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Forsythe, James Chris

Publications and source records attributed to Forsythe, James Chris.

9 records
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DOE OSTI2012

A data driven approach to assess team performance through team communication

For teams working in complex task environments, instilling effective communication between team members is a primary goal during task training. Presently, responsibility for evaluating team communication abilities resides with instructors and outside observers who make qualitative assessments that are shared with the team following a training exercise. Constructing technologies to automate these assessments has historically been prohibitive for two reasons. First, the financial cost of instrumenting the environment to collect team communication data at the necessary fidelity has been too high for an operational setting. Second, past research on using team communication as a proxy for team performance assessment has relied on defining communication through traditional algorithmic design, an approach which does not properly capture the varied nature of communication strategies amongst different teams.

Forsythe, James Chris↗
DOE OSTI2012

Human dimensions in cyber operations research and development priorities.

Within cyber security, the human element represents one of the greatest untapped opportunities for increasing the effectiveness of network defenses. However, there has been little research to understand the human dimension in cyber operations. To better understand the needs and priorities for research and development to address these issues, a workshop was conducted August 28-29, 2012 in Washington DC. A synthesis was developed that captured the key issues and associated research questions. Research and development needs were identified that fell into three parallel paths: (1) human factors analysis and scientific studies to establish foundational knowledge concerning factors underlying the performance of cyber defenders; (2) development of models that capture key processes that mediate interactions between defenders, users, adversaries and the public; and (3) development of a multi-purpose test environment for conducting controlled experiments that enables systems and human performance measurement. These research and development investments would transform cyber operations from an art to a science, enabling systems solutions to be engineered to address a range of situations. Organizations would be able to move beyond the current state where key decisions (e.g. personnel assignment) are made on a largely ad hoc basis to a state in which there exist institutionalized processes for assuring the right people are doing the right jobs in the right way. These developments lay the groundwork for emergence of a professional class of cyber defenders with defined roles and career progressions, with higher levels of personnel commitment and retention. Finally, the operational impact would be evident in improved performance, accompanied by a shift to a more proactive response in which defenders have the capacity to exert greater control over the cyber battlespace.

Forsythe, James Chris↗
DOE OSTI2012

Enhanced Training for Cyber Situational Awareness in Red versus Blue Team Exercises

This report summarizes research conducted through the Sandia National Laboratories Enhanced Training for Cyber Situational Awareness in Red Versus Blue Team Exercises Laboratory Directed Research and Development project. The objective of this project was to advance scientific understanding concerning how to best structure training for cyber defenders. Two modes of training were considered. The baseline training condition (Tool-Based training) was based on current practices where classroom instruction focuses on the functions of a software tool with various exercises in which students apply those functions. In the second training condition (Narrative-Based training), classroom instruction addressed software functions, but in the context of adversary tactics and techniques. It was hypothesized that students receiving narrative-based training would gain a deeper conceptual understanding of the software tools and this would be reflected in better performance within a red versus blue team exercise.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2011

Robust automated knowledge capture.

This report summarizes research conducted through the Sandia National Laboratories Robust Automated Knowledge Capture Laboratory Directed Research and Development project. The objective of this project was to advance scientific understanding of the influence of individual cognitive attributes on decision making. The project has developed a quantitative model known as RumRunner that has proven effective in predicting the propensity of an individual to shift strategies on the basis of task and experience related parameters. Three separate studies are described which have validated the basic RumRunner model. This work provides a basis for better understanding human decision making in high consequent national security applications, and in particular, the individual characteristics that underlie adaptive thinking.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