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Disaster management is a complex practice that relies on access to and the usability of critical information to develop strategies for effective decision-making. The emergence of wearable internet of things (IoT) technology has attracted the interests of several major industries, making it one of the fastest-growing technologies to date. This thesis asks, How can disaster management incorporate wearable IoT technology in operations and decision-making practices in disaster response? How IoT is applied in other prominent industries, including construction, manufacturing and distribution, the Department of Defense, and public safety, provides a basis for furthering its application to challenges affecting agency coordination. The critical needs of disaster intelligence in the context of hurricanes, structural collapses, and wildfires are scrutinized to identify gaps that wearable technology could address in terms of information-sharing in multi-agency coordination and the decision-making practices that routinely occur in disaster response. Last, the specifics of wearable technology from the perspective of the private consumer and commercial industry illustrate its potential to improve disaster response but also acknowledge certain limitations including technical capabilities and information privacy and security., Civilian, Virginia Beach Fire Department / FEMA - USAR VATF-2, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

In urban communities, Black youth’s behaviors are often subjected to over-criminalization and punitive disciplinary processes at the hands of aggressive policing strategies and policies. Educating law enforcement on the impact of traumatic events and stressors on the behaviors of Black youth can offer new insight into understanding the effects of the phenomenon. This thesis uses qualitative methodology, including storytelling techniques, to develop a story of a young Black girl suffering from the ill effects of trauma as she interacts with police officers and the juvenile justice system. The fictional narrative along with historical background of policing in urban communities highlight the daily struggles of Black youth due to policing, economic conditions, and community violence, amongst other issues. The account of a traumatized youth searching for normalcy and security from her own community and finding safety with an empathetic police officer provides context for police officers seeking to understand the role they play in urban communities. Aggressive policing strategies can perpetuate the effects of traumatic events and stressors, but the actions of individual officers can be essential in limiting the impact trauma can have on Black youth., Civilian, Metropolitan Police Department D.C., Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

The United States is more politically divided than any other wealthy democracy in modern history. This thesis examines the role of discourse in the polarization process and suggests a way to change course. Using a social constructionist approach and an analytical framework focusing on definitions, metaphors, and identity, it analyzes the discourse of the Civil War and 9/11 to understand how these elements influence the understanding and outcomes of sociocultural events. It then examines the current political landscape, including the events at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, through the same discursive lens. This thesis finds that today’s political discourse is strikingly similar to that of the Civil War and 9/11, pitting the “true heirs” of the nation against an evil “other” using the same rhetorical devices. This similarity suggests that the language of division is consistent, and that the framework is broadly applicable. Given the catastrophic outcomes of the Civil War and 9/11 and the subsequent Global War on Terror (GWOT), the nation must take steps to change its discourse. This thesis concludes by providing recommendations that take advantage of the transformative potential of the framework’s components, which include pragmatic definitions, generative metaphors, and complex identities., Civilian, City of Tamarac Fire Rescue, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

This thesis explores trends in far-right ideological beliefs and the potential risk of radicalization among U.S. first responders. Although research exists on radicalization, violent extremism, and United States military members and veterans, there are minimal data on this topic related to U.S. first responders. This thesis explores radicalization and violent extremism through a comprehensive analysis of published data and findings related to risk factors, motivations, definitions, events, and trends and also analyzes data collected via a national survey of U.S. fire and police organizations. This study integrates these analyses to develop a framework for understanding the radicalization process in first responders and supply recommendations on future research and counter-radicalization policy. The study concludes that there appears to be a growing proliferation of far- right ideological risk factors and motivations in our active military, veterans, and first responders ranks, which requires action by leadership and practitioners as this threat from within evolves., Civilian, Charlotte Fire Department, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

American law enforcement relies heavily on open-source intelligence (OSINT) to effectively protect the citizens and communities that they serve. Because of technological advancements, this form of intelligence has rapidly evolved, making it difficult for law enforcement to efficiently collect, analyze, and disseminate this information. This thesis reviews current law enforcement use of open-source intelligence and conducts a case study on the use of open-source intelligence prior to and during the initial Ukraine invasion by Russian military forces. The research identifies social media open-source intelligence as the most heavily relied-upon form and a lack of collection standards, low public sentiment, and law enforcement culture as obstacles to its full potential use. Unprecedented crowdsourcing and high positive public sentiment toward Ukraine during the invasion were highlighted as key factors to success in defending against invading Russian forces. Forming a national OSINT standards committee, improving public sentiment to encourage public crowdsourcing, and forming a national OSINT database would increase law enforcement open-source intelligence effectiveness., Civilian, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Over a century of drug policy and law has failed to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. Drug policy and law have focused on reducing the supply of illicit drugs but have failed to consider factors that influence the demand for those drugs. The U.S. now faces an unprecedented crisis of opioid use, abuse, overdose, and death largely due to these failures.A gap analysis was conducted to identify shortcomings in existing policy. Gap analysis is used to determine whether a policy as written reaches desired goals and outcomes through its implementation. Biopsychosocial theory (BPS) was used to frame the recommendations for policy change. The BPS framework of human behavior and well-being encompasses all known influences on a person when attempting to diagnose or treat an illness, permitting a thorough examination of a policy’s ability to meet the needs of a population. The gap analysis shows the current policy does not produce desired outcomes in terms of drug abuse prevention, and women are affected more negatively than men. Women are at greater risk of losing their children, losing their jobs, being unable to find educational resources, and becoming homeless if they become addicted to opioids. The BPS suggests a shift in policy and law from supply reduction to demand reduction, which is critical to the future of women most at risk for drug abuse, overdose, and death., Civilian, Department of Social Services, State of California, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

