Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Decision Analysis Using Value-Focused Thinking For Infrastructure Prioritization, Mona A. Tenorio

Theses and Dissertations

Infrastructure systems and facilities have deteriorated due to the impact of limited defense funding and competing priorities within the Air Force. The current method used for infrastructure prioritization is influenced by political sensitivity and uncertainty regarding the consequences of various funding decisions. Senior leaders need to better understand how their funding decisions will impact the overall condition and service life of the installation's infrastructure systems and facilities. The purpose of this research was to improve the method of prioritizing infrastructure projects through the use of a decision analysis methodology known as Value-Focused Thinking. The value model was created based on …

Exploratory Inquiry: Disparate Air Force Base Area Network Architectures, Charlie W. Boyd Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Joint Vision 2020, the Department of Defense (DoD) blueprint for development and transformation, identifies information and technology as critical enablers for our nation's military and calls for the development of a joint force capable of integrated information sharing to provide decision superiority, the ability to make and implement better decisions before enemies can react (DoD, 2000). Networks have been identified as the single most important element for transforming our current military forces. Ironically, Air Force base-level communications networks have been identified as a weakness. This research follows the qualitative approach to increases the current understanding of base level communications networks …

Assessing The Usefulness Of The Decision Framework For Identifying And Selecting Knowledge Management Projects, Kevin G. Budai

Theses and Dissertations

Knowledge management (KM) is becoming recognized as a valuable tool for the Department of Defense (DoD) in its effort to maintain a competitive, strategic advantage against its enemies in a new threat environment. Decision superiority is the ultimate end result and is only possible through the effective and efficient use of its chief key resource--knowledge. As the Air Force seeks to transform the way it does business the concept of knowledge management has made its way to the forefront of both the Air Force's Information Strategy and Information Resource Flight Plan. This research assesses the usefulness of a knowledge management …

Barriers To Electronic Records Management (Erm): An Exploratory Case Study Investigating Erm In The Deployed Environment During Operations Enduring Freedom And Iraqi Freedom, Brian G. Hobbs

Theses and Dissertations

Corporate and government organizations can use electronic records as an important strategic resource, if the records are managed properly. In addition to meeting legal requirements, electronic records can play a vital role in the management and operation of an organization's activities. Corporate America is facing challenges in managing electronic records, and so too is the U.S. Air Force (USAF). The deployed environment is particularly problematic for electronic records management (ERM). This research, thus, investigates ERM in the deployed environment to identify and characterize the barriers faced by USAF personnel who deployed to locations supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. …

Passwords: A Survey On Usage And Policy, Kurt W. Martinson

Theses and Dissertations

Computer password use is on the rise. Passwords have become one of the primary authentication methods used today. It is because of their high use that organizations have started to place parameters on passwords. Are password restrictions a nuisance? What are some of the consequences that result as organizations place the burden of their computer security on passwords? This thesis analyzes the results of a survey instrument that was used to determine if individuals are using similar techniques or patterns when choosing or remembering their passwords. It also looks at how individuals feel about using passwords. In addition, the authors …

Medical Devices, Support Networks, And Their Vulnerabilities: A Case Study Of The Integration Of Medical Networks Into The Air Force Information Network, Paul G. Oleksiak

Theses and Dissertations

With the implementation of "one Air Force, one network" under way it is important to look at how the Air Force plans to incorporate the medical field and its unique systems, networks, and mission. The medical field presents distinctive problems not seen in other areas. Open network vulnerabilities in the medical information systems not only pose a problem for the individual, but to the military service also. Possible security holes provide both access to vital military & personal information (end strength numbers, current status of personnel, social security), and a door way into the "network". Intruders now can possibly access …

Effectively Managing The Air Force Enterprise Architecture, Jamie P. Sharkey

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force is developing and implementing an enterprise architecture to meet the Clinger-Cohen Act's requirement that all federal agencies use an architecture to guide their information technology (IT) investments. However, this act does not provide guidance on how to effectively manage an enterprise architecture. Prior research applied maturity models and competency stages to manage an enterprise architecture by defining layers of enterprise architecture management maturity. However, these efforts tend to view enterprise architecture development as a one-time planning process rather than an iterative progression. Enterprise architecture is not a one-time exercise, but rather it is an on-going effort within …

A Study To Determine Damage Assessment Methods Or Models On Air Force Networks, Lisa S. Thiem

Theses and Dissertations

Damage assessment for computer networks is a new area of interest for the Air Force. Previously, there has not been a concerted effort to codify damage assessment or develop a model that can be applied in assessing damage done by criminals, natural disasters, or other methods of damaging a computer network. The research undertaken attempts to identify if the Air Force MAJCOM Network Operations Support Centers (NOSC) use damage assessment models or methods. If the Air Force does use a model or method, an additional question of how the model was attained or decided upon is asked. All information comes …

