COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NESDI PROCESSES TO IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION AT U.S. NAVAL FACILITIES

The mission of the Navy Environmental Sustainability Development to Integration (NESDI) program is to provide innovative solutions to reduce environmental-related risks, limitations, and costs while maintaining operational readiness. While NESDI has an established set of processes to develop the technology, techniques, and tools (TTT), it faces the challenge of integrating the TTT into naval facilities. To identify causes of the integration problem, this thesis conducts a comparative analysis of two completed NESDI projects with the systems engineering and innovation-decision processes. Findings from the comparative analyses are used to develop two frameworks. The first framework consists of the conduct of problem definition, needs analysis, and stakeholder analysis, while the second framework facilitates the integration of TTT into a naval facility. The author recommends the application of the frameworks as early as possible to existing NESDI and “new start” projects. Successful application of both frameworks will ensure an increased likelihood of technology integration at the enterprise or fleet level.