U.S. Navy photo by Javier Chagoya Students Deploy, Provide Emergency Communications Support By Kenneth A. Stewart The Naval Postgraduate School’s Hastily Formed Networks (HFN) Research Group recently de- ployed to the Central Philippines to support disaster recovery efforts in the wake of Typhoon Hai- yan. HFN Research Group Director, and NPS Department of Information Sciences Lecturer Brian Steckler deployed to the region in advance of his student team to conduct early communications assessments. “I am working with the Marine Corps Pacific Forces Experimentation Center in support of the Third Marine Battalion (3rd MEB). The 3rd MEB is in charge of the initial Marine response to Typhoon Haiyan,” said Steckler. “My first step was to find out where they want to use our commu- nications capabilities and to conduct an assessment to determine local communications needs.” The Hastily Formed Networks group is not just in it for the academic value. We have deployed to other major disasters where we have provided real support to people in desperate need.” U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Travis Beeson HFN teams equipped with satellite-enabled, handheld devices were given the green light to con- duct rapid Information and Communication Technology assessments. NPS’ HFN team also used the advanced communications tools at their disposal to create hastily formed networks. “The communications link is critical, we cannot coordinate if we can’t communicate,” said NPS student and U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Travis Beeson of Versailles, Ohio. “We establish emergency communications between critical HA/DR centers, hospitals and NGOs. According to Steckler, a major complication in a situation like this is aid distribution — some ar- eas do not get enough assistance and others get too much. HFN members helped to establish the communications infrastructure that will allow disaster relief professionals to get to the areas where aid is needed most. “The Hastily Formed Networks group is not just in it for the academic value. We have deployed to other major disasters where we have provided real support to people in desperate need,” said Beeson. Ironically, Beeson was just recently in the Philippines to establish a baseline assessment of the Philippine communications infrastructure in support of a thesis he is writing about communi- cations and disaster relief operations. p3 Naval Studies Program Pits Student Expertise Against Navy’s Challenges p4 NPS, Marine Corps Partner on Energy Research p6 Chief of Naval Personnel Talks Manpower DECEMBER 2013 University Center for Civil-Military Relations Supports Multinational Counterterrorism Exercise By Kenneth A. Stewart Students and faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for exercise. We were tasked to come up with scenarios that were designed Civil-Military Relations (CCMR) recently completed a three-year to force regional cooperation,” said Doorey. effort to lead an unprecedented 18-nation counterterrorism exercise conducted under the auspices of the Association of Southeast Asian “Counterterrorism is generally treated as a national or law enforce- Nations (ASEAN) states at the Indonesian Peace and Security Cen- ment issue. We wanted to show through realistic scenarios that there ter located in Sentul, Indonesia. are many areas where unilateral, or even bi-lateral, responses to terrorism would The exercise was born of the 2010 inaugu- likely fail and demonstrated the utility ral meeting of the ASEAN Defense Min- of a multinational effort to eradicate this isters Meeting (ADMM) held in Hanoi, problem,” continued Doorey. Vietnam. Participants were drawn from an elite group of ministers from the ten Research into counterterrorism is one ASEAN member states — Brunei, Cam- of the core areas that the CCMR at NPS bodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myan- has been addressing since its inception mar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand in 2002. and Vietnam — and the eight partnered or “plus” nations — Australia, China, In- “The CCMR’s mission is to build part- dia, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South ner capacity and to improve interagen- Korea and the U.S. cy and international coordination and cooperation by addressing civil military “The exercise involved 872 military and challenges which include, amongst oth- civilian personnel from all 18 ASEAN er things, combating terrorism,” said Plus countries and was the first to be CCMR Combating Terrorism Program conducted under the auspices of the AD- Manager Paul Shemella. MM-Plus EWG-CT,” said CCMR Deputy Counter Terrorism Program Director re- CCMR-developed counterterrorism sce- tired Navy Capt. Tim Doorey. narios were pitted against four multina- tional working groups tasked with ad- “The long-term goal of the exercise was dressing a major maritime threat against to have a common regional procedure in a liquefied natural gas facility or tanker, tackling transnational terrorism,” added or an attack against a major regional Indonesian Armed Forces Commander athletic and cultural event with global Gen. Moeldoko. attendance. The