Back to Team

Jump to Publications by Mariah Yager

SMA Publications
0
SMA Speaker Series
0
NSI Publications
0

Mariah Yager

Senior Research Scientist
Mariah Yager is a Senior Research Scientist at NSI, Inc. For the past several years, Mariah has primarily supported US Joint Staff Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) projects, providing program management coordination, research, and analysis. She organizes the yearly SMA Conference and has recently begun directing and hosting the weekly SMA Speaker Series events. Mariah helped to develop NSI’s scientifically valid, replicable, and operationally trainable discourse analysis methodology. This methodology has been used to examine insurgent writings, the expression of trust and worldview, and cognitive complexity, both in the vernacular and in English translations. She earned her MA in Professional Communication from Purdue University of Fort Wayne (formerly IPFW) and BAs in Anthropology and Interpersonal and Group Communication. Prior to joining NSI, she taught the core communication course at Purdue University of Fort Wayne and ran the archaeology lab and conducted field work for the IPFW Archaeological Survey.

SMA Publications

SMA Publication

What Do Others Think / How Do We Know What They Think?

This white paper deals with broad topic of assessing options to gain better understanding of the subjective world of populations we need to interface and relate to. How can we reliably anticipate behavior patterns? Our challenge is gaining the most accurate and useful information for commanders and other agencies for planning purposes. Who are the right people to try to influence to achieve strategic goals (individuals and/or groups). Which behaviors are we targeting? Why do people display those particular behaviors? Finally, how do we coordinate operations to drive the desired behaviors? We cannot rely entirely on social media (we must blend it with other intelligence), even though it can be an important contributor. This White Paper is intended to provide recommendations for planning methodologies, technological approaches, and required expertise.
Year Published:
2018
View Publication
SMA Publication

Thematic Analysis of Russian and NATO Speeches

This study addresses key questions posed in the SMA EUCOM project by using thematic analysis of speeches from leaders of state and non-state polities in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Caucasus. The importance of an issue is measured by the density (mentions/words in speech) with which it is mentioned and the use of associated emotive language.
Year Published:
2016
View Publication
SMA Publication

9th Annual SMA Conference - No War/No Peace...

Since the end of the Cold War and with the advent of the new century, new geopolitical realities have emerged that have made classical wars with national military forces pitted against each other far less likely. What we are witnessing are new categories of conflict that cannot be considered full1scale wars in the classical sense but cannot be described as “peace” either. Small1scale conflicts are complemented with intense engagement in the Information and other Spheres. These will almost certainly have great implications in the legal domains as well new forms of alliances. Multiple factors have come into play for these trends to emerge. This is a story of change versus continuity, and the conference focused on what has changed since the collapse of the USSR. As such, there are structural and intellectual challenges that prevent the United States Government (USG) from adapting and thriving is this new environment.
Year Published:
2015
View Publication
SMA Publication

Use of Remote Sensing to Assess Political Durability

The Use of Remote Sensing to Support the Assessment of Political Durability Pilot Workshop was held jointly by the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Office and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) from 7-8 December 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. The workshop is part of a proposed effort called Observable Manifestations of Hearts & Minds: Identifying Opportunities for Remotely Sensing Popular Perceptions Effort.
Year Published:
2010
View Publication
SMA Publication

The Development of Communication Models

In July 2019, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) endorsed a list of specific actions for the Operations in the Information Environment (OIE) DOTMLPF-P Change Recommendation (DCR). A requested action under item 1b asks for a “process to develop a baseline understanding of the IE (Information Environment) and subsequently modify the model of relevant actor perceptions, attitudes, and other elements that drive behaviors.”
Year Published:
2020
View Publication
SMA Publication

Oman Succession Crisis 2020

While the death of Sultan Qaboos is inevitable, the succession will likely fall well within the purview of the Basic Law and will be done with minimal national or regional disturbance. Who that successor will be and the ability to navigate and lead as Sultan Qaboos has done for 49 years is at this time unclear. It is very likely that the people of Oman will express a desire for greater local and regional self-governance as well as more freedom of expression and the rolling back of restrictions on the cybersphere, but for actual internal violence, there is no way to predict this.
Year Published:
View Publication
SMA Publication

The Age of Disruption: How Power Shifts Create More Conflict

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.
Year Published:
2019
View Publication
SMA Publication

Necessary Conditions For Achieving FFVD Without Militarized Conflict – A Korea Strategic Outcomes Virtual Think Tank Report

[Q3] Under what regional and domestic political, economic, and social conditions would it be possible to achieve final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD) of the DPRK without resorting to militarized conflict (i.e., what conditions would have had to occur to make that possible)?
Year Published:
2018
View Publication
SMA Publication

Outer Space; Earthly Escalation