Optimization models and system dynamics simulations to improve military manpower systems

textManpower policy decisions are an extension of traditional operations management problems. Manpower policies strive to place the appropriate and accurate numbers of the correct types of people in the right jobs at the necessary time. Managers create inventory by hiring new workers, either in entry level or more senior positions. Over time, managers promote workers to satisfy demand for more advanced positions. Managers face the challenge of determining the number of people to hire into entry level positions, the number of people already in the work force to promote to more senior level positions, and in some open systems when and how many experienced employees to hire into these senior positions. This dissertation studies and develops three different methods and approaches to provide improved decision support to a healthcare organization’s manpower system. Our research goal is to design models of the organization’s manpower system to improve human resource operations. The healthcare system of interest is the United States Army’s Medical Department (AMEDD). The research will be arranged in three sections. We explore current practices and build improved optimization manpower system models. We use multi objective decision analysis techniques to enhance the optimization models. Lastly, we construct a system dynamics simulation model of the manpower system to address the limitations in the optimization models. There are three main contributions of this dissertation to the operations management literature. First, the development of improved manpower optimization models can be extended to other manpower systems. Second, we develop a technique to assess the manpower system value based on a series of value scoring transformation functions and weighting the over two hundred sub objectives in the optimization manpower system’s objective function. This application of multiple objective decision analysis makes it possible to compare different manpower systems. The system dynamics simulation of a military manpower system is new to the operations management literature as is how we use the system dynamics simulation to update optimization model parameters to construct a more realistic manpower system model.Information, Risk, and Operations Management (IROM

Air Force Specialty Code Assignment Optimization

Each year, the Air Force Personnel Center determines which career field newly commissioned officers will serve under during their time in the Air Force. The career fields are assigned while considering five priorities, dictated by Headquarters Air Force, Manpower and Personnel: target number of cadets, education requirements, average cadet percentile, cadet source of commissioning, and cadet preference. A mixed-integer linear program with elasticized constraints is developed to generate cadet assignments according to these priorities. Each elasticized constraint carries an associated reward and penalty, which is used to dictate the importance of the constraint within the model. A subsequent analysis is conducted on historical data to display the interaction of the constraints and the impact of the rewards and penalties on the model results. The new formulation can generate a feasible set of assignments using the elasticized constraints in instances where the cadet and AFSC data would cause infeasibility in the original assignments model. It also provides users and decision makers with the ability to identify trade-offs between goals and prioritize each constraint

Developing a supply chain management certification for the Department of Defense

MBA Professional ReportThe purpose of this project is to develop a Supply Chain Management (SCM) certification within the Department of Defense (DoD). The report provides background information on certification and SCM. This report defines SCM and describes some potential benefits of SCM for the DoD. The report discusses what the DoD will gain from a formal SCM certification program that could be outsourced to civilian universities or provided by organizations within the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) consortium. Lastly, the report will provide an initial proposal of what the curriculum could look like based on an analysis of current graduate level SCM curricula at leading U.S. universities.http://archive.org/details/developingsupply1094510200Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

The AFIT ENgineer, Volume 4, Issue 1

In this issue: Secretary of the Air Force Tours AFIT, Speaks at Graduation Center for Innovative Education (CIE) International Research Collaboration FY21 Research Fundin

Implications of Service Cyberspace Component Commands for Army Cyberspace Operations

The first 7 years of U.S. Cyber Command operations are paved with milestones that mark the steady operationalization of modern cyberspace as the newest domain of military conflict as well as a realm of international power. The creation of the Cyber Mission Force and Joint Force Headquarters-Cyber are significant steps toward improving the timeliness and effectiveness of cyberspace operations that directly support combatant commands and the whole-of-government responses to cyberspace threats. It focuses on the central question: “What is the context in which different military services approach cyberspace component operations internally as well as with the Department of Defense?”https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1381/thumbnail.jp

Simulating and Optimizing: Military Manpower Modeling and Mountain Range Options

In this dissertation we employ two different optimization methodologies, dynamic programming and linear programming, and stochastic simulation. The first two essays are drawn from military manpower modeling and the last is an application in finance. First, we investigate two different models to explore the military manpower system. The first model describes the optimal retirement behavior for an Army officer from any point in their career. We address the optimal retirement policies for Army officers, incorporating the current retirement system, pay tables, and Army promotion opportunities. We find that the optimal policy for taste-neutral Lieutenant Colonels is to retire at 20 years. We demonstrate the value and importance of promotion signals regarding the promotion distribution to Colonel. Signaling an increased promotion opportunity from 50% to 75% for the most competitive officers switches their optimal policy at twenty years to continuing to serve and competing for promotion to Colonel. The second essay explores the attainability and sustainability of Army force profiles. We propose a new network structure that incorporates both rank and years in grade to combine cohort, rank, and specialty modeling without falling into the common pitfalls of small cell size and uncontrollable end effects. This is the first implementation of specialty modeling in a manpower model for U.S. Army officers. Previous specialty models of the U.S. Army manpower system have isolated accession planning for Second Lieutenants and the Career Field Designation process for Majors, but this is the first integration of rank and specialty modeling over the entire officer's career and development of an optimal force profile. The last application is drawn from financial engineering and explores several exotic derivatives that are collectively known Mountain Range options, employing Monte Carlo simulation to price these options and developing gradient estimates to study the sensitivities to underlying parameters, known as "the Greeks". We find that IPA and LR/SF methods are efficient methods of gradient estimation for Mountain Range products at a considerably reduced computation cost compared with the commonly used finite difference methods

Special Libraries, September 1976

Volume 67, Issue 9https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1976/1007/thumbnail.jp

U.S. AND PRC STRATEGIC COMPETITION: CYBER AND RISK AVERSION

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) altered its calculations from the aftermath of the 1990 Persian Gulf war and placed emphasis on the importance of technology and information. The PRC created the Strategic Support Force (SSF), which became operational in 2015, and includes space, cyber, and electronic warfare capabilities under one command. Meanwhile, the U.S. has wrapped itself in structural and cultural limitations, which hinder operational tempo. This thesis examined how the Department of Defense can adjust its positions on Cyber Titles, authorities, permissions, and risk aversion in leadership to maintain a competitive edge against the threat of the PRC’s SSF in the cyber domain. This thesis used system dynamics to model the economies of both the U.S. and the PRC into cyber capabilities, which resulted in an understanding that allocating additional money alone will not solve the core issue. Understanding the limitations of cultural biases, and using decision-making tools such as prospect theory, leaders can make more effective decisions. Through proper education of staff officers about cyber capabilities and their effects, integration of cyber operations at combat training centers, and pushing permissions and rules of engagements down to Task Force Commanders, the U.S. can overcome the structural and cultural obstacles.Major, United States ArmyMajor, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Aerospace management techniques: Commercial and governmental applications

A guidebook for managers and administrators is presented as a source of useful information on new management methods in business, industry, and government. The major topics discussed include: actual and potential applications of aerospace management techniques to commercial and governmental organizations; aerospace management techniques and their use within the aerospace sector; and the aerospace sector's application of innovative management techniques