threat of a Man-Porta- ble Air Defense Systems (MANPADS) Doorey noted the strategic and econom- Members of an elite Indonesian counterterrorism group in the hands of a sophisticated regional ic importance of the ASEAN Plus mem- repel down the front of a building during a multinational terrorist organization was added on the ber states taking part in the exercise. counterterrorism exercise at Sentul Indonesia. The exercise last day of the exercise. relied upon Center for Civil Military Relations expertise and was designed to force international responses to terrorism and “More people live inside ADMM-Plus piracy. (Courtesy photo) “The TTX was very strategic in nature, we countries than the rest of the world com- looked at the long range work that needs bined, and more than half of the world’s GDP resides in these 18 to be done in response to terrorism and piracy,” said former NPS nations,” said Doorey. Superintendent and CCMR Strategic Communications Specialist, retired Rear Adm. Richard Wells. “The answer to dealing with terror- CCMR involvement in the exercise dates back to Feb. 2012, when ism is a strategic planning process which includes communicating, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense — Special Operations building infrastructure, and training together to deal with terrorism.” and Low Intensity Conflict, approached the CCMR for assistance in the preparation of a series of realistic scenarios and the creation of As Indonesia and the U.S.’ three-year co-chairmanship of the EWG- a strategic-level Table Top Exercise (TTX) designed to help ASEAN CT comes to a close, preparation for the 2nd iteration of exercises members states to improve multinational, regional responses to ter- and multinational counterterrorism efforts are already under way. rorist threats in South East Asia. Singapore and Australia will assume co-chairmanship for the EWG- “The decision was made to have a two-year program leading to a major CT in April of 2014. “Update NPS” is a monthly publication for students, faculty and staff of the Naval Postgraduate School produced by the Public Affairs Office. For additional copies, comments, or to suggest story ideas, contact the editorial staff at [email protected]. Naval Studies Program Pits NPS Student Expertise Against Navy’s FACULTY Challenges news & notes By Kenneth A. Stewart NPS Department of Phys- The Office of the Secretary of the Navy (SEC- program gives us the opportunity to show- ics Assistant Professor NAV) has turned to the Naval Postgraduate case some of our abilities and to highlight Joseph P. Hooper was named School and its core of operationally-experi- the value that we bring,” said Paduan. the 2013 Carl E. and Jessie W. enced students and expert faculty to directly Menneken Faculty Award for address some of the most challenging ques- Associate Professor retired Army Col. Ale- Excellence in Scientific Research. tions facing the sea services today under the jandro “Andy” Hernandez serves as the Naval Hooper was recognized for his umbrella of the Naval Studies Program. Studies Program project manager at NPS. highly regarded research on ex- plosives, explosive detection, light- “We are working to educate the operational “NPS studies and analysis activities will weight armor and materials under code leaders about what we are capable of serve as a focal point, stimulus, and major extreme conditions. Since joining here at NPS and working with the codes in source of strategic, tactical, and operational NPS in 2011, Hooper has published the Pentagon to find matches between oper- thought within the Navy communities,” said nine peer-reviewed articles and has ational needs and our capabilities,” said NPS Hernandez. been awarded more than $2 million Dean of Research Dr. Jeff Paduan. in research grants. Hooper has also Program organizers are now laying the presented his work to the prestigious The program aims to make NPS students groundwork necessary to facilitate interac- American Physical Society and has available to Navy leaders as the students tion between naval codes and NPS students. advised to completion 13 M.S. the- apply their NPS education and operation- ses at NPS, one award-winning, and al experience to pressing naval challenges. “Next year we hope to incorporate some sort has supervised 12 summer interns. Program organizers hope to accomplish this of requirements fair — a workshop where though the alignment of applied naval stud- sponsors from the various operational codes Retired Rear Adm. Robert C. Aus- ies requirements, student-led research, and can present their problems and meet with tin who served as NPS Superinten- the interdisciplinary expertise of NPS faculty. students interested in working on specific dent from July 1986 to July 1989, problems,” said Paduan. passed away early this month near “What I think is exciting is that this pro- family and loved ones in Connecti- gram will allow students and faculty to ro- But while the Naval Studies Program is still in cut. Austin’s 35 years of naval service tate through operational problems and learn its infancy, several, program-sponsored stud- as a submariner included command what is important to the Navy.