Recent Reports

	Manpower and Personnel Needs for a Transformed Naval Force (2008) The Department of Defense (DOD) is committed to transforming the nation’s armed forces to meet the military challenges of the future. One approach to achieving this transformation is by leveraging advances in science and technology. New technologies and innovations are integral to today’s military actions, and associated changes have rippled through all aspects of operations, highlighting the need for changes in policies related to military personnel. At the request of the former Chief of Naval Operations, the NRC reviewed the military manpower and personnel policies and studies currently underway in the DOD and developed an implementation strategy for the Department of the Navy’s future military manpower and personnel needs. This report presents an introduction to current personnel policies of and concerns facing the Naval forces; an assessment of demographic, technological, and other forces affecting future personnel needs and availability; a summary and assessment of previous studies; an examination of the role of research tools in implementing personnel policy change; and an analysis of obstacles to and strategies for transforming the Naval forces.
	The Role of Naval Forces in the Global War on Terror (2007) The growth of the terrorism threat to the nation’s security has created significant strategic challenges for U.S. armed forces in fighting this global war on terrorism (GWOT). For the Navy, the challenges have centered on developing maritime capabilities to prosecute the GWOT as far forward as possible. To assist the Navy’s planning in this area, the former Chief of Naval Operations requested the NRC to conduct an assessment of the adequacy of and prospects for improving the role of Naval Forces in the GWOT. The study developed a defense-in-depth framework as the organizing principle for the report. The report contains information as described in 5 U.S.C. 552(b) and therefore could not be released to the public in its entirety. The public version consists of an executive summary that presents an assessment of the transformation of naval forces for addressing the GWOT; a brief description of the defense-in-depth framework; and a list of findings and major recommendations.
	Distributed Remote Sensing for Naval Undersea Warfare (2007) The widespread availability of quiet, diesel electric submarines and inexpensive mines is posing a growing threat to global access by the U.S. Navy. In response, the Navy has expanded its undersea warfare efforts and put particular emphasis on the potential for new distributed remote sensing (DRS) approaches. To assist with this effort, the former Chief of Naval Operations requested the NRC to conduct an assessment of DRS for naval undersea warfare. This report provides a clear, near-term path by which useful DRS systems can be applied rapidly to pressing naval USW problems, and by which ongoing science and technology efforts can be directed toward the most useful options. The report contains information as described in 5 U.S.C. 552(b) and therefore could not be released to the public in its entirety. The public version consists of the front matter and executive summary.
	Conventional Prompt Global Strike Capability: Letter Report (2007) In its FY2007 budget request, the Department of Defense sought funding to develop a capability to strike within a few hours any point in the world with conventional weapons. This prompt global strike capability would be implemented by replacing the nuclear warhead on selected Trident missiles with a conventional explosive warhead. Congressional concerns about the concept resulted in a request to the NRC in the 2007 Defense Appropriations Act to analyze a broad range of technical and policy aspects about this proposal including consideration of a range of other options. This letter report is the first response to that request, and it summarizes the requirements and supporting enablers for a prompt global strike capability and recommends near term options to provide such capability. A second report will be issued in early 2008 that will provide a more comprehensive assessment of the concept.