The Tactical Decision Making Under Stress (TADMUS) project
is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) with basic
and applied research as well as advanced development thrusts (6.1
- 6.3). The project is applying emerging theories of cognition
and models of decision making to the Navy's C4I requirements.
Based on the research, SSC San Diego is developing
real-time decision support, while NAWC-TSD is developing improved
training to improve tactical decision making and facilitate reduced
manning. The TADMUS Decision Support System (DSS) is presently
a stand-alone system developed for laboratory research in tactical
decision making. It is currently being adapted to the needs of
Third Fleet in supporting Joint and Coalition battle group operations.
The DSS will utilize the C4I datalinks and infrastructure currently
being installed aboard the USS Coronado. The system development
and ultimate performance evaluation is being conducted as part
of the TADMUS to Sea program.
Background. The TADMUS project was spawned by the 1988
USS Vincennes incident where an Aegis cruiser engaged in a littoral
warfare peace-keeping mission shot down an Iranian Airbus. Investigations
following the incident suggested that stress may have affects
on decision making, and that these effects were not well understood.
The TADMUS project was established to address these concerns.
SSC San Diego developed a prototype DSS to enhance Navy tactical decision
making based on "naturalistic" decision processes.
Displays were developed to support critical decision making tasks
through recognition-primed and explanation-based reasoning processes,
and cognitive analysis was conducted of the decision making problems
faced by Naval watch officers operating in a shipboard Combat
Information Center. Baseline testing in high intensity, peace
keeping, littoral scenarios determined that experienced decision
makers were not well served by current systems, and their performance
suffered from periodic loss of tactical situational awareness.
DSS research showed that when tactical decision makers had the
prototype DSS available, there were significantly fewer communications
to clarify the tactical situation, significantly more critical
contacts were identified earlier, and a significantly greater
number of defensive actions were taken against imminent threats.
These findings suggest that the prototype DSS enhanced the commanders'
awareness of the tactical situation, which in turn contributed
to greater confidence, lower workload, reduced errors in adherence
to rules of engagement, and more effective performance. Significant
work remains to be done in learning how to optimally design and
train users of such systems.
Based on this research, the DSS is being adapted to meet the needs
of battlegroup decision makers performing Joint and Coalition
missions. Objectives for this project include: developing a model
of decision making in Joint and Coalition operations, performing
necessary systems engineering to make the DSS fully functional
with JMCIS, TADIL-J, etc., and conducting a shipboard evaluation
study to validate the utility of the DSS in this environment.
Points of Contact:
SSC San Diego Project Manager:
Dr. Jeffrey G. Morrison
SSC San Diego
53560 Hull Street, Code D44210
San Diego, CA 92152-5001
Phone: (619) 553-9070,
FAX: (619) 553-9072,
DSN: 553-9070
E-mail: JMorriso@spawar.navy.mil
Third Fleet Project Officer:
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Commander, Third Fleet
FPO, AP 96601-6001
Attn: CDR Ward Wilson, USN
Phone (619) 545-3014
FAX: (619) 545-2798
E-Mail:
ONR Project Manager:
Gerald S. Malecki
Office of Naval Research
800 North Quincy St.
Ballston Tower #1, Rm. 817
Arlington, VA 22217-5660
Phone: (703) 696-4044
FAX: (703) 696-8343