The credibility and legitimacy of law enforcement agencies are largely contingent on the moral behavior of their workforces. Recent and historical instances of moral failure have reduced public trust in law enforcement organizations and undermined their missions. A better understanding of the determinants of moral behavior and drivers of moral failure in policing is needed to craft meaningful strategies that enhance the moral competence of individual officers. Using a relational developmental systems (RDS) approach, this thesis investigates the individual, team, organizational, and situational dimensions of law enforcement to identify conditions that influence moral behavior. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart CRASH scandal, Baltimore Police Department’s Gun Trace Task Force scandal, and death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police are used as case studies to test theoretical assertions and provide consistency. This research affirms the linkage between the individual and context, as posited by RDS. Findings of this work include the importance of value congruence, a multidimensional preference for disengagement, and the power exercised by salience, socialization, and self-efficacy in manifesting moral action. From these conclusions, this thesis recommends integrating ethical considerations throughout law enforcement training, reimaging the field training program as a moral apprenticeship, and adopting a just-culture approach to ethical accountability., Civilian, City of Yuma Fire Department, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Extraneous and even misused equipment amassed by local first response agencies has been made possible through federal grants and resources with little oversight and insufficient governing mechanisms. Acquisitions, particularly of tactical gear, have far outpaced the development of best practices and guidance for proper use of such government resources. The relative ease in purchasing these items has led to far-reaching implications for public safety leadership and the public, particularly police militarization. This thesis examines how gaps in oversight, transparency, and performance measurement in the delivery of federal grants and resources to public safety organizations have contributed to unintended uses. It analyzes original grant language, available case studies of grant misuse, and academic research, as well as peer-reviewed documents and scholarly commentary to understand the multi-level political strategies that grants-in-aid facilitate. This thesis ultimately recommends that communities should determine how public safety is serving them in ways that matter to them. This measure is vital if the grant system is to see any real regulation, structure, and oversight. This thesis finds that greater public engagement throughout the grant and acquisition process adds the missing layer of accountability at the local level—weighing in on, authorizing, and defining the parameters of use and informing future grant awards and allocations., Civilian, Los Angeles Fire Department, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Superior performance with long-lasting effects is the hallmark of a thriving organization. The success or failure of any organization hinges on its leaders to make the correct decisions at the correct time. As an organization grows in size and diversity, leadership must look both horizontally and vertically to ensure that the mission is completed. The leadership of any successful organization must be able to rely on its executive level management, its subordinates, as well as those in positions of authority who are similar in nature. This research paper examines the use of Kaplan and Norton’s balanced scorecard as a conceptual model to evaluate the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s performance. The paper explores the balanced scorecard’s identified deficits, discusses the potential reasons for the deficiencies, and makes recommendations on potential ways to address these shortcomings., Civilian, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Since the attacks of 9/11, the U.S. government has provided funding to federal, state, and local emergency response entities in order to prepare better for accidental, intentional, and natural threats. Public health departments have received grant funding in order to implement, maintain and exercise response plans within their purview. Grant requirements (deliverables) via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have included submitting preparedness plans and providing after-action reports from both real-world emergencies and exercise events to ensure the funds are invested appropriately and effectively. Analysis in this thesis of real-world emergencies and the lessons learned from them demonstrates the grant funding is falling short of its goal by not assessing for operational content and practicality. The subsequent development in this thesis of an all-hazards audit tool should ensure the ability to assess operational content and identify gaps, which will lead to an improved state of readiness.

This thesis explores policy options for allowing off-duty law enforcement to use cannabis, considering the potential decriminalization and legalization of recreational cannabis use and the high stress levels of first responders. Utilizing Bardach and Patashnik’s eight-step method, this thesis discusses the mental and physical health problems that law enforcement officers face and then provides research on cannabis to determine whether cannabis could be a useful tool in curbing the stress of this occupation. Finally, policies on recreational use for other occupations and a sample from Canada are examined. Research shows that stress levels in the law enforcement occupation cause substantial mental and physical ailments for officers. Moreover, for those retired or outside law enforcement, cannabis has been used as treatment for some of these conditions. This thesis finds that given the potential of federal legalization, fit-for-duty policies that allow recreational, off-duty use are powerful and beneficial tools to mitigate stress-related ailments.

Despite the rising demands and functions of non-kinetic warfare, the military bars most disabled Americans from entry. Artificial intelligence, complex decision-making, and fifth-generation-warfare elements stress a multidimensional force and cognitive skills over dominant kinetic traits. This thesis investigates the feasibility requirements, national security implications, and benefits to the Department of Defense of expanding active military service to disabled Americans. After reviewing U.S. and international integration of disabled persons, the defined needs and skills for emerging warfare, academic studies of disabled talents, and military policy, this thesis reveals the feasibility of inclusion. Recommendations include mainstreaming persons with disabilities within the existing military model, making changes to defense policy, establishing a pilot program or corps, and undertaking future research.

The U.S. corrections industry has a history of poor inmate healthcare delivery, with penal-system reform advocates and other stakeholders highlighting these failures. Inmates receiving poor medical and psychiatric care behind jail walls experience greater difficulty becoming self-sufficient, and this situation contributes to the nation’s recidivism problem. Caring for inmates is often a neglected proposition and because of this, the U.S. courts impose legal requirements that inmates receive healthcare. Access to quality healthcare specialists for inmates led the penal system to investigate and implement use of telehealth during the 1990s. This thesis investigates how the evolving field of telehealth and emerging technologies may contribute to improved inmate healthcare in the future. A myriad of factors discussed in the thesis pose as challenges to implementing innovations that could improve penal system healthcare. For all the challenges confronting corrections administrators and criminal reform advocates, the corrections system is at a crossroads, as there is potential to modernize jail facilities and use technology to improve the safety and healthcare of inmates, corrections officers and those who render care. Investing in technology infrastructure that supports emerging technologies could also facilitate simpler integration of future innovations that address suicide, mental illness and other medical health maladies that would otherwise go unaddressed.

