Since the attacks of September 11th, 2001 involving commercial aircraft used as missiles to attack critical assets located within the United States, the U.S has worked diligently to enhance its military air defense posture. Air defense of critical U.S. assets and National Special Security Events (NSSE) have been enhanced by adding static and proposed deployable Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) systems designed to provide a [beta]last line[gamma] of defense from air attacks over U.S. soil. Currently this last line of defense is incorporated with the air and maritime military air defense forces providing a [beta]defense in depth[gamma] over critical assets, but does not support the air and maritime air defense over broader ranges of U.S. soil where critical assets do not exist. As the U.S. continues to enhance its air defense posture around critical assets and high priority events against terrorist attacks from the air, it is reasonable to assume that the terrorists may adjust their strategy for air attacks. The terrorists may deem it more beneficial to attack targets which lack a last line defense. It is therefore critical to examine new means and methods to provide GBAD in areas which may be determined to be less lucrative targets. In addition to the proposed alternate terrorist strategy, it is also reasonable to assume that increased security measures in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will deter the terrorists from attempting another hijacking event; thus forcing them to seek other means of attack. Cruise missiles (CM) are a cheap and effective means of causing limited destruction. Cruise missiles can be programmed to maneuver and operate at various altitudes and are small enough to be transported with little to no visibility. A cruise missile in the wrong hands could find its way to within miles of the U.S. borders and coastlines. If launched; a cruise missile could engage random targets throughout the U.S., such as malls or schools, and cause a major upset to our national security. Therefore, a defense system should be established which incorporates GBAD that is capable of engaging the CM threat with little to no notice, over the entire U.S. border and coastal regions.

CHDS State/Local / Military civil support operations following Hurricane Katrina revealed a compelling need for improving the command and control arrangements between the National Guard, operating in Title 32 status subordinate to the governors, and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) who controlled all of the assigned Title 10 active duty forces subordinate to the President. This details the three mutually exclusive duty statuses of the National Guard, reviews the statutory, strategy and policy environment, and examines the joint military doctrine that covers civil support. It describes the three potential command and control models with their strengths and weaknesses. There is a detailed analysis of the USNORTHCOMS's Defense Support of Civil Authority concept plan with recommended enhancements. The paper concludes that the command and control arrangement is situationally dependent and provides considerations for the commander. There is no directive authority that compels the National Guard to work with U.S. Northern Command. However, there are mutual benefits to working in partnership to create the coordination and communication model organization and procedures for future civil support operations that include the National Guard and USNORTHCOM. The USNORTHCOM commander needs to build trust with the governors, and then get a full time National Guard brigadier general on his staff to complete the coordination with the states. / Staff Engineer, US Northern Command (USNORTHCOM)

CHDS State/Local / In the past three years, major attacks on mass transportation in Moscow, Madrid, London, and Mumbai left hundreds dead, thousands injured and the world searching for answers. Subway systems are not only attractive targets, but evidence persists of a continued terrorist interest in conducting attacks on United States subways and railways. An attack on a subway or rail system in the United States could cause substantial loss of life and could have an adverse impact on public confidence, resulting in massive economic loss. This thesis examines a series of security initiatives that collectively comprise a plan to be used as a template for mass transit systems in the United States that operate a subway to augment security. The core goal of these initiatives identifies ways to increase the probability of early detection to prevent terrorist bombings of all types on United States subway systems. / Lieutenant/Counter Terrorism Director, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Transit Police Department

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Chris Bellavita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-67). Also available online.

Thesis (M.A. in Security Studies (Homeland Security and Defense))--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Paul Stockton. Includes bibliographical references (p. 49-52). Also available online.

Thesis ( M.A.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Robert Simeral, Robert Looney. Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-111). Also available online.

Thesis (M.A.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-87). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2002. / Cover title. "December 2002." AD-A412 639. Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-55). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S. in Systems Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, Sept. 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Raymond Buettner, Jr., Dorothy Denning. Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-69). Also available online.