Screening Heuristics for the Evaluation of Covert Network Node Insertion Scenarios

Author

Andrew E. Pekarek

Date of Award

3-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

Michael J. Garee, PhD

Abstract

The majority of research on covert networks uses social network analysis (SNA) to determine critical members of the network to either kill or capture for the purpose of network destabilization. This thesis takes the opposite approach and evaluates potential scenarios for inserting an agent into a covert network for information gathering purposes or future disruption operations. Due to the substantial number of potential insertion scenarios in a large network, this research proposes three screening heuristics that leverage SNA measures to reduce the solution space before applying a simple search heuristic.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENS-MS-22-M-161

DTIC Accession Number

AD1176873

Recommended Citation

Pekarek, Andrew E., "Screening Heuristics for the Evaluation of Covert Network Node Insertion Scenarios" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 5475.
https://scholar.afit.edu/etd/5475