A Systems Analysis of U.S. Army Operations in Cyberspace by Thomas P. Dirienzo B.S. in Computer Science, May 2004, United States Military Academy A Thesis submitted to The Faculty of The School of Engineering and Applied Science of the George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science August 31, 2015 Thesis directed by Julie J. C. H. Ryan Associate Professor of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincerest appreciation to my advisors Dr. Stephen Chaney and Dr. Julie Ryan, as well as to Phil Sisson, Ian Hall, Nathan Krishnan, and Keith Thomas. Surely, without their guidance and assistance this endeavor would not have been possible. ii Abstract A Systems Analysis of U.S. Army Operations in Cyberspace Operations in and through the Cyberspace Domain are transforming the ways in which the U.S. Army must conduct Unified Land Operations. The Army is reorganizing to address the convergence of combined arms maneuver, electromagnetic spectrum activities, and cyberspace operations. This paper provides a structural analysis of the cyberspace domain in relation to the functions of the U.S. Army. The research goal is to provide a construct that the Army may use to better visualize functions, understand interactions of land and cyber, and organize effectively for operations. This research effort required the application of multiple research methods. A historical evaluation of the air and space domains provides insights for cyberspace as it relates to domains. An evolutionary view of the ‘cyberspace domain’ reveals an operational definition of the term. Decomposing domain elements using ontological methods provided a structural framework for discussing the cyberspace domain. Finally, applying systems modeling methods provides an organizational understanding of the cyberspace domain. Critical findings of this research include the need to better understand the future of convergence within the information environment, including cyber and electromagnetic operations. This research suggests that might be best guided through integration group strategies. This would require designating operations that fall into these categories as Information Technology Operations, and broadening the definition of the cyberspace domain. Redefining the cyberspace domain to the area of responsibility that supports information technological elements used to effect information systems would account for iii this understanding. Aligning to reflect this view would also improve the military’s current organizational design to properly resource the domain with the required professionals. iv Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................... ii Abstract ............................................................................................................................. iii List of Figures .................................................................................................................. vii List of Tables .................................................................................................................. viii Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................ ix List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................... x Chapter 1 – Introduction .................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Organization of the Document ................................................................................. 1 1.3 Background .............................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Purpose ..................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 Significance .............................................................................................................. 3 1.6 Scope and Limitations .............................................................................................. 3 1.7 Summary of Findings ............................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2 - Literature Review ......................................................................................... 6 2.1 Understanding the Battlespace ................................................................................. 6 2.2 The Environment vs. The Domain ........................................................................... 8 2.3 An Ontological Approach ...................................................................................... 14 Chapter 3 - Research Methods ...................................................................................... 17 3.1 Research Goal ........................................................................................................ 17 3.2 Research Questions ................................................................................................ 17 3.3 Research Analysis Approach ................................................................................. 17 Chapter 4 - Evolving the U.S. Army’s Operations in Cyberspace ............................. 19 4.1 Understanding Military Domains Through Historical Analysis ............................ 19 4.1.1 The Air Domain .............................................................................................. 19 4.1.2 The Space Domain .......................................................................................... 21 4.1.3 A Domain Comparison ................................................................................... 26 4.1.4 The Cyberspace Domain ................................................................................. 27 4.2 A Systems Analysis of Cyberspace Through an Ontology .................................... 30 4.2.1 A Conceptual Domain Model ......................................................................... 30 4.2.2 Web Ontology Language and Metamodel ....................................................... 32 4.2.3 OWL’s Analysis Capabilities ......................................................................... 35 4.3 Integration of U.S. Army Operations in Cyberspace ............................................. 41 4.4 Organizational Integration of the U.S. Army Cyberspace Design ......................... 43 Chapter 5 - Conclusion ................................................................................................... 47 5.1 Findings .................................................................................................................. 47 5.2 Recommendations .................................................................................................. 49 5.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 51 5.4 Areas for Additional Research ............................................................................... 52 v Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 54 Appendix A ...................................................................................................................... 62 Appendix B ...................................................................................................................... 64 Appendix C ...................................................................................................................... 67 Appendix D ...................................................................................................................... 68 vi List of Figures Fig. 1: Physical vs. Information Environment (Paul et al., 2013) .................................... 10 Fig. 2: Traditional Military Domains vs. the Cyber Domain (Paul et al., 2013) .............. 11 Fig. 3: Information Environment ...................................................................................... 13 Fig. 4: Layered Ontology (Semy et al. 2004) ................................................................... 15 Fig. 5: Systems Engineering V-Methodology .................................................................. 18 Fig. 6: Triggering Events in Cyberspace .......................................................................... 29 Fig. 7: Military Cyberspace Domain Model ..................................................................... 31 Fig. 8: Cyberspace Taxonomy Viewed in Protégé Ontology Editor ................................ 33 Fig. 9: Ontology Object Properties ................................................................................... 34 Fig. 10: Linking Ontology Instances ................................................................................ 34 Fig. 11: OWL Query Command ....................................................................................... 36 Fig. 12: OWL Query Results ............................................................................................ 36 Fig. 13: Electronic Device Link ........................................................................................ 38 Fig. 14: Equivalency Statements Added to a Class in OWL ...........................................