Project Portfolio Management: An Investigation Of One Air Force Product Center, Bryan D. Edmunds

Theses and Dissertations

Over the last two decades, reducing product development times in the DoD has been the focus of many committees, commissions, and research efforts. Despite the implementation of numerous recommendations, the DoD still struggles with long acquisition cycle times. This research is part of the Air Force Cycle Time Reduction Research Program (CTRRP), which grew out of the Cycle Time Reduction Action Plan, developed in 1998. This research focuses on the portfolio management (project selection and resource allocation) part of the CTRRP. The purpose of this research effort was to investigate the use of portfolio management within the Air Force. Specifically, …

Status Of Department Of Defense Architecture Framework (Dodaf) Implementation Within The Aeronautical Systems Center (Asc), Chad A. Millette

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify the current status of the use of the Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF) systems architecture products within the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC) program offices. There are regulatory requirements dictating the creation of DoDAF products as annexes to programmatic documentation, such as the Joint Capabilities Integration Development System (JCIDS) requirement for systems architectures as annexes for acquisition milestone decision documentation. In addition, the DoDAF itself identifies several products as being highly applicable for the development of acquisition strategies. This thesis investigated the use of systems architectures, and particularly DoDAF products, within the …

The Feasibility Of The U.S. Air Force Mandating The Exclusive Use And Purchase Of Forest Stewardship Council Certified Wood And Paper Containing 100% Post Consumer Content, Silinda Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act required federal agencies to purchase products with the highest recovered content (or post-consumer content in the case of paper) as practicable. The Office of Federal Procurement Policy required all executive agencies to give preference in their procurement programs to products that conserve natural resources and protect the environment. These requirements necessitate that the Air Force consider purchasing 100% post-consumer content (PCC) paper and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood because of their environmentally preferable attributes. This study compared the availability, performance standards, and prices of 100% PCC paper to 30% PCC paper and FSC-certified …

Performance Based Service Acquisition: A Quantitative Evaluation Of Implementation Goals And Performance In The United States Air Force, Dylan D. Pope

Theses and Dissertations

In an attempt to maximize cost savings in the rapidly growing services sector, the DoD established a Performance Based Service Acquisition (PBSA) strategy that focuses on evaluating contractor performance based on their ability to meet desired outcomes rather than the means to which the outcomes are obtained. In April 2000, Dr. Gansler, then Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, mandated that 50 percent of all eligible service acquisitions be awarded using PBSA methods by FY 2005. Since then very little research has been focused on USAF implementation of PBSA and the progress and attainment of the PBSA …

Developing New Multidimensional Knapsack Heuristics Based On Empirical Analysis Of Legacy Heuristics, Yong Kun Cho

Theses and Dissertations

The multidimensional knapsack problem (MKP) has been used to model a variety of practical optimization and decision-making applications. Due to its combinatorial nature, heuristics are often employed to quickly find good solutions to MKPs. While there have been a variety of heuristics proposed for the MKP, and a plethora of empirical studies comparing the performance of these heuristics, little has been done to garner a deeper understanding of heuristic performance as a function of problem structure. This dissertation presents a research methodology, empirical and theoretical results explicitly aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of heuristic procedural performance as a function …

A Systems Architectural Model For Man-Packable/Operable Intelligence, Surveillance, And Reconnaissance Mini/Micro Aerial Vehicles, Cory A. Cooper, Matthew L. Ewoldt, Steaven A. Meyer, Edward W. Talley

Theses and Dissertations

With the increase in both technology push and operational pull of mini/micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) within DoD organizations, an understanding of their interactions and capabilities is necessary. Many MAVs have already been developed for a specific usage and much speculation has been made on their future uses. Despite the growth of MAVs, there is currently no overarching systems architecture which would envelop and guide the DoD's MAV development efforts. The goal of this thesis is to apply sound systems engineering principals to develop a MAV architectural model describing their use in three separate but closely related mission areas: Over-the-Hill-Reconnaissance, Battle …

Executable Architectures And Their Application To A Geographically Distributed Air Operations Center, Robert J. Beal, Jeremy P. Hendrix, Garth P. Mcmurray, William C. Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

Integrated Architectures and Network Centric Warfare represent two central concepts in the Department of Defense's (DoD) on-going transformation. The true power of integrated architectures is brought to bear when they are combined with simulation to move beyond a static representation and create an executable architecture. This architecture can then be used to experiment with system configurations and parameter values to guide employment decisions. The process of developing and utilizing an executable architecture will be employed to assess an Air Operations Center (AOC). This thesis applies and expands upon the methodology of Dr. Alexander Levis, former Chief Scientist of the Air …

An Analysis Into The Effectiveness Of Aircraft Maintenance Under The Combat Wing Structure, Derrick R. Barthol

