Bridging the Gap in Port Security; Network Centric Theory Applied to Public/Private Collaboration

“Achieving awareness in the maritime domain, including intelligence and information sharing at all levels of government is a key to our maritime security. Better awareness of what is out there leads to better unity of effort in maritime planning and operations. We need to have a common operating picture. We also need to integrate our operational capabilities and efforts with our private sector partners to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents.” –Admiral Thad Allen, 2007 The application of Network Centric Warfare theory enables all port stakeholders to better prepare for a disaster through increased information sharing and collaboration. Currently, a significant gap in connectivity exists among the many entities responsible for securing the intermodal supply chain throughout the port complex. The research conducted in this thesis creates an architecture using the theory of Network Centric Warfare to perpetuate a cycle of preparedness in a seaport, thus enhancing situational awareness for improved security. As a result of the research conducted in this thesis, the architecture is being applied in the Port of Los Angeles/ Long Beach in the form of a public/private “virtual maritime fusion center” to fill the gap between stakeholders thus improving overall maritime domain awareness.