Date of Award

3-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

Kenneth W. Bauer, Jr., PhD

Abstract

In today's reduction of America's national defense, campaign level models are being used more in the development of force structure. The effects of drawdown are of significant interest to those at the highest levels of authority. Campaign models can bring those high ranking officials the answers they seek with high confidence. THUNDER is a campaign model used frequently by the United States Air Force and many of its contractors. The effects of changing the force structure within THUNDER require modifying variables before executing a new experimental run. Changes in such issues as force structure cannot be immediately addressed. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) can be used to provide a quick answer to effects of changing force structure by executing several experimental runs at a variety of settings. The creation of a 'response surface' interlinks each scenario. Factor analysis is a multivariate statistics method of reducing dimensionality of data sets and determining relationships between measures on an observation. From this, relationships can be found among different measures of effectiveness to create new, simpler variables. The methods used in this thesis provide a means for creating accurate, 'quick turn' analysis tools which a decision maker can use to make timely decisions.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GOA-ENS-96M-01

DTIC Accession Number

ADA324222

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