The evolution of the computer virus remains constant, yet the metaphors used to explain the abstract ideas of computer science remain static. Previous cybersecurity research frames issues of security in physical security metaphors, using tangible ideas or icons, such as castles, to illustrate the need for defense-in-depth models for computer security. Research confirms that security techniques drawn from the castle metaphor serve to prevent infection by a previously identified variant of the virus, but those techniques are weak against novel strain or zero-day exploit. This thesis set out to answer the following question: What role can metaphors from emergent fields play in augmenting the dominant metaphors in cybersecurity applications? This research found metaphors provide limits for defenses and often carry assumptions about system design with them, allowing exploitation in unusual ways. When attacking computer systems designed around physical security models, malicious actors may take advantage of a system’s inherent weak points, and infection is inevitable in any networked system. Because complex attacks cannot be prevented by adopting ideas from a single metaphor or discipline of study, this thesis proposes reimagining cybersecurity threats through a wide variety of metaphorical lenses and adopting a plurality of defenses to augment physical security or defense-in-depth metaphors when addressing wicked problems in cybersecurity applications., Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

This thesis examines the extent to which and how select law enforcement organizations provide procedural justice training and identifies organizational barriers and drivers likely to affect broader implementation of procedural justice training. When procedural justice is a core operating and organizational principle in law enforcement, the results are higher public trust and lower adverse public interactions. Existing research, however, does not examine the extent or processes through which law enforcement organizations provide procedural justice training. This thesis presents the results of a qualitative analysis that included interviews and research on current practices and a Lewin force field analysis. This thesis found that while such training is provided to academy recruits, there is limited subsequent in-service training and a lack of internal procedural justice training for supervisors. Therefore, this thesis offers several recommendations for further research and policy change: a reassessment of when and how often procedural training is provided and the implementation of continuous annual in-service training for line personnel and those promoting to supervisory roles., Civilian, California Highway Patrol, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Bergen County, New Jersey, has seen opioid-related overdoses and deaths spike in the last few years. One of the challenges in addressing this epidemic is that “at-risk” individuals may encounter multiple segmented domains such as law enforcement, recovery services, and healthcare institutions, but no one agency has oversight of all the contacts. Each encounter with at-risk populations, including those who suffer from opioid addiction or who may recidivate, becomes a data record in a system. This thesis asks how can law enforcement leverage such data sets to address the opioid epidemic and battle recidivism? This research examined law enforcement arrest data and overdose reporting in Bergen County, analyzing which risk factors in recidivism could be discerned using statistical information, cross-tabulations, Pearson’s chi-squared tests, and data modeling from the Cox proportional hazards model. The results showed that no demographic profile was more likely to have another overdose or death, and theft arrests coincided with a decreased chance of overdose, despite law enforcement’s presumption of the contrary. The strongest predictor of an overdose was a prior overdose, with the risk increasing for each additional overdose. Additionally, having any contact with law enforcement was an indicator of a significantly higher chance of overdose or death. Thus, each interaction between law enforcement and an observed opioid abuser is a critical point for intervention., Civilian, Bergen County Prosecutor's Office New Jersey, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

This thesis examines how the economic and social effects of globalization have impacted U.S. homeland security. Economic globalization, which is a shift from a regional or national economy toward global economy, has helped to create increasing economic inequality, impacting homeland security. This thesis examines literature on globalization, economic inequality, and homeland security, and reviews these ideas in light of two events in the United States: the Flint, Michigan, water crisis and the January 6, 2021, riots in Washington, DC. It finds that globalization has led to a decline in measures of well-being of the U.S. population and a loss of faith among some segments of that population that believe the U.S. economic and political systems no longer serve their interests. It finds that these declines are consistent with homeland security risks, provides recommendations on how to address the impacts of globalization in the future, and suggests areas of further study. These recommendations include ensuring that homeland security considerations are integrated into economic policy debates; adjusting economic policies to improve the distribution of income to Americans near the bottom of the income scale; reconfiguring how the cost of corporate failure is allocated, particularly with respect to critical infrastructure; and significantly revamping the U.S. Tax Code so that corporate actions that are antithetical to homeland security interests are disincentivized or penalized.

The Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) and Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) created the Arsenal Technical High School (ATHS) Fire Rescue Program (FRP) for juniors and seniors in the heart of Indianapolis. The program's goals are multidimensional—community outreach, a pathway to a high school diploma, and a recruitment tool. For 10 years, however, the IFD has hired not a single program graduate. This research examines the IFD's history of recruitment, government-issued consent decree, and current demographics, comparing the department's diversity challenges to those in the workplace generally and in police recruitment. Given this context, this thesis defines the intended outcomes, critical problems, successes, and failures of the ATHS-FRP and offers a series of recommendations: incorporate other IPS schools into the program, create "legacy spots" for children whose parents work for the IFD, develop an emergency medical technician class during the senior year, emphasize IFD 9-1-1 telecommunications as an available career path, add half a point to the scoring packets of program graduates in good standing, create a part-time civilian job with the IFD to bridge the gap between graduation and the minimum hiring age of 21, and possibly, relocate the program to the new IFD Training Facility., Civilian, Indianapolis Fire Department, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is responsible for protecting all U.S. borders. CBP protects all air, land, and seaports, as well as the areas on the border between the official ports of entry. Drug trafficking organizations and human trafficking organizations continually target gaps in CBP’s infrastructure, practices, and methodologies to exploit any shortfalls. Outside of technology and infrastructure gaps, CBP employees themselves are targets for criminal organizations. Criminal organizations look to corrupt current employees or insert a member of the criminal organization as a new employee to further their criminal enterprise. This thesis investigates the human element in insider threats and employee corruption, as well as whether current nontechnology-based CBP tactics to combat insider threats and employee corruption requires additional fortifications. One incentive-based and one anti-corruption program are studied to determine if those programs can benefit CBP. CBP has a unique and challenging operational environment. This thesis addresses the unique operating environment encountered by CBP and provides recommendations to fill the gaps in current nontechnology-based insider threat and anti-corruption methodologies used in CBP., Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Superior performance with long-lasting effects is the hallmark of a thriving organization. The success or failure of any organization hinges on its leaders to make the correct decisions at the correct time. As an organization grows in size and diversity, leadership must look both horizontally and vertically to ensure that the mission is completed. The leadership of any successful organization must be able to rely on its executive level management, its subordinates, as well as those in positions of authority who are similar in nature. This research paper examines the use of Kaplan and Norton’s balanced scorecard as a conceptual model to evaluate the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s performance. The paper explores the balanced scorecard’s identified deficits, discusses the potential reasons for the deficiencies, and makes recommendations on potential ways to address these shortcomings.

