). Une autre spécificité du notre système est le fait que les utilisateurs ne sont pas des spécialistes de la téléopération. J’ai donc cherché à faciliter la tâche de pilotage du robot, dans ce contexte spécifique. Du côté de l’interface, on a cherché à aider l’opérateur traitant les problèmes liés aux délais de transmission (possibles à cause de l’utilisation de l’internet) et lui donner la possibilité d’utiliser une interface écologique, qui utilise des éléments de réalité augmentée. Du côté du robot, on a rajouté un nouveau mode de commande, semi-autonome, pour que l’opérateur soit plus à l’aise pendant qu’il le déplace. Pour finir, on a examiné la possibilité de passer d’un mode de commande à un autre, pour que l’opérateur soit le moins affecté que possible par des perturbations et que les performances du système restent acceptables. Les solutions proposées ont été implantée sur un système réel et évaluées au laboratoire et en situations réelles dans le cadre du projet européen CompanionAble. / Enabling older people to live in their homes as long as possible is supposed to respond to the growth of life expectancy in the west and the increasing costs to society. The present thesis was conducted in the framework of the companionable, which aims to provide an integrated smart home - robot for the elderly, which are living alone. The objective is to maintain the end of life comfort at a high level and to deal with dangerous situations for them, such as falls, before the consequences become too costly. The elements that interest me in this context are the robot and the remote operator, which is outside the home, and can teleoperate the robot to interact with the elderly, for recreational activities ( videoconferencing, cognitive stimulation exercises) or for emergency situations (falls, loss of consciousness, etc.). To keep the system costs to a reasonable level, we considered using the public internet as the connection between the master site (where the operator is) and the slave site (where the robot is). another unique feature of our system is that users are not specialists in teleoperation. As such, i tried to ease the task of controlling the robot, in this specific context. On the remote control interface side, we tried to help the operator in dealing with the problems associated with transmission delays (due to the possible use of the internet) and we gave him/her the option of using an ecological interface, which uses elements of augmented reality. On the robot side, we added a new command mode, semi-autonomous, so that the operator is more at ease as he/she controls the robot. finally, we examined the possibility of switching from one control mode to another, so that the operator is the least affected by possible disturbances and system performance is kept acceptable. The proposed solutions have been implemented on a real system and evaluated in the laboratory and in real situations, in the framework of the european CompanionAble project.

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Twentieth-century analytic philosophy ushered in a renewed interest in an ethical theory known as the Divine Command Theory of ethics (DC). Consequent to the work of G.E. Moore, philosophers have been involved in metaethics, or how we may ground ethical terms such as “good” and “right”. The traditional DC response is to argue that God is the source of good, and best serves that role in that He is an “ideal observer” of all states of affairs. The question is how is God’s will relevant to determining the moral status of actions? At this point one may distinguish between what God wills and what God in fact commands. However, the contemporary debate is to determine whether it is God’s commands or God’s will that is primary in determining moral obligation. The most vivid portrait of this distinction is found in the binding of Isaac. There we note that God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but it is not at all clear that God wills the actual death of Isaac. Thus, in this work I will present and defend a coherent DC view of ethics, whereby our moral obligations are derived from the commands of God. In chapter II I will provide a brief history of philosophers who have endorsed DC. In chapter III I will argue that the best ground for objective moral values is best defined by DC. Chapter IV will be devoted to my particular argument for DC. I will take up the task of defending the traditional command view of DC. Chapters V and VI will be devoted to developing plausible responses to major objections to DC. In chapter V I will attempt a resolution of the famous Euthyphro dilemma, and in chapter VI I will argue that endorsing a DC view of ethics in no way negates the autonomy of the moral agent.

Twentieth-century analytic philosophy ushered in a renewed interest in an ethical theory known as the Divine Command Theory of ethics (DC). Consequent to the work of G.E. Moore, philosophers have been involved in metaethics, or how we may ground ethical terms such as “good” and “right”. The traditional DC response is to argue that God is the source of good, and best serves that role in that He is an “ideal observer” of all states of affairs. The question is how is God’s will relevant to determining the moral status of actions? At this point one may distinguish between what God wills and what God in fact commands. However, the contemporary debate is to determine whether it is God’s commands or God’s will that is primary in determining moral obligation. The most vivid portrait of this distinction is found in the binding of Isaac. There we note that God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, but it is not at all clear that God wills the actual death of Isaac. Thus, in this work I will present and defend a coherent DC view of ethics, whereby our moral obligations are derived from the commands of God. In chapter II I will provide a brief history of philosophers who have endorsed DC. In chapter III I will argue that the best ground for objective moral values is best defined by DC. Chapter IV will be devoted to my particular argument for DC. I will take up the task of defending the traditional command view of DC. Chapters V and VI will be devoted to developing plausible responses to major objections to DC. In chapter V I will attempt a resolution of the famous Euthyphro dilemma, and in chapter VI I will argue that endorsing a DC view of ethics in no way negates the autonomy of the moral agent.