Theses
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Publication DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT OF A MICROGRID DIGITAL TWIN TO ENHANCE ENERGY RESILIENCE IN NAVAL INSTALLATION MICROGRIDS(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2025-03) Wolfe, Cody J.; Beery, Paul T.; Van Bossuyt, Douglas L.; Systems Engineering (SE)Microgrids have been identified by the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) as a potential solution to achieving overall energy security onboard naval installations by providing continuous and uninterrupted power during disturbance events. This thesis investigates the adoption of digital twin (DT) technology for microgrids and the potential effectiveness of a microgrid digital twin (MGDT) to enhance energy resilience onboard naval installations. The current research on DT applications for microgrids highlights many proposed benefits. However, there is a lack of demonstrated case studies on the development and integration of a MGDT with real-world microgrid hardware proving their efficacy. To evaluate the effectiveness of MGDTs in enhancing the resilience of microgrids, this thesis proposes an MGDT development framework that aligns with established systems engineering processes. The proposed MGDT development framework is used in a case study that develops and tests an MGDT for a real-world small-scale microgrid that employs a predictive load shedding algorithm for dynamically shedding non-critical loads. Analysis of the results from the case study showed an enhancement in resilience of the small-scale microgrid using the MGDT compared to traditional load shedding methods. Potential areas for improvement of the MGDT and recommendations to NAVFAC for operationalizing MGDTs are provided.Publication COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF A BLUNT BODY RE-ENTRY VEHICLE AND UNSTART CONDITIONS IN A HYPERSONIC WIND TUNNEL(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2025-03) Leili-Marrazzo, Robin; Hobson, Garth V.; Smith, Walter C.; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE)The study of hypersonics has become a focal point not only for the Department of Defense but also multiple civilian agencies. This study was meant to focus on the high- speed fluid dynamics related to this regime of flight using the facilities at the Naval Postgraduate School. The current Gas Dynamics Laboratory (GDL) high-speed wind tunnel was capable of generating long runtime high Mach number flows. With only slight modifications to the current facilities, it was determined by previous research that a wind tunnel capable of sustained Mach 5.0+ flows for greater than 20 minutes was attainable. With this new test facility in mind, a computational fluid dynamics analyses was conducted on the feasibility of testing a portion of a blunt body hypersonic vehicle intended for re-entry purposes. This project was able to provide significant data for NASA’s sample delivery project and determined the viability of tests at the GDL given the supplied vehicle geometries. An additional analysis was conducted using the tunnel’s test chamber geometry as a means of studying hypersonic inlet unstart conditions. The proposed Mach 5.0+ tunnel test section was identified as being analogous to the inlets of numerous hypersonic air breathing vehicles. By increasing the pressure at the outlet of the system, repeatable unstarts were achieved. This analysis provided an excellent basis for analytical testing moving forward and real-world experimentation on hypersonic unstarts.Publication BEYOND THE RANK: ELEVATING NAVY LEADERSHIP THROUGH RESPECT(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2025-03) Castillo, Lauren E.; Lester, Paul; Helzer, Erik; Department of Defense Management (DDM)Respect is an established leadership character trait that coincides with personnel management, trust, and mission success. This study examines how Navy personnel conceptualize and relate to respectful leadership behaviors and explores the impact of respectful leadership on organizational effectiveness. Through thematic preliminary analysis of participant interviews, seven key themes of respectful leadership behaviors are revealed, including Mutual Recognition and Valuing Opinions, Trust and Autonomy, Acknowledgement and Recognition, Treating Individuals with Dignity, Constructive and Supportive Feedback, Impact on Morale and Motivation, and Communication and Transparency. Later findings indicate there are five key themes, including Acknowledgment and Recognition, Constructive and Supportive Feedback, Genuine Connection, Impact on Morality and Motivation, and Trust and Autonomy. Additionally, exploratory qualitative content analyses highlighted the prominent occurrence of specific individual themes. This study empowers leadership development by creating the Respect Leadership Behavioral Checklist, a tool intended as an accountability measure for Navy leaders. In conclusion, this research promotes the achievement of highly sought-after goals of the U.S. Navy, such as recruitment, retention, and the propensity to serve.Publication PLAN PROPERLY NOW OR PAY THE PRICE LATER: ELIMINATING THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING AND URBAN PLANNING(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2025-03) Young, Mark H.; Morag, Nadav; Dahl, Erik J.; National Security Affairs (CHDS)There currently is a disconnect between the urban planning processes that guide how cities develop and the hazard mitigation planning processes designed to protect cities from natural hazards. Given the ever-increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters impacting the United States, the root causes of this disconnect needed to be identified. Case studies examined how natural disasters impacted major cities within the United States, along with the effect that urban and hazard mitigation planning efforts had in mitigating the effects of natural disasters. These case studies identified that the disconnect between planning disciplines was arbitrary, caused by organizational structures, versus any actual disconnect between planning processes. Two key contributors to this disconnect were caused by the length of time between when a plan is developed and when it becomes reality, and how the failure of infrastructure can render even the most thorough of plans valueless. Reconceptualizing hazard mitigation as an integral element of urban planning is a solution to resolve this disconnect between planning disciplines to allow cities to grow safely in the face of ever more severe natural disasters.Publication AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND CIVILIAN CONTRACTING VACANCIES: A STUDY OF LABOR MARKET AND VACANCY FACTORS(Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2025-03) Willson, Taylor N.; Tick, Simona L.; Porchia, Jamie M.; Department of Defense Management (DDM)The Department of Defense's contracting career field is integral to every United States Air Force (USAF) mission. Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is a major command within the USAF overseeing installation and mission support. Persistent vacancies in essential civilian contracting positions, specifically the 1102 series positions, challenge operational effectiveness and workforce planning. This research builds a comprehensive data set from AFMC Headquarters at Wright-Patterson AFB and documents vacancy rates among the 1102 contracting professionals in AFMC from 2012 to 2024. It then conducts a quantitative analysis to identify potential factors that can explain the variation in the 1102 series vacancy rates. Specifically, the analysis focuses on examining the extent to which unemployment, appraisal systems, warrants and telework policies are associated with the changes in vacancy rates. Results show positions requiring an unlimited warrant have lower vacancy rates, while those under the General Selection appraisal system show higher vacancy rates than the Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project appraisal system. Telework policy changes of November 2022 did not show any evidence of significantly affecting vacancy levels. Future research can explore hiring incentives and best practices from centers with lower vacancy rates, as these approaches may reveal effective strategies for attracting and retaining talent, reducing vacancies and enhancing workforce strength.
