Improving Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Maintenance Scheduling through the Use of Location Analysis Methodologies

The events of September 11, 2001 raised concerns about our nation's ability to protect its citizens, structures, and resources from the mounting threat of terrorism. As a result, the United States has taken drastic measures to enhance security practices in many facets of our lives. Senior leaders have questioned whether mandated security levels used for nuclear weapons activities are sufficient to protect our nuclear assets from damage, destruction, or theft. These concerns have resulted in major changes to Department of Defense and Air Force security instructions. Security instruction supplements have increased the number of security personnel required during nuclear weapon activities and have reduced security response times to possible hostile events at ICBM launch facilities. In light of these security supplements, ICBM maintenance units must explore new methods for developing daily maintenance schedules to sustain current levels of weapon system readiness.