"Personnel forcecasting strategic workforce planning": a proposed simulation cost modeling methodology

A unique approach is developed for evaluating personnel requirements of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA). With this approach, new ways of measuring personnel availability are proposed and made available to ensure that NIMA remains ready to provide timely, relevant and accurate imagery, imagery intelligence and geospatial information in support of the national security objectives of the USA during the projected defense draw-down beyond the Year 2000. The development of this analysis methodology was established as an alternative approach to existing studies to determine appropriate hiring and attrition rates, under all categories, to maintain appropriate personnel levels of effectiveness in order to support existing and future mission requirements. The contribution of this research is a prescribed method for the strategic analyst to incorporate a personnel and cost simulation model, which can be used to project personnel requirements and evaluate workforce sustainment, at the least cost, through time. This allows various personnel managers to evaluate multiple resource strategies, present and future, maintaining near-perfect hiring/attrition policies to support a 9000+ NIMA workforce.