Theses and Dissertations

Organizational structure builds the foundation from which organizations operate. To gain full potential of structural efficiencies in the current operating environment, public and private firms are continually modifying their organizational structure. The U.S. Air Force is no different and underwent its most recent reorganization in the fall of 2002 replacing the post-Gulf War format of the previous decade. Air Force leadership needs to understand how well the current structure is performing at achieving its intended objectives. This research investigates the effectiveness of the recent change to Air Force organizational structure on aircraft maintenance performance through an analysis of aircraft maintenance …

Minimizing Security Forces Response Times Through The Use Of Facility Location Methodologies, Michael C. Dawson

Theses and Dissertations

Since the events of September 11, 2001, security for the nation's Intercontinental Ballistic Missile force has become a prominent concern for personnel in the highest levels of government. This has resulted in many physical security upgrades and new methods to counter hostile activities. This research seeks to find the optimal placement for one layer of the security net protecting these crucial assets, the daily-deployed security forces Fire Teams. The problem of finding the optimal placement for these forces is modeled as a facility location problem. Three of the methods of locating facilities available in the literature are selected to solve …

Comparing Management Approaches For Automatic Test Systems: A Strategic Missile Case Study, William C. Ford

Theses and Dissertations

From 1980 to 1992, the DoD spent over $50 billion acquiring Automatic Test Systems (ATS) used to test weapon systems. At that time, procuring unique ATS to support single weapon systems was the norm. In 1994, the DoD made a dramatic change to their ATS acquisition policy; common ATS that supported multiple weapon systems was preferred over ATS tailored to support a single weapon system. Expected benefits of this new policy included: more reliable equipment, increased supportability, decreased cost, smaller logistics footprint, and decreased manning. To date, the common ATS initiative has garnered little support AF-wide due to lack of …

Air Force Jp-8 Fuel Distribution System: A Statistical Analysis To Determine Where And When To Sample, Eric J. Heath

Theses and Dissertations

The Air Force Petroleum Office at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio collects JP-8 sampling data, but this data doesn't undergo analysis to determine the health of the base-level JP-8 fuel distribution system. Commanders possess no known confidence level when assessing base-level fuel health. Therefore, the objective of this research is to assess Air Force base-level fuel sampling data to determine the base-level sampling point that ensures a quality and healthy product at the aircraft. Also, this research seeks to identify how often correlation sampling should take place. Sample test pass rates are analyzed from three locations, receipt, storage, and vehicles/aircraft, …

Output Analysis And Comparison Of Deployment Models With Varying Fidelity, Matthew M. Gill

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the changes in insights that result from using different types of models to assess the capability of deploying the Stryker Brigade within specific timeline goals. The thesis uses as its primary base a study conducted in 2002 by USTRANSCOM to evaluate the ability of Stryker to meet stated deployment timeline goals. Specifically, the author compares the outputs from four different models as they change over three different deployment scenarios and 10 different routes. The study investigates the relationships among the outputs of spreadsheet models, spreadsheet models with elements of variability added, and low- and high-level discrete-event simulations. …

Theater Battle Management Core System Systems Engineering Case Study, Air Force Center For Systems Engineering, Josiah R. Collens Jr., Bob Krause

AFIT Documents

The Theater Battle Management Core System (TBMCS) is an integrated air command and control (C2) system that performs standardized, secure, automated air battle planning and execution management for Air Force, multi-service, and allied commanders in theaters of operation worldwide. TBMCS provides the means to plan, direct, and control all theater air operations and to coordinate with land, maritime, and special operations elements. It is deployed at C2 nodes at national, force and wing/unit-level elements. TBMCS operates in support of planners and decision makers at, and below, the level of Joint Force Air Component Commander. The system is modular and scalable …

Acuta Enews February 2005, Vol. 34, No. 2

ACUTA Newsletters

ln This lssue

Nominate for Board of Directors

President's Message................................... Tamara Closs, Georgetown University

FTC Postpones Effective Date of Can-Spam Rule

Tech Talk: VolP Installation Costs Vary Widely...................... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations

Regional Workshop in Los Angeles

Efficiency of National Do-Not-Catt List lmproved ................... FCC

Thanks to Journal Advertisers for 2004

Overheard on the Listserv: Phones in Student Rooms?

Board Report.................................... Carmine Piscopo, Providence College

DC Update ........................... Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan Univ.