This thesis is a single-case study of Teach for America's model for recruitment and selection of young adults. The civil service has struggled with recruitment, which is becoming increasingly urgent as its workforce ages. Human capital challenges are at the center of mission failures in government. National service is an indicator of civic engagement, which is necessary for the functioning of democracy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency remarked on its goal to "cultivate the next generation of emergency managers" in its 2016 Human Capital Strategic Plan, and yet its challenges with recruitment persist. On the other hand, Teach for America is a shining example of recruitment to national service while the government is struggling. The civil service has yet to address long-standing challenges with its organization, particularly its human capital systems that control recruitment, hiring, selection, and performance management. These challenges undermine public trust in government and also have a direct impact on recruitment. To examine the civil service's recruitment shortfalls, this study examined Teach for America's model. This study provides recommendations and a summary of findings that may inform government leaders who wish to recruit and hire young adults.

The strategy a campus police leader and university administration adopt in a post-9/11 world must consider the context of campus attacks and foiled plots over the past 12 years: the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, the 2014 University of California Santa Barbara attack killing six, and, tangentially, the 2015 arrest by Boston Police of a Boston Police captain’s son for plotting an Islamic State-inspired attack against a college campus. The nexus among the three attacks is that the campus and campus community were the direct targets of the attacks. Whether it be the threat of an individual’s radicalization or an untreated mental illness, American college campuses are today and shall foreseeably remain locations challenged by the potential for violence. This issue can be examined internally through threat assessment teams or campus partnerships with key stakeholders and externally through community policing partnerships, training, and networking. Given the increasing complexity and diverse social fabric of colleges and universities, campus police leaders must understand and prepare for a wide range of threats in a post-9/11 and politically polarized era., http://archive.org/details/campuspolicepart1094564908, Civilian, Yale University, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Modern slavery, commonly referred to as human trafficking, is one of the highest sources of transnational organized criminal revenue generated from private economy slavery and state-imposed forced labor, with the bulk of known profits coming from sex exploitation. Second only to drug trafficking, modern slavery is the source of major global commerce. It also can serve as an open recruitment pool for combatants, brides, and sex slaves by extremist groups. Modern slavery, including child forced labor, is interwoven into the daily lives and routines of Americans. While most U.S. law enforcement and homeland security activity focuses on the traditional sex industry, there are far more victims of forced labor and forced marriage across the globe. The questions researched are: (1) What is the current U.S. counter-slavery framework? (2) Can an economic approach garner effective results? (3) Can models employed by other countries effectively address modern slavery? This thesis explores some of the laws, regulations, policies, and available data to demonstrate that human trafficking is a serious national and homeland security problem. Looking primarily at the commercial, supply chain side of human trafficking, this paper demonstrates that there is more in the realm of modern slavery than the degradation of its victims. Some recommendations are offered to enhance the awareness and enforcement needed to eradicate this heinous crime., http://archive.org/details/stcenturyandnoem1094564113, Civilian, Health Emergency Preparedness & Response Administration, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Rehabilitation is one of the main goals of the correctional system, with numerous and varied programs being implemented for centuries. The United States spends millions on rehabilitation programs, yet recidivism rates, prison violence, and correctional costs continue to rise. This thesis explores how prison seminaries are addressing these issues and in the process, changing inmates' attitudes and behaviors. Examining Angola, the first prison seminary that became a model for many subsequent prison seminaries, including interviews with inmates and prison staff, reveals how inmates' attitudes and behaviors changed as a result of their seminary. Similar programs that follow Angola's model were also reviewed to determine if there was a reduction in acts of violence and a change in inmates' prosocial behaviors as a result of the programs. This thesis analyzed quantitative evidence in the form of prison statistics and inmate conduct records to determine if prison seminaries lower rates of recidivism as well as inmate violence. Legal case studies were used to evaluate the constitutionality of prison seminaries. Finally, this thesis identified reasons why prison seminaries are changing the overall culture of prisons, including individual identity transformations, the activities of inmate ministers, and participation in religious activities. The findings reveal prison seminaries are reducing both recidivism rates and inmate violence, which reduces the overall costs of incarceration., http://archive.org/details/seminariesinthes1094564141, Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Critical race theory (CRT) contends that U.S. structures and institutions have created a society in which White superiority and Black subjugation are widespread. Law enforcement—far from supporting justice—has been a primary source of oppression and marginalization of Black people. Drawing on CRT, this thesis examines the U.S. history of policing and its role in enforcing racism through policing practices. A CRT lens shows how the racialized policing of the past persists in contemporary policing. This perspective suggests that Black individuals experience trauma through encounters with the police, and the history and contemporary reality of racialized policing erode trust between the police and Black people. This thesis argues that if police officers were trained to understand the history of racialized policing and the brutality it has waged against Blacks—and the ways current policing implicitly mimic the explicit racist practices of the past—then policing could change for the better. Following the recommendations of the 21st Century Policing report, this thesis suggests that police officers need to develop “critical empathy,” an educated, empathic awareness of the history of racialized policing and the trauma it produces, if police are to become guardians of individuals and communities of color., http://archive.org/details/livedandremember1094564146, Civilian, Cambridge Police Department, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

