VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS OF GUAM’S DEFENSE POSTURE

Download
Author
Magno, James F.
Date
2022-12Advisor
Dahl, Erik J.
Eisenberg, Daniel
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Since the end of the Second World War, Guam has served as a linchpin of U.S. military power in the Indo-Pacific. As the United States’ westernmost territory in the world, Guam has been lauded as the place where America’s day begins. However, with its strategic importance and abundance of military combat power, Guam may be where America’s next war begins. Following decades of reform and modernization, the People’s Liberation Army presents a significant threat to the preeminence of U.S. military power in the region. This study uses a structured vulnerability analysis based on the principles of risk analysis, reliability engineering, adversarial analysis, and safety engineering to identify Guam’s critical vulnerabilities and formulate recommendations that enhance the territory’s defense posture. This study finds that Guam’s missile defense posture constitutes the island’s most significant vulnerability and recommends that congressional budgetary initiatives must remain focused on enhancing Guam’s missile defense capability and hardening defense infrastructure throughout the Pacific territories. Should modern warfare reach the shores of Guam, the U.S. military will have to fight for Guam before it can fight from it.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Diesel Submarine Support to SOF
Ferrer, Geraldo; Veronneau, Simon (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate SchoolMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-12); NPS-19-N062-AGiven the limited availability of submarines to support SOF and the potential to save billions of dollars, as well as improve a capability through quiet, shallow-water capable submarines, a review of potential diesel-electric ... -
Maritime Strategy and Naval Innovation (Continuation)
Russell, James A.; Wirtz, Jim (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate SchoolMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-12); NPS-19-N001-AThis project is a continuation of ongoing support by NPS to the work of N50 to further refining and improving the Navy's strategy development and implementation processes. This will be the fourth year of support to the ... -
Diesel Submarine Support to SOF
Ferrer, Geraldo; Veronneau, Simon (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate SchoolMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-12); NPS-19-N062-AGiven the limited availability of submarines to support SOF and the potential to save billions of dollars, as well as improve a capability through quiet, shallow-water capable submarines, a review of potential diesel-electric ...