Business Process lmprovement................................ Buck Bayliff, Pinnacle Software/PAETEC

Welcome New Members

ACUTA Online Press Room

Reinforcement Learning-Based Output Feedback Control Of Nonlinear Systems With Input Constraints, Pingan He, Jagannathan Sarangapani

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A novel neural network (NN) -based output feedback controller with magnitude constraints is designed to deliver a desired tracking performance for a class of multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) discrete-time strict feedback nonlinear systems. Reinforcement learning in discrete time is proposed for the output feedback controller, which uses three NN: 1) a NN observer to estimate the system states with the input-output data; 2) a critic NN to approximate certain strategic utility function; and 3) an action NN to minimize both the strategic utility function and the unknown dynamics estimation errors. The magnitude constraints are manifested as saturation nonlinearities in the output feedback …

Work In Progress - Automated Discourse Interventions And Student Teaming, Ray Luechtefeld, Steve Eugene Watkins, Ralph E. Flori

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The ability to successfully work in teams is a crucial part of an engineer's workplace success. Engineering education can be improved through a better understanding of how effective teamwork develops. A (patent pending) software tool that "listens" to team conversations and generates automatic interventions into team discourse can effectively mimic the actions of a skilled facilitator. Automated facilitation tools may help students improve their team skills by providing a simplified model for conversational interventions, which students can readily imitate. This paper describes this tool and presents preliminary findings from student reactions to the tool's use.

Acuta Enews January 2005, Vol. 34, No. 1

ACUTA Newsletters

In This Issue

From ACUTA Headquarters.............. Jeri A. Semer, CAE, ACUTA Executive Director

Universal Service Update................... Brad Gillen, Wiley, Rein & Fielding

Tech Talk: Quantum Cryptography............... Kevin Tanzillo, Dux Public Relations

Thanks to 2004 Event Sponsors

Emergency Notification Systems

Directories Are in the Mail

Board Report............. Carmine Piscopo, Providence College

DC Update............... Whitney Johnson, Retired, Northern Michigan Univ.

Web Tip: Membership Logos.................. Aaron Fuehrer, ACUTA Computer Svcs. Mgr.

Development Of A Process Modelling System For Simulation, John Ryan

Other resources

This thesis details the development of a process modelling technique to aid a simulation model developer during the requirements gathering and conceptual modelling phases of a simulation project.

There are a number of process modelling techniques available that are capable of being used during such phases of a simulation project, however there is currently a lack of process modelling techniques developed specifically to aid a simulation model developer in capturing, representing and communicating information and systems issues to persons involved in the operation of discrete systems under investigation.

A detailed review of the literature related to techniques capable of supporting …

A Multi-Server Markovian Queueing Model With Primary And Secondary Services, Valentina Klimenok, Srinivas R. Chakravarthy, Alexander Dudin

Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Presentations And Conference Materials

We study a multi-server queueing model in which the arrivals occur according to a Markovian arrival process. An arriving customer either (a) is lost due to all main servers being busy; or (b) enters into service with one of the main servers and leaves the system (as a satisfied primary customer); (c) enters into a service with one of the main servers, gets service in self-service mode, and is impatient to get a final service with one of the main servers, may leave the system (as a dissatisfied secondary customer); or (d) enters into service with one of the main …

Simulated Annealing Heuristics For Managing Resources During Planned Outages At Electric Power Plants, Alan Mckendall, James Noble, Cerry Klein

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

This paper presents a mathematical model and simulated annealing heuristics for assigning activities to workspaces and resources (e.g., equipment, parts, and toolboxes) to work/storage spaces during planned outages at electric power plants. These assignments are made such that the distance resources (toolboxes) travel throughout the duration of the outage is minimized. This problem is de2ned as the dynamic space allocation problem. To test the performance of the proposed techniques, a data set is generated and used in the analysis. The results show that the simulated annealing heuristics perform well with respect to solution quality and computational time.

Machine Vision Course For Manufacturing Engineering Undergraduate Students, Jose Macedo, Kurt Colvin, Daniel Waldorf

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

A 10-week course was designed with funding from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and input from industry representatives, to offer upper division engineering students a course on advanced automation. The objective was to provide engineering students theoretical and hands-on practical experience with automation technologies that will be of prime importance over the next decade: data acquisition and instrumentation, machine vision and motion control. This paper describes the machine vision portion of that class. It describes important concepts, hands-on equipment, and labs developed for this course, as well as examples of student projects from Spring Quarter, 2004. The course and …

Lead-Free Solder Joint Reliability – State Of The Art And Perspectives, Jianbiao Pan, Jyhwen Wang, David M. Shaddock

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

There is an increasing demand for replacing tin-lead (Sn/Pb) solders with lead-free solders in the electronics industry due to health and environmental concerns. The European Union recently passed a law to ban the use of lead in electronic products. The ban will go into effect in July of 2006. The Japanese electronics industry has worked to eliminate lead from consumer electronic products for several years. Although currently there are no specific regulations banning lead in electronics devices in the United States, many companies and consortiums are working on lead-free solder initiatives including Intel, Motorola, Agilent Technologies, General Electric, Boeing, NEMI …