In 2017, the United States fire service documented 87 firefighter deaths and an estimated 58,835 firefighter injuries. To reduce these risks, the fire service invests hours of training in personnel to keep them as safe as possible. Unfortunately, these fatalities and injuries continue to happen despite the number of training hours conducted to master department standard operating procedures (SOPs) and maintain state continuing education requirements. Although training will never prevent 100% of fire-related deaths, it is a critical component in decision-making in a high risk/low frequency occupation. Based on NIOSH findings, it can impact response to improve firefighter safety. This thesis presents various training models currently used in the fire service, how cognitive processes and panic and stress impact firefighter response, other challenges and impacts on training, as well as best practices for training in other organizations. The evaluation of these factors assists in developing a better understanding of how we learn and retain information and how these lessons can be applied to improve training in the fire service., http://archive.org/details/trainingforfailu1094564038, Civilian, Akron Fire Dept, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

By law, refugees entering the United States must become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. But successful integration means more than achieving this benchmark. True integration involves social inclusion and ties to community and nation—particularly difficult for “free case” refugees who have no family in the U.S. and are wholly reliant upon resettlement organizations. This thesis asks the question: How can free case refugee resettlement practices be improved to enhance the likelihood of sociocultural integration and create stronger ties to the United States? A comparative assessment of three resettlement programs was undertaken to identify best practices. Integration success was assessed through statistical measures such as percentage of refugees who self-migrated after initial resettlement, and subjective measures of wellbeing and satisfaction as reported by refugees themselves. The analysis found refugees served by programs that lasted two years, as opposed to one year or less, reported a high degree of wellbeing and satisfaction, and less secondary migration. Moreover, refugees who were required to stay in a location for an extended period were less likely to engage in secondary migration afterward. This thesis recommends national refugee resettlement policy be updated to require local resettlement programs last a minimum of two years and that free case refugees must remain in their original resettlement location in exchange for three years of resettlement assistance., http://archive.org/details/youdonthavetoliv1094564083, Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The Las Vegas Route 91 shooting, as well as other recent mass-casualty events, have exposed gaps in the response of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and hospitals to these types of incidents. This research sought to examine whether the use of EMS field resources in hospital triage could enhance the overall response to active-shooter and other mass-casualty events. Case studies of the Boston Marathon bombing and the Route 91 shooting were conducted. Additionally, an exercise by St. Marks Hospital testing the concept of EMS triage at hospitals was analyzed. The Las Vegas case study revealed significant gaps in hospital and EMS response and the Boston Marathon case study showed just how efficient hybrid teams of hospital and EMS personnel could be. A review of the St. Marks exercise showed that EMS crews at the hospital significantly enhanced the efficiency and efficacy of the triage operation. Finally, current EMS operations were reviewed and recommendations made to allow EMS crews to be assigned to the nearest hospitals without harming the on-scene response to these incidents., http://archive.org/details/twoteamsonemissi1094564065, Civilian, Salt Lake City Fire Department, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Knowledge is critical to the advancement of any organization, yet lessons learned and after-action reports are insufficient to learn from high-threat events by the homeland security enterprise (HSE). What differentiates sub-optimal from meaningful learning is a systemic learning culture and emphasis on sensemaking and speed. This thesis examines effective organizational learning frameworks that can be applied to the HSE to accelerate knowledge acquisition from major events in near real-time. The results demonstrate that speed is not inhibitory to the learning process. Recommendations highlight the need for adaptive change in how the homeland security environment evolves through the creation of an entity responsible for organizational learning. Such an approach would also leverage local learning officers to achieve bi-directionality in a novel knowledge acquisition process. A new framework for learning must also include a process for near real-time data collection and sensemaking, which would require both public-sector incubators as well as advocacy networks within a new systematic learning process. This approach to organizational learning is required so as not to repeat failures and to enable 'fast learning' as threats and threat actors evolve.

Reissued 29 Sep 2020 with edits to abstract, executive summary, and figure 5., In 2019, only twelve U.S. states/territories required the Emergency Communications Officer (ECO) to meet hiring standards, twenty-nine required basic training standards, twenty-three required continuing-education standards, and twenty-four required use of pre-arrival medical instruction protocols. Furthermore, the federal government misclassifies the profession within its Office and Administrative Support occupational grouping, as opposed to the Protective Service occupational grouping. There is substantial evidence of 9-1-1 failures in professionalism and proficiency, nationwide. This thesis seeks to answer the question: How could the nation’s 9-1-1 system—specifically its ECO occupation—evolve to address problems and maximize advantages to public safety and homeland security? It is a policy analysis but includes some qualitative analysis. Professionalization and standardization need to occur within the system, beginning with an accurate occupational classification. Increased compensation commensurate with the work performed is also needed, and that should be accompanied with mandated hiring, basic training and certification standards, and requirements in the use of pre-arrival medical instruction protocols. Lastly, a termination of all jurisdictional misappropriation of 9-1-1 fees, updated and sustainable funding streams, and adequate investment in technological enhancements necessary to improve the system's efficiency, proficiency, redundancy, and resiliency need to occur., http://archive.org/details/whatsouremergenc1094564917, Civilian, Idaho State Police, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Background: Recent mass-casualty events have exposed errors with common assumptions about response processes, notably triage and transport of patients. Response planners generally assume that the majority of patients from a mass-casualty event will have received some level of field triage and transport from the scene to the hospital will have been coordinated through on-scene incident command. When this is not the case, emergency response at the hospital is hampered as staff must be pulled to handle the influx of untriaged patients. Objective: Determine whether the use of emergency medical service (EMS) field resources in hospital triage could enhance the overall response to active-shooter and other mass-casualty events. Design: A proof of concept study was planned in conjunction with a regularly scheduled mass-casualty hospital exercise conducted by an urban level II trauma center in Utah. This was a cross-over study with triage initially performed by hospital staff, and at the midpoint of the exercise, triage was transferred to EMS field units. General performance was judged by exercise planners with limited additional data collection. Results: EMS crews at the hospital significantly enhanced the efficiency and efficacy of the triage operation in both qualitative and quantitative assessment. Conclusions: Hospital planners deemed the proof of concept exercise a success and are now experimenting with implementation of this alternate approach to triage. However, much additional work remains to fully implement this change in processes.

