Operational Leadership Capstone Proposal

Select a topic for your Capstone Research Project from the list of ideas below or propose your own idea.

• Decision-making is an important factor in any organization but it is critically important as a SWAT Commander.  The tempo of a tactical operation is controlled by multiple layers of command and who possess the training, resources, experience, and authority to make critical decisions.   Explain decision-making philosophy during a tactical operation in terms of Colonel Boyd’s decision making model known as the OODA Loop.

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• Two commonly confused terms are “focus of effort” and “main effort.” Notwithstanding, the concepts they describe are fundamentally different.  Using any tactical operation or disaster response of which you are familiar (including hypothetical):
  • Provide a succinct overview of the incident, to include the major factors and influences in play.
  • Describe the importance of these concepts and how they may change with the situation.

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• A plan is one of the most critical factors in effectively handling tactical operations and responding to disasters. Notwithstanding, the process of planning is more crucial than the actual plan since unfolding circumstances require continual adaptation.   Using any tactical operation or disaster response of which you are familiar (including hypothetical):
  • Provide a succinct overview of the incident, to include the major factors and influences in play.
  • Describe the major factors involved in providing flexibility, why they are important and how they impact the particular circumstances.

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• The organization used to handle tactical operations and disaster responses is often referred to as an “EMON,” which is an acronym for “Emergent Multi-Organizational Network.” These temporary organizations are not simply scaled-down versions of the parent organizations but rather have attributes which make them for fitting for the purposes at hand.  Using any tactical operation or disaster response of which you are familiar (including hypothetical):
  • Provide a succinct overview of the incident, to include the major factors and influences in play.
  • Describe how the EMON emerged and was managed, to include the distinct factors that characterize them.
  • Describe how the EMON changed with the circumstances.
  • Based upon your knowledge and perspective, describe at least one recommendation you would make to improve the performance in future similar circumstances.

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• The application of technology in law enforcement has grown exponentially in recent years and will continue to in the future.  The use of robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles and incident management software integrated in both mobile and laptop applications has become common place in critical incidents. 
  • Explore the impact that such technology has had on leadership, decision making and situational awareness.
  • Provide a comparison of both the pros and cons of using such technology in complex critical incidents.

Submit your Capstone Proposal

Submit your Capstone Paper