Naval Postgraduate School Thesis / Project Topics for Headquarters Marine Corps, Program Assessment and Evaluation (PA&E)
In Jan 2007, DC P&R established Program Assessment and Evaluation Division (PA&E) within Programs and Resources Department, HQMC. PA&E’s mission is to provide independent, resource informed, enterprise wide decision support to USMC senior leadership to align DOD and USMC strategic objectives with CMC Title 10 responsibilities.
The following list of research topics are of high interest to PA&E and are should be suitable as Naval Postgraduate thesis topics. PA&E would like students to work closely with PA&E staff to help shape the study questions, to facilitate data collection, and to coordinate dissemination of the study results to PA&E.
TOPICS
USMC energy usage study
Study focused on determining how many USMC green dollars are spent on energy (fuel, electricity, batteries, bladders, fuel trucks, etc) across the service. Calculate the fraction used for operational activities versus garrison support, the fraction used for aviation versus ground equipment, the fraction that goes toward petro-fuels versus batteries, and the fraction that goes toward energy versus energy storage and transportation. Results from this study could be used, for example, as inputs to future Marine Corps Strategic Health Assessments in PA&E.
Fully-burdened cost of fuel for a MEU
Calculate the fully burdened cost of fuel and other energy metrics for a typical MEU deployment cycle. MEUs use some fuel provided by the Navy and some provided by the Corps, they spend well-defined times deployed and at home-station in PTP, and they have well-defined training events. In addition to the FBCF, operational metrics such as quantities of fuel support assets and personnel related to energy usage would be of interest.
Contractor Logistics Support (CLS)
In the Long War, the Marine Corps and the other Services have utilized CLS for long-term logistics functions. The impact of CLS on the Marine Corps writ large is yet unknown.
· What are the resource implications of using CLS?
· Is CLS as effective and efficient as utilizing uniformed personnel?
· What is the most efficient and cost-effective use of CLS?
· What are the long-term cost implications of discontinuing the use of CLS in the future?
Synchronization of Infrastructure and Equipment with 202K
The more-rapid-than-expected buildup to 202K Marines has left the equipment inventory and infrastructure construction lagging. The timeline for the synchronization of the number of Marines with infrastructure and equipment potentially stretches out well into the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP).
· What are the implications of this lack of synchronization for housing, training (both equipment and infrastructure) and retention?
· Is it necessary to develop additional resource plans to speed up the development of infrastructure and equipment? If so, how would such a plan mitigate risks inherent in the housing and equipment shortfalls.
War Reserve Material Requirement (WRMR)
The CMC noted in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Readiness (May 2009) that In-stores supplies (including WRMR) were degraded in readiness – in part due to this equipment’s role in sourcing requirements in Iraq. With the drawdown in Iraq and the buildup in Afghanistan, the importance of In-stores / WRMR equipment continues to be magnified.
· How is In-stores equipment used to source ongoing operations?
· How are equipment WRMR values calculated - are these values outdated?
· Have WRMR numbers been adequate/excessive for ongoing operations?
LSD(R) requirements
The current LSD-41/-49 class ships are scheduled to start retiring in FY2023. The Marine Corps’ intent is to suggest the LPD-17 hull be used to replace the LSDs.
· What do we need in a LSD(R)?
· What kind of modifications would the LPD-17 require to provide LSD-like capabilities with the 2024 USMC equipment sets?
· What would be the impact of reduced well deck space in the resulting amphibious fleet?
· Are there black-bottom alternatives that could satisfy part of the future requirement?
Importance of NSFS in OMFTS
With the decision to cancel ERGM and reduce the DDG-1000 buy, the Marines are looking for NSFS capability to support operations at over-the-horizon (OTH) ranges. The 5 inch capability on CG-52s and DDG-51s (Flights I/II/IIA) and the Long Range Land Attack Projectile (LRLAP) on the DDG-1000 are the current programs of record. Up to now, developing a NSFS capability to support ground operations at longer ranges has been ineffective.
· How important is NSFS in supporting OTH operations and other USMC CONOPS (what gaps in fire support can NSFS be expected to fill)?
· What is the reliability of NSFS vs. the alternatives (TACAIR + Ground + UAS)?
· What is the state of maturity of the C4ISR architecture requirements for NSFS?
· Are there more cost effective alternatives to NSFS?
Marine Corps Enterprise Information Technology System
MCEITS is currently fielding Interim Portal Services (iPS) in conjunction with the Defense Information Systems Agency’s (DISA’s) Net-centric Enterprise Services (NCES). MCEITS is also slated to become part of the Navy’s Next-Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN).
· How will the NMCI to NGEN transition affect the MCEITS transition?
· What are the potential resource issues (related both the manpower and dollars) as Marine Corps systems transition to MCEITS?
Cultural training added value for Marines
The Center for Advanced Operational Cultural Learning (CAOCL), MEF regional specialization concepts and other initiatives aim to increase the level of cultural training for Marines.
· Are these culturally trained Marines being used effectively in theater?
· What are the career implications for trained Marines to interact with a specific culture?
· What are the costs to train and maintain the cultural readiness of Marines?
USMC Expeditionary Forces Embarked in LCS
LCS will play an important role in the Naval Force structure and future naval operating constructs. To date, little work has been done addressing USMC force packages for this platform.
· What USMC force packages could be employed from the LCS and what missions could be tailored to LCS?
· How could these force packages best support COCOM and MARFOR Long War requirements?
Ammunition requirements modeling
Current ammunition requirements are derived from models that calculate training needs, expected usage in ongoing operations, and requirements for contingency operations. Ammunition resourcing has historically been below the levels deemed necessary by these calculations. What risks are being incurred by this mismatch between resourcing and stated requirements? How can ammunition requirements be calculated to bring them more into alignment with actual usage patterns in recent years and within acceptable risk levels?
UAS integration into USMC air combat operations
Marine Corps Aviation is currently transitioning several T/M/S to newer, manned high-tech platforms (e.g., MV-22 and F-35). However, there is also a current drive to develop and employ UAS for many types of operations, including C4ISR, combat, and logistics. These UASs have the potential to drastically alter aviation CONOPS and requirements.
· Do the MV-22 and F-35 represent the last major acquisition of manned aviation platforms? What is the future need for manned systems?
· What are the technology challenges in going from manned to unmanned systems?
· How will the future battle space be network enabled? In particular, how will the network interface with UAS and how will it integrate into kill chain and target prosecution?
· How do we anticipate UAS changing USMC CONOPS (e.g., how would the ACE employ UAS in support of air and ground operations)?
Cost Growth Comparison between USMC Investment Spending and Military Equipment/Technology
Over the last decade there has been significant growth in USMC investment spending; however, investment spending is projected to decline (as a percentage of USMC Total Obligation Authority (TOA)) for the next several years. Although investment spending for the USMC only makes up a small percentage of the TOA, it is discretionary in nature and is often used to offset other budgetary shortfalls. How does projected USMC investment spending match with planned programs?
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