Natural and man-made disasters have altered the public safety paradigm by contributing to an increase in firearms sales, gun-carrying by the public, and a general relaxation of the rules of engagement in which citizens may employ deadly force. These conditions have made the landscape in which police, fire, and emergency services work potentially more dangerous. This thesis addresses how public safety agencies should evaluate and respond tactically, operationally, and strategically to the changing landscape caused by crisis events. It begins with an examination of two such crisis events, Hurricane Katrina and Sandy Hook, focusing on the gun-related outcomes of these events. The thesis then presents two hypothetical scenarios that incorporate these gun-related outcomes to contextualize them for public safety officers. The thesis then offers prescriptive recommendations for public safety agencies to manage disaster convergence of armed citizens, interact with schools where armed staff members are present, and build positive relationships with the gun-owning community. Finally, it concludes that interacting with armed citizens is a trend that will likely continue and that the best course of action is to plan for these challenges in advance of crisis events., http://archive.org/details/convergencegunsa1094563478, Civilian, Billings Fire Dept., Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis investigates the issue of "overstays," or individuals who remain in the United States after the legal length of admission has expired, and asks, "How can the U.S. government develop a policy to reduce the number of people who overstay their legal length of admission?" A review of government reports, congressional testimony, agency documentation, and the relevant laws was conducted to shed light on this persistent and growing issue. This thesis explored the lack of information, resources, and consistency in dealing with overstays within the nation’s immigration system. The thesis proposes two recommendations to address this issue: the first, which assumes no additional resources or support, and a second, more ambitious one, that requires changes in public perception, enforcement, and legislation., http://archive.org/details/overstaystheless1094561382, Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

In 2017, the United States fire service documented 87 firefighter deaths and an estimated 58,835 firefighter injuries. To reduce these risks, the fire service invests hours of training in personnel to keep them as safe as possible. Unfortunately, these fatalities and injuries continue to happen despite the number of training hours conducted to master department standard operating procedures (SOPs) and maintain state continuing education requirements. Although training will never prevent 100% of fire-related deaths, it is a critical component in decision-making in a high risk/low frequency occupation. Based on NIOSH findings, it can impact response to improve firefighter safety. This thesis presents various training models currently used in the fire service, how cognitive processes and panic and stress impact firefighter response, other challenges and impacts on training, as well as best practices for training in other organizations. The evaluation of these factors assists in developing a better understanding of how we learn and retain information and how these lessons can be applied to improve training in the fire service.

The threat that Islamic jihadists pose to U.S. security is often highlighted in political debates and media commentary; however, U.S. citizens who have no affiliation with foreign terrorist organizations commit the vast majority of violent attacks within the United States. Violent extremists are becoming more common, and researchers believe the ideology and mental health of lone violent individuals is different from that of group-organized political terrorists. To address this growing threat to homeland security, this thesis demonstrates how fire departments, specifically the Virginia Beach Fire Department, can address mental health in their life safety programs for elementary and middle schools to reduce the likelihood that students will become school shooters or violent extremists. This thesis surveys and incorporates best practices from national and foreign programs to outline a new safety curriculum for the city of Virginia Beach.

The purpose of this thesis was to explore the modern threats to the maritime homeland security environment and the effectiveness of Area Maritime Security Committees (AMSCs) in preventing and responding to transportation security incidents. AMSCs are deliberately designed to encompass senior representatives of numerous stakeholders in the maritime homeland security enterprise, such as law enforcement, fire, industry, and labor. There were two research questions used in this project: What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the effectiveness of AMSCs, and how can AMSCs improve their interagency collaboration to enhance the homeland security enterprise? Two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of AMSCs. These were issued to 24 people from five Captain of the Port Zones across the West Coast of the United States. The survey answers were then evaluated against open-source reports produced by AMSCs. Between these research sources, AMSCs were shown to be positive collaboration and information-sharing mechanisms, but geography creates barriers to participation and effectiveness. In order to improve, AMSCs must increase funding, change policy to fund the travel and training of AMSC members, recruit and provide engaging training for new personnel, and establish metrics of performance. On the national level, all AMSCs should target and monitor common threats to better secure the maritime transportation system., http://archive.org/details/areamaritimesecu1094561344, Lieutenant Commander, United States Coast Guard, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Over the course of several years, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has worked diligently to improve the quality of its leaders. Such efforts have focused almost exclusively on initiating or expanding programs related to leadership development. To date, the impact of that exertion might be charitably described as tepid. While the issues associated with existing leaders have received ample attention, the selection process that precipitated them has not. This gap represents an opportunity to explore a nascent space and suggest new solutions that target the problem at the source. This thesis examines the process of leadership selection at a network level and finds several systemic problems related to measurement, structure, and decision-making. These problems bear a striking resemblance to those observed in the intelligence community and its ability to accurately predict complex future geopolitical events. One method that has dramatically improved the accuracy of geopolitical predictions is superforecasting. At its core, leadership selection is a prediction or a forecast. It is an educated but nonetheless imperfect best guess about how a candidate observed today will perform tomorrow. These features collectively suggest a novel question. Could DHS use a superforecasting methodology to improve its leadership selection process? This thesis follows the progression of that question to an unexpected destination and offers several concrete recommendations., http://archive.org/details/shootthehorseand1094561354, Outstanding Thesis, Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The purpose of this research is to examine how the six Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) task forces measure performance and other goal-setting mechanisms to counter the threat posed by gangs and determine ways measures and mechanisms can be improved. Using research from journals, U.S. government reports, and open sources, this thesis uses a policy analysis to examine TAG documents, policies, and processes and compare these with benefits and challenges from other gang task forces. The thesis identifies models and frameworks used by law enforcement and the business sector to measure performance in the TAGs. Thesis findings include a proposal to use a logic model and the objectives and key results framework for setting goals and measuring performance. The implementation of this recommendation should yield a TAG structure with quantifiable and reliable metrics of success that optimize the capabilities and resources of all participants., http://archive.org/details/measuringperform1094561198, Civilian, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The government's unclassified terror watchlist, the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), has grown dramatically, stressing government screening and counterterrorism resources. The TSDB has been criticized for lacking independent oversight and transparency in its operations, which has led some to allege it is discriminatory toward minority communities. How should the TSDB be improved to improve transparency, efficiency, and accuracy, and to decrease secrecy and perceived bias? This thesis is a policy analysis that examines the TSDB administrative processes to determine the extent to which the structure and function serve or compromise national security. It also considers the difficulties the system of redress poses for those classified as a "Known or Suspected Terrorist" by their inclusion on the watchlist. This thesis recommends that the evidentiary standard needed to list a person on the watchlist should not be changed, but the government should extend the procedures recently adopted for No Fly subjects to all citizens and lawfully admitted permanent residents who request redress of their watchlist status. Judicial oversight and fixed review periods should be added to the redress process to facilitate independent review of the government's watchlisting determinations and ensure that all information contained in the TSDB is regularly reviewed., http://archive.org/details/thewatchlistimpr1094561240, Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

