Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

A Premature Obituary For Conventional Deterrence, Jeffery S. Lehmkuhl

Space and Defense

As the United States (US) continues to shift its weight of effort towards great power competition, some scholars and practitioners have questioned the relevance of conventional forces and their ability to deter. Chief among them is Sean McFate, who asserts that “conventional war is unicorn hunting” and that “no one fights that way anymore.”1 Jim Sciutto echoes McFate’s claims in his book The Shadow War and states that the US is losing to Russia and China in a new way of warfare that is conducted below the threshold of conventional warfare.2 Leading Russian General Valery Gerasimov furthered this claim when …

Nuclear Regimes In The 21st Century, Stephen J. Cimbala, Adam Lowther

Space and Defense

The modern nuclear operations practitioner is facing a more complex future than at any point since the height of the Cold War. Understanding the past, present, and possible future of nuclear force structure and doctrine offers the policy maker a useful way to make sense of unfolding events and place them within a broader context. With China, Russia, and North Korea all posing a growing nuclear risk to the United States, a strong grasp on the available options for countering these threats is certainly important.

Editor's Note, Damon Coletta

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents Vol. 15 No. 2

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Space And Defense Vol. 15 No. 2 Fall 2024 (Whole Issue)

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Student Engagement Activities On Future Climate Change Adaptation: The Case Of Student Simulation Models, Bassel Mostafa Elkalaf

Future Journal of Social Science

This paper explores the critical role of student engagement in addressing the growing challenges of climate change, with a focus on the Model United Nations (MUN) as a case study. As climate-related security threats increase globally, educational platforms that prepare youth for effective leadership in climate politics are more essential than ever. MUN, a widely practiced student activity simulating global policy-making, provides a valuable opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the interconnectedness between climate change, peace, and security. By participating in MUN simulations, students engage in debates, develop innovative solutions, and practice diplomatic skills, all while exploring the …

Notes For Contributors To Space & Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Damon Coletta

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

A Panel Data Regression Model For Defense Merger And Acquisition Activity, Corey D. Mack, Clay Koschnick, Michael Brown, Jonathan D. Ritschel, Brandon M. Lucas

Faculty Publications

Excerpt: This paper examines the relationship between a prime contractor's financial health and its mergers and acquisitions (M&A) spending in the defense industry. It aims to provide models that give the United States Department of Defense (DoD) indications of future M&A activity, informing decision-makers and contributing to ensuring competitive markets that benefit the consumer.

The results show a significant relationship between efficiency and M&A spending, indicating that companies with lower efficiency tend to spend more on M&As. However, there was no significant relationship between M&A spending and a company's profitability or solvency. These results were consistent with previous research and …

Toward Adaptive And Modular Joint Multi-Domain Operational Planning, Kyle S. Wilkinson

Theses and Dissertations

This research develops a multiparametric optimization framework for modeling joint multi-domain operational planning under uncertainty. We address the application of our framework to model the doctrine of adaptive planning. We apply set-based design, which is a program management practice of maintaining maximal design options through time as a response to epistemic uncertainty. We couple this with a multiparametric optimization method yielding both sets of solutions and sensitivity profiles. We use the sensitivity profiles to quantify risk associated with changes during adaptive planning. This research also models features of military operational planning via the mathematics of category theory. We formalize intuitive …

Notes For Contributors, Space And Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Waging Peace On The Final Frontier 64th Academy Assembly Proceedings, Space And Defense, Madison Walker

Space and Defense

In October 2022, the 64th annual Academy Assembly at the U.S. Air Force Academy took up the theme of “Waging Peace on the Final Frontier.” The following are proceedings of roundtables held by select undergraduates from around the country on questions of space policy & strategy.

Revitalizing America's Low-Yield Deterrent, Alex Kleitz

Space and Defense

An array of low-yield weapons will play a vital role in integrated deterrence. *The following essay, submitted in June 2022, earned the Junior Division USSTRATCOM General Larry D. Welch Deterrence Writing Award.

Operational Energy Solutions For A 21st Century Battlefield, Nestor R. Levin

Space and Defense

Development of alternative energy storage and distribution capacity for the modern battlefield is a major national security interest.

Annual Truman Lecture Usafa 64th Academy Assembly, John Shaw

Space and Defense

In October 2022, on the occasion of the 64th annual Academy Assembly, focused on “Waging Peace on the Final Frontier,” the deputy commander of USSPACEOM Lieutenant General John Shaw spoke at the Air Force Academy’s endowed Truman Lecture, which itself was created to inspire cadets toward careers in National Security leadership.

Usafa 64th Academy Assembly Banquet Keynote On Nasa Transformation, Madison Walker, Lori Garver

Space and Defense

In October 2022, at the 64th annual Academy Assembly, focused on “Waging Peace on the Final Frontier,” the former deputy administrator of NASA the Honorable Lori Garver spoke at the Air Force Academy’s 64th Academy Assembly banquet keynote on the implications of NASA transformation for international security. She was introduced in a pre-recorded video by Susan Eisenhower, honorary founder of USAFA’s Eisenhower Center, and interviewed by USAFA Institute for Future Conflict Fellow Madison Walker.

