Date of Graduation

Spring 2011

Degree

Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies

Department

Defense and Strategic Studies

Committee Chair

Keith Payne

Abstract

One of the United States' most challenging security threats of the 21st century is a possible ballistic missile attack. Whether it is armed conventionally or with a weapon of mass destruction, a ballistic missile attack on the U.S. would have a horrific outcome. To counter this, threat the U.S. has been researching and developing missile defenses since the end of WWII. Today, ballistic missile defenses have achieved great technological achievements but are not applied appropriately to counter the changing security threats. I choose this topic because I am commissioning into the U.S. Army in May 2011 as an Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Officer. I believe as an ADA Officer it is important to understand missile defense and how it will affect not only my future, but the entire international community. In order to understand it, it was important to cover the history of missile defines, current administration's policies, and all the systems and future challenges. From my research on missile defenses through modern government agencies and other sources, it became clear that the U.S. lacks the proper defensive ability to protect the U.S. homeland, allies and troops abroad.

Keywords

ballistic missile defense, BMD, phased adaptive approach, MDA, ballistic missile

Subject Categories

Defense and Security Studies

Copyright

© Thomas Christos Ziongas

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