Abstracts Engineering

CVX damage control information technology evolutionary model

by Frank R. Steinbach

Tightening of the U.S. defense budget has been closing in around the twelve aircraft carrier navy throughout the 1990's. In spite of this budget decline, the quantity and quality of our most expensive weapons, the aircraft carriers, have remained stable over the same period. These six thousand man ships, however, could soon become unwanted remains of the days of a 600-ship navy when recruiting was easier and manpower was less expensive. Damage control operations aboard the carrier require the greatest quantity of manpower of any single operational requirement. The next generation of carriers promises to be just as large and more diverse in mission than the current design. Without an infusion of sound technological advancements, the quantity of manpower required to protect these new carriers threatens to reduce the twelve-carrier navy to a more affordable number. The goal of this thesis is to establish a "technology roadmap" by which CVX can avoid where possible and negotiate where necessary, the changes in state of the art damage control technology. A deliberate and technologically sound process for improving the damage control capabilities aboard future and existing aircraft carriers is possible. A strong investment in information technology planning will play a major part in optimizing capabilities and manpower requirements of CVX. The reward will be improved robustness, efficiency and quality of life, keeping the next generation of aircraft carriers a truly labeled "high value unit"