This thesis explores the doctrinal divide among homeland defense (HD), homeland security (HS), and defense support to civil authorities (DSCA) and questions whether these doctrinal spaces are adequately instructive to National Guard domestic action. The thesis explores the Department of Defense's (DoD) important contributions to HD and DSCA and the Guard’s historical and contemporary roles in HD and HS. This work proposes that the DoD’s reticence to describe its actions as HS creates a doctrinal void for the Guard. This thesis advances DSCA as theoretically and practically useful for the DoD but concurrently contravenes core principles of domestic response, which is practically inadequate for domestic Guard action. By exploring military action in large-scale, complex disasters and national special security events, this thesis provides insight into the legal, policy, and fiscal challenges and solutions for clearer domestic doctrine. The thesis explores whether the Guard can be better employed in disasters by adjudicating matters of defense over security and engaging in a federalism conversation aimed at discriminating between disasters that are “national matters” and those that are “state matters.”, http://archive.org/details/aframeworkfornat1094562258, Colonel, United States Air National Guard, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

Law enforcement has begun to embrace social media as a communication tool; but, in most cases, agencies have not created strategies around using social media for crisis communication. This thesis focused on identifying smart practices in crisis communication to determine what a social media crisis communication strategy for law enforcement should look like. The use of force by law enforcement often results in a negative community reaction; this research focused on communication on social media after use of force incidents. An analysis of crisis communication theory and research was conducted. The analysis included situational crisis communication theory, attribution theory, image repair theory, social information processing theory, and social presence theory. An examination was conducted of successful crisis communication strategies used in the private sector, which revealed seven common elements. The commonalities led to the conclusion that law enforcement should establish protocols and create strategies with these elements: conduct regular scenario-based crisis communication training, leverage the young social-media savvy generation that grew up with technology, commonly called “digital natives,” for social media communications, actively monitor social media, with attention not only to content but also to tone and lexicon, ensure timely communication with the public after use of force incidents, and place priority in messaging on qualities, such as honesty and compassion., http://archive.org/details/crisiscommunicat1094562241, Civilian, Metropolitan Police Department - City of St. Louis, Missouri, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

While the United States' Pacific territories were brought into the U.S. fold in recognition of their importance to national security, today many Americans—including many policy makers—seem to be unfamiliar with the U.S. Pacific territories and their strategic value. This thesis addresses the question, "What is the value of the United States' Pacific territories—Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and American Samoa—to the nation's homeland security, and what are the strategic implications of that value?" Secondary sources such as congressional testimony, military doctrine and unclassified plans, and governmental reports were analyzed to answer that question, using the framework of the DIME (diplomatic, informational, military, and economic) instruments of national power to assess the overlap of homeland security missions with national security interests. While the territories contribute to the nation's security, the lack of coordinated and informed management by the federal government to these territories, including homeland security missions that have at times been at odds with U.S. military interests, prevents a full realization of their potential. Recommendations are made for reexamination of legal, process, and funding approaches to the U.S. Pacific territories by the federal government, including homeland security agencies., http://archive.org/details/punchingabovethe1094562300, Civilian, Department of Homeland Security, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

The rapid deployment of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology will undoubtedly have a significant impact on public safety services, including law enforcement agencies. Law enforcement can embrace AV technology, with the advent of autonomous police vehicles (APVs). The APV is designed with standard AV technology but is also packaged with complementary technologies, including an integrated unmanned aircraft system (UAS), facial recognition, thermal imaging, automated license plate readers, and gunshot detection systems. The anticipated benefits and unintended consequences of emerging technologies, such as the APV, are not always assessed by law enforcement. Thus, the goal of this thesis was to determine the likely impacts on law enforcement of the deployment of the APV. This thesis examined emerging AV technologies and complementary technologies, and analyzed plausible future scenarios to lend insight to public safety executives on the changing roles, mission, and tasks law enforcement officers may encounter. This thesis determined that the APV benefits to law enforcement, such as improving officer efficiency and officer safety likely outweigh the trepidations. This thesis recommends that law enforcement agencies should find a void to fill when the APV becomes realized. This void may only present itself once the APV is in service and fully functional; thus, law enforcement agencies should be mindful of this possible void in order to pivot for sustained future success., http://archive.org/details/autonomouspolice1094562255, Civilian, California Highway Patrol, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

China is currently the second-largest film audience market in the world and is set to surpass the U.S. market by 2020. China’s lucrative market is controlled by Beijing’s state, which permits only the release of films that place China in a positive light. Meanwhile, China has nefariously sought U.S. technology through spying, specifically targeting the space industry where China has emerged as the strongest competitor to the United States. This thesis examines China’s intentions of controlling narratives and stealing or co-opting media tradecraft and capabilities through the use of its markets and investment. Six Hollywood films are examined to understand the nature of China’s expanding sharp power into United States through Hollywood. This thesis concludes that by controlling Hollywood, China may be positioned to shape perceptions of the U.S. society, which is susceptible to propaganda particularly coming from American sources. This research concludes with three recommendations to help control or mitigate the Chinese threat., http://archive.org/details/chinasemergingso1094563472, Civilian, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.

