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An Empirical Investigation Of Usaf Logistics Readiness Officer Mission Sets, Matthew D. Roberts Mar 2013

An Empirical Investigation Of Usaf Logistics Readiness Officer Mission Sets, Matthew D. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

USAF Logistics Readiness Officers (LRO) operate in an evolving environment which necessitates growing multi-faceted LROs capable of succeeding across all mission sets. Because of this evolving nature, the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed in these mission sets may have changed. This study sought to validate the mission sets an LRO operates in, identify critical KSAs needed within each, discover overlap, and to determine if the KSAs are being adequately taught. The problem was addressed through qualitative content analysis of interviews and focus groups comprised of logistics practitioners in the Air Force. Analysis led to validating Deployment, Distribution, Materiel Management, …


Supplementary Computer Generated Cueing To Enhance Air Traffic Controller Efficiency, Laurienne Cibelle Rodrigues De Assis Santana Mar 2013

Supplementary Computer Generated Cueing To Enhance Air Traffic Controller Efficiency, Laurienne Cibelle Rodrigues De Assis Santana

Theses and Dissertations

Air traffic controllers are often required to simultaneously communicate with several aircraft over multiple radio frequencies. As a result, during peak loading, it is common for the controller to receive multiple concurrent communications, each from a different aircraft, making it difficult to discern audio messages received from multiple pilots simultaneously. To address this problem, a modified air traffic control (ATC) interface was prototyped with the goal of increasing controller-to-pilot communication efficiency. This prototype included supplementary text cueing which was provided by a hypothetical automated text to speech system in an on-screen text box for controller reference in the event of …


Identifying, Tracking, And Prioritizing Parts Unavailability, Troy T. Huber Mar 2013

Identifying, Tracking, And Prioritizing Parts Unavailability, Troy T. Huber

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force is pursuing several efficiency initiatives designed to reduce support function costs. One such initiative is an effort to reduce the flow days of items being repaired in the Air Force's organic depots. Many end items are affected by awaiting parts (AWP) delays, which increase total flow days. The first step in reducing AWP delays is to identify which piece parts are causing the delays. A gap analysis was conducted to identify a process for creating a list of piece parts that are causing AWP delays. In addition, a clinimetric method was used to develop an aggregate measure …


Analysis Of Effects Of Organizational Behavior On Evolving System Of Systems Acquisition Programs Through Agent Based Modeling, Klayton S. Bobsein Mar 2013

Analysis Of Effects Of Organizational Behavior On Evolving System Of Systems Acquisition Programs Through Agent Based Modeling, Klayton S. Bobsein

Theses and Dissertations

Every weapon system operates in context with one or more system of systems (SoS). It is the SoS that provides warfighting capability. Each system is managed independently by a program office with program-centric priorities. These systems must be interconnected and interoperable, so the program office must collaborate across the SoS. The SoS are always changing and evolving, triggered by variety of stimuli. Acquisition program offices can be characterized with a set of organizational behaviors that respond to the environment, are influenced by SoS architecture, and can be described by their fitness and contribution to SoS. Using Geert Hofstede's cultural dimensions, …


Vehicle Minimization For The Multimodal Pickup And Delivery Problem With Time Windows, Benjamin A . Clapp Mar 2013

Vehicle Minimization For The Multimodal Pickup And Delivery Problem With Time Windows, Benjamin A . Clapp

Theses and Dissertations

The algorithm proposed here is used for heuristic solutions for the Multimodal Multiple Vehicle Routing Problem with Unloading Capacity, Pickup and Dropoff, and Time Windows, solved so as to minimize the number of vehicles used, subject to varying objective function values for each vehicle. The MVRP is simplified and split into a routing problem and a scheduling problem. The routing problem is addressed by Dijkstra's Algorithm. This generates a new network for the second stage of the algorithm. It is assumed that the shortest path is the correct path to use, and shipments each travel unimodally. The scheduling problem is …


Continuous Process Improvement At Tinker Air Logistics Complex, Robert S. Rabon Mar 2013

Continuous Process Improvement At Tinker Air Logistics Complex, Robert S. Rabon

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Logistics Centers (ALC) represent the Air Force's largest Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Operations. The ALCs strive to become leaner by reducing Work In Progress (WIP) inventory, reducing flow times, and increasing product quality to meet aircraft and engine demand levels. The Toyota Production System (TPS) is considered the best example of lean manufacturing by many. TPS utilizes the ingenuity of Toyota employees to generate Continuous Process Improvement (CPI). Achieving CPI can aid the ALCs in reducing operating capital while providing increased levels of service. The Air Force as a whole has made several attempts to get lean. …


Activity-Based Calculation Models For The Brazilian Air Force Cellular Unit Of Intendancy, Paula Ferreira Da Silva Mar 2013

Activity-Based Calculation Models For The Brazilian Air Force Cellular Unit Of Intendancy, Paula Ferreira Da Silva