The Unified Command Plan For A New Cold War, David Stilwell

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Consulting To Avoid Kessler, Madison Walker

Space and Defense

The consultation obligation of Article IX from the Outer Space Treaty may be used to create a framework for sharing space situational awareness data, globally, with the intention of facilitating enduring coordination agreements for collision avoidance.

Protecting The Cosmos: Defining Celestial Bodies In The Outer Space Treaty, David Epstein

Space and Defense

Lack of a clear definition of the term “celestial bodies” as used in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty risks exporting legal and political conflict into the cosmos. *This essay is updated from a previously published version and appears here by permission of the Journal of Space Law at Ole Miss.

Editor's Note, Damon Coletta

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents, Space And Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Front Matter, Space And Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Space And Defense Volume 15 No. 1 Spring 2024 (Whole Issue), Space And Defense

Space and Defense

No abstract provided.

Implementing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles To Collect Human Gait Data At Distance And Altitude For Identification And Re-Identification, Donn E. Bartram

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Gait patterns are a class of biometric information pertaining to the way a person moves and poses. Gait information is unique to each person and can be used to identify and reidentify people. Historically, this task has been achieved through the use of multiple ground-based imaging sensors. However, as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) advance, they present the opportunity to evolve the process of persons identification and re-identification. Collecting human gait data using UAVs at distances ranging from 20m to 500m and altitudes ranging from 0m to 120m is a challenging task. The current biometric data collection methods, primarily designed for …

Autonomous Strike Uavs In Support Of Homeland Security Missions: Challenges And Preliminary Solutions, Meshari Aljohani, Ravi Mukkamala, Stephan Olariu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming crucial tools in modern homeland security applications, primarily because of their cost-effectiveness, risk reduction, and ability to perform a wider range of activities. This study focuses on the use of autonomous UAVs to conduct, as part of homeland security applications, strike missions against high-value terrorist targets. Owing to developments in ledger technology, smart contracts, and machine learning, activities formerly carried out by professionals or remotely flown UAVs are now feasible. Our study provides the first in-depth analysis of the challenges and preliminary solutions for the successful implementation of an autonomous UAV mission. Specifically, we …

Improving Our Vision Ii: Building Transparency And Cooperation, Eisenhower Center For Space And Defense Studies

Space and Defense

Workshop on Space Situational Awareness Data Sharing Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies World Security Institute’s Center for Defense Information Secure World Foundation London, United Kingdom, October 2007

This was the second workshop to bring together a range of stakeholders to discuss global needs and capabilities for Space Situational Awareness (SSA). The first workshop was held in September 2006 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This 2006 workshop was sponsored by the Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies and the World Security Institute’s Center for Defense Information. The 2006 workshop report can be found at the following internet site: http://www.cdi.org/PDFs/SSAConference_screen. …

Space Based Solar Power Workshop, Eisenhower Center For Space And Defense Studies

Space and Defense

Preventing resource conflicts in the face of increasing global populations and demands in the 21st century is a high priority for the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DOD). All solution options to these challenges should be explored, including opportunities from space.

Future Of Space Commerce Workshop: Reducing Risks And Fostering Partnerships – Synergies Between Civil, Military, Commercial, And New Space, Eisenhower Center For Space And Defense Studies

Space and Defense

Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies Futron Corporation NASA Ames Research Center Breckenridge, Colorado, August 2007

The Future of Space Commerce Workshop brought together participants from the civil, military, commercial, and new space sectors, and relevant academic, consulting, business, and financial organizations to discuss and explore how risks associated with space commerce development can be reduced, and to examine synergies to strengthen and advance partnerships between the sectors. The workshop was hosted by the United States (U.S.) Air Force Academy Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies in cooperation with Futron Corporation and NASA Ames Research Center.

China Working Group: China, Space, And Strategy, Eisenhower Center For Space And Defense Studies

Space and Defense

Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, Air University Keystone, Colorado, June 2007

Chinese advances in its space program in recent years has led to a growing international interest in the implications of Chinese programs in the civil, military, and commercial space sectors. This workshop, sponsored by the United States (U.S.) Air Force Academy Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies and the Air University School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, brought together a community of experts and policy-makers to discuss the implications of current and future Chinese space developments on space …

Summer Space Seminar 2007, Eisenhower Center For Space And Defense Studies

Space and Defense

Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies Space Policy Institute, George Washington University Colorado and Washington, DC, May – June 2007

The Summer Space Seminar 2007 proffered two principal goals: (1) to foster an education and interest in the interdisciplinary areas of space with the intent to develop space professionals now or in the future; and (2) to develop a network of relations across future civil, commercial, and military space professionals that will likely emerge from the participants in the Seminar.