For the last several years, the United States has been the number-one destination for inward migration—both legal and illegal. Persons with undocumented immigration status are at a high risk of being targeted by traffickers and forced into modern-day slavery. Of the more than 550 cases of human trafficking reported by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001, nearly half were from the four most populous states—California, Florida, Texas, and New York—which foster a welcoming environment for immigrants. Within California, Monterey County’s labor and industrial profile, with a strong demand for agricultural laborers and hospitality industry service employees, suggests it is at high risk for trafficking. However, the low number of arrests and prosecutions to date indicates that the current level of human trafficking prevention in Monterey County might not be commensurate with its risk. Using the UN’s internationally recognized 4Ps anti-trafficking framework, this thesis assesses Monterey County’s risk factors for human trafficking and its current approach to combating human trafficking, concluding that there remain many areas in which significant improvement is needed. It then proposes anti-trafficking recommendations for Monterey County reached through investigating approaches used in other areas, including Florida and Texas, with similar socioeconomic indicators.

Critical race theory (CRT) contends that U.S. structures and institutions have created a society in which White superiority and Black subjugation are widespread. Law enforcement—far from supporting justice—has been a primary source of oppression and marginalization of Black people. Drawing on CRT, this thesis examines the U.S. history of policing and its role in enforcing racism through policing practices. A CRT lens shows how the racialized policing of the past persists in contemporary policing. This perspective suggests that Black individuals experience trauma through encounters with the police, and the history and contemporary reality of racialized policing erode trust between the police and Black people. This thesis argues that if police officers were trained to understand the history of racialized policing and the brutality it has waged against Blacks—and the ways current policing implicitly mimic the explicit racist practices of the past—then policing could change for the better. Following the recommendations of the 21st Century Policing report, this thesis suggests that police officers need to develop “critical empathy,” an educated, empathic awareness of the history of racialized policing and the trauma it produces, if police are to become guardians of individuals and communities of color.

The Las Vegas Route 91 shooting, as well as other recent mass-casualty events, have exposed gaps in the response of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and hospitals to these types of incidents. This research sought to examine whether the use of EMS field resources in hospital triage could enhance the overall response to active-shooter and other mass-casualty events. Case studies of the Boston Marathon bombing and the Route 91 shooting were conducted. Additionally, an exercise by St. Marks Hospital testing the concept of EMS triage at hospitals was analyzed. The Las Vegas case study revealed significant gaps in hospital and EMS response and the Boston Marathon case study showed just how efficient hybrid teams of hospital and EMS personnel could be. A review of the St. Marks exercise showed that EMS crews at the hospital significantly enhanced the efficiency and efficacy of the triage operation. Finally, current EMS operations were reviewed and recommendations made to allow EMS crews to be assigned to the nearest hospitals without harming the on-scene response to these incidents.

Rehabilitation is one of the main goals of the correctional system, with numerous and varied programs being implemented for centuries. The United States spends millions on rehabilitation programs, yet recidivism rates, prison violence, and correctional costs continue to rise. This thesis explores how prison seminaries are addressing these issues and in the process, changing inmates' attitudes and behaviors. Examining Angola, the first prison seminary that became a model for many subsequent prison seminaries, including interviews with inmates and prison staff, reveals how inmates' attitudes and behaviors changed as a result of their seminary. Similar programs that follow Angola's model were also reviewed to determine if there was a reduction in acts of violence and a change in inmates' prosocial behaviors as a result of the programs. This thesis analyzed quantitative evidence in the form of prison statistics and inmate conduct records to determine if prison seminaries lower rates of recidivism as well as inmate violence. Legal case studies were used to evaluate the constitutionality of prison seminaries. Finally, this thesis identified reasons why prison seminaries are changing the overall culture of prisons, including individual identity transformations, the activities of inmate ministers, and participation in religious activities. The findings reveal prison seminaries are reducing both recidivism rates and inmate violence, which reduces the overall costs of incarceration.

Misinformation and disinformation have increasingly been a focus of public and media scrutiny in recent years. What differentiates past forms of misinformation from present-day are the new tools of information warfare—primarily the internet, and specifically social media platforms—which have effectively weaponized intentional false narratives directed at populations most vulnerable to manipulation. Where there is a lack of diverse populations willing to think critically about important issues, the mass nudging of social and political opinion via misinformation and disinformation both widens societal divides and stimulates action (or sometimes inaction) based on a false narrative. This thesis explores how we can better understand and address the proliferation of misinformation by viewing it through an epidemiological lens. To aid in this examination, the processes of cognitive bias will be explained as they relate to interventional opportunities to prevent contraction and spread, develop immunity, and treat the disease of misinformation. Recommendations focus on building individual and herd immunity to false narratives, reducing the virulence of these messages, and making online environments less conducive to the spread of misinformation. These steps require significant commitment to policies that will be difficult to achieve in a partisan and polarized sociopolitical environment, but they are necessary to support fact-based democratic discourse and decision-making.

The purpose of this research, broadly speaking, is to expose the threat that fake news poses to our national security. This thesis answers the question: Can the information laundering model, or a modified version of it, be used to explain how the internet is exploited to spread fake news, and the resulting threat to the United States? I assert that a well-crafted narrative, whether true or false, can be spread rapidly online due to the accessibility and interconnectedness of the internet ecosystem. I then articulate how these narratives can be further accelerated and disseminated when propagandists take advantage of existing processes that improve the customization, ease of access, and availability of information online. I do this by modifying the information laundering model, and then using the new model to examine the interconnectedness of search engines, blogs, social networking platforms, and media/academic outlets, and how these connections can be exploited to launder false or purposefully misleading information into public discourse. Finally, I demonstrate how this process allows adversarial nations, criminals, and malicious actors to increase public discord, undermine democracy, and threaten Americans’ physical and cognitive security.