Acquisition Research Program at Naval Postgraduate School’s Post

Big #data is growing ever more important to a wide range of military functions. New #LieberStudies series #book entitled ‘Big Data and #Armed #Conflict, Legal Issues Above and Below the Armed Conflict Threshold’ addresses a wide variety of international #legal issues related to the growing use of #bigdata in #military #operations, both on and off the #battlefield. Laura Dickinson provides an overview of the different questions that the book tackles. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dApvd8-j #articlesofwar #armedconflict #IHL #IHRL #jusadbellum

Read the latest from Professor Laura Dickinson of The George Washington University Law School on international law and “big data” in military operations!

Quick Take: Submarine Contract Amendment Raises Eyebrows The UK Ministry of Defence is facing scrutiny for awarding a £125 million contract amendment to Devonport Royal Dockyard Limited without a competitive bidding process. The amendment, deemed necessary for "technical reasons," raises concerns about transparency and potential cost implications for taxpayers. Critics argue that awarding such a substantial contract amendment without open competition raises red flags. The lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess whether taxpayers are getting the best value for their money. Additionally, limiting the bidding process stifles innovation and potentially excludes other capable companies from contributing to this vital national security project. #Defence #Submarines #Procurement #Transparency #UKGovernment #TaxpayerMoney #Contracts #Competition #NationalSecurity

Don't miss out on your chance to attend ASMC's highly-anticipated Fiscal Law Course on April 23-25. Time is running out to register, so don't delay any longer! This course is designed to cover important topics such as Chapters 3, 5, and 6 of the GAO Redbook, with a focus on the three critical elements of Fiscal Law. With the ever-changing landscape of federal appropriations law, it is crucial to stay up-to-date and knowledgeable in this area. That's why this course will also include numerous case studies to provide practical application and reinforce key concepts. Don't wait any longer, register today to secure your spot in this valuable and informative course. You won't want to miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of Fiscal Law and stay ahead in your career! #ASMC #ASMCHQ #DFM #financialmanagement #defense #auditing #accounting #budgeting #dod #military #governmentcontracting #defensecontracting #defenseindustry

Armed forces are meant to be educated, trained and equipped for defence of the country, against external threats. They are not meant to confront citizens. 1. Exceptionally, they may be asked to support law enforcement operations, on an ad hoc basis. 2. This requires special orientation, education and training. 3. As an alternative, transforming law enforcement capability to an effective military capability is not a correct choice. 4. It may indicate deep structural national security challenges. 5. Political - social questions - disputes cannot be resolved by the armed forces or judiciary.

The United States Department of Defense's new policy on Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response signifies a pivotal shift towards more ethical and accountable military practices. Developed in response to Congress's mandate and with input from organizations like InterAction, this policy aims to mitigate the unintended impacts of military operations on civilians. The adoption of such policies reflects an evolving understanding of the complexities of modern warfare and the importance of safeguarding civilian lives and dignity. This policy not only sets a new standard for the U.S. military but also influences other military actors globally to adopt similar responsible practices.

Preparing the U.S. Coast Guard for Modern Maritime Challenges As we face an increasingly complex maritime security environment, it's clear that the U.S. Coast Guard is stretched thin, tasked with addressing a broad range of critical missions both domestically and internationally with insufficient resources and outdated equipment. This reality raises serious concerns about our ability to effectively safeguard our nation's maritime interests in the face of modern threats. The U.S. Coast Guard has 11 statutory missions, defined by law and codified in the Homeland Security Act of 2002. 1. Defense Readiness 2. Migrant Interdiction 3. Search and Rescue 4. Drug Interdiction 5. Living Marine Resources 6. Marine Environmental Protection 7. Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security 8. Marine Safety 9. Aids to Navigation 10. Ice Operations 11. Other Law Enforcement Activities Modern adversaries, particularly state actors like China, are continually advancing their maritime capabilities. The Coast Guard, relying on aging assets, is at a significant disadvantage. Advanced technologies are essential to detect, deter, and respond to gray zone tactics effectively. However, the current state of the Coast Guard's equipment and infrastructure is far from what is needed to confront these sophisticated threats. Furthermore, recruitment and retention challenges further strain the Coast Guard. With an undermanned workforce, the service struggles to fulfill its diverse mission requirements. Modern missions demand a highly trained and adequately staffed force, which current manpower levels do not support effectively. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2024 aims to address some of these issues by providing additional funding and resources. However, these measures are only a start. Substantial, sustained investments are required to fully support the Coast Guard's expansive mission set in the face of evolving global threats and increasing operational demands. In summary, addressing today's complex maritime security issues with yesterday's equipment and insufficient resources is not feasible. The Coast Guard's ability to effectively perform its vital roles in national security and maritime safety hinges on significant investment in both modernizing its fleet and infrastructure and expanding its personnel. We must prioritize these investments to ensure the Coast Guard can continue to protect our nation's maritime interests in an increasingly challenging environment.

📖 Out NOW: "From Peril to Partnership," a new book by Paul Angelo, explains to what extent security assistance programs helped improve the operational effectiveness and democratic accountability of U.S. partners—Colombian and Mexican security forces. Get your copy today:

https://lnkd.in/gxuaUVyh I must respectfully take a very different approach. Militarizing the U.S. Coast Guard is contrary to its intent and nature. This is a job for the U.S. Navy. If China wants to pretend they're guarding the coast, when they're actually performing military operations like a Navy, we should not condone or endorse that by doing likewise. Let's use our U.S. Navy for what it is intended and keep the Coast Guard for other such things as search and rescue, oil spills, immigration, drug interdiction and a myriad of other responsibilities. Our Coast Guard is only under the U.S. Navy in a declared war. Let's hope we don't have to go that far. Let our Navy do their job and not expect the Coast Guard to do it for them. 👇👇👇 America’s allies in the Indo-Pacific are getting pretty familiar with China’s grey-zone maritime behavior, but the United States itself is ill-prepared to deal with it. In its gutted state, the US Coast Guard is underprepared to carry out law enforcement duties in the Pacific Ocean and compete with China’s heavily militarized coast guard—a key perpetrator of illegal grey-zone operations. One suggestion from former US Navy captain Brent Sadler, a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation, was to deploy a non-lethal directed-energy device, the Active Denial System (ADS), on Coast Guard cutters. Electromagnetic energy from the system induces a painful sensation on the skin of the targeted person but without causing injury. Feeling pain, the target will then move out of the beam’s path.

Technical Getup or Tactical Getup? Who cares what it's called. Understand the context and the concepts will follow. Two of the five elements in an arrest of a non-compliant individual is the arrest and control technique and laying hands on the subject. Now either things go well, or things fall apart for the officer. The subject control program does not have to be watered down but it does have to be somewhat easy/easier to learn to be able to teach it effectively. Otherwise, you end up with an instructor who doesn't understand why a recruit can't make the technique work, while the recruit is instructed to "Just do it harder." Myself and US Navy SEAL, Kenny Bigbee Jr. will be running a 5-day master class on subject control takedowns and controlling a subject on the ground. A number of agencies in Canada are currently subscribed with the Tirsia Course Training Standards and this Instructor Certification course is tailored for law enforcement and the private security industry. Designed to make it easy to learn so it's easy to teach. We teach the HOW and the WHY these concepts work. OTTAWA | MARCH 04-08, 2024 Register at the link on the poster! #training #security #securityguard #securityservices #lawenforcement #police #policeofficer