Theses and Dissertations

During a military operation, besides providing technological infrastructure and specific weapons, it is also essential to have physical logistics to support the basic needs of troops. To provide this specific care, the Brazilian Air Force (BAF) has the Cellular Unit of Intendancy (CUI). Annually several support operations are planned, and events that cannot be predicted are estimated. Currently, the estimated budget and the report of total costs calculated after missions do not reflect the reality of the CUI expenses. The estimated budget presents values much lower than those presented in the reports of total costs, prepared after finishing each support …


Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Officer Knowledge, Skills And Abilities And Commonalities Among The Logistics Officer Corps, David M. Thompson Mar 2013

Usaf Aircraft Maintenance Officer Knowledge, Skills And Abilities And Commonalities Among The Logistics Officer Corps, David M. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated options to improve 21A training and education by first validating the Air Force's logistics mission sets as Deployment, Distribution, Supply Management, Repair Network Integration, Mission Generation, Lifecycle Logistics and Joint Logistics. Then, the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) considered important to execute each mission set were gathered from a representative sample of Air Force Logistics Officers via field interviews and focus groups. An analysis of results categorizes probable needs (high, medium, low) of KSAs for each mission set and assesses how well they are currently taught, if at all. Additionally, lists of KSAs that overlap multiple mission …


Strategic Consolidation Of Medical War Reserve Material (Wrm) Equipment Unit Type Codes (Utc) Assemblages, Chad W. Whitson Mar 2013

Strategic Consolidation Of Medical War Reserve Material (Wrm) Equipment Unit Type Codes (Utc) Assemblages, Chad W. Whitson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes the strategic consolidation of medical WRM equipment UTC assemblages located within the contiguous United States. Following a 2003 consolidation assessment, the Air Force Medical Logistics Office (AFMLO) consolidated some of the medical UTCs at three Consolidated WRM Storage and Deployment Centers (CSDC) located at Kelly Field Annex, Travis AFB, and Charleston AFB. While many UTCs were consolidated at that time, currently only 17 of the possible 142 equipment UTC assemblages are entirely consolidated at one of those three locations. After adding three additional bases as possible consolidation locations, this study attempts to minimize the cost of full …


A Comparison Of Earned Value Management And Earned Schedule As Schedule Predictors On Dod Acat I Programs, Kevin T. Crumrine Mar 2013

A Comparison Of Earned Value Management And Earned Schedule As Schedule Predictors On Dod Acat I Programs, Kevin T. Crumrine

Theses and Dissertations

Earned Schedule, since it was introduced by Walt Lipke in 2003, has been studied extensively in a variety of different fields and on programs of all sizes. However, Earned Schedule's viability as an extension of Earned Value Management (EVM) in Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP) has yet to be effectively answered. The first aspect of this research explores the breadth of Earned Schedule's adoption by the System Program Offices (SPO) of the United States Air Force. The second phase of this research explores whether Earned Schedule is a more accurate and timely schedule predictor than the EVM technique currently employed …


Cognitive Mentorship: Mediating Protégé Performance, Brian R. Mauntel Mar 2013

Cognitive Mentorship: Mediating Protégé Performance, Brian R. Mauntel

Theses and Dissertations

The role of cognitive apprenticeship has been emphasized in facilitating individual performance in the classroom, but there is limited quantitative research directly linking cognitive behaviors to mentoring relationships and workplace performance. This study investigates the characteristics of mentoring behavior that influence group performance using archival data from 52 different organizations. A mediation model is developed and the results indicate that the group-level of mentors' cognitive behavior plays a central role in the mentor-protege relationship. The findings suggest that the mentors' collective articulation of problem solving processes fully mediate the unit's performance, while reflection and exploration partially mediate the relationship. The …


Investigation Into Risk And Uncertainty: Identifying Coefficient Of Variation Benchmarks For Air Force Acat I Programs, Shaun T. Carney Mar 2013

Investigation Into Risk And Uncertainty: Identifying Coefficient Of Variation Benchmarks For Air Force Acat I Programs, Shaun T. Carney

Theses and Dissertations

Previous DoD cost growth studies found typical cost growth in defense acquisitions is around forty-six to sixty percent of the original estimate. The research in this study addresses the identification of risk and uncertainty benchmarks by providing decision makers with coefficient of variation ranges for cost estimates. The study recommends coefficient of variation (CV) ranges for Air Force Acquisition programs, determines if different CV ranges should be used based on platform type, and determines if CV decreases over the course of the program's acquisition lifecycle. The analysis found that the Air Force should enhance the CV review process to ensure …


Management Information Systems And The Age Of Social Media: An Investigation Of Social Network Research, Carissa M. Parker Mar 2013

Management Information Systems And The Age Of Social Media: An Investigation Of Social Network Research, Carissa M. Parker

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the up-rise of social media, social networking sites have increased in popularity and use over the last few years. During this time, research related to social networks has also escalated. This study presents social network research trends found in ISR, JMIS, and MISQ for a six year period, 2005-2010. The social network-related articles from these premier MIS journals were examined in terms of topical theme and research strategy employed. Furthermore, the most productive authors and affiliations were identified and presented individually, by state, and by region. An additional outcome of this research is the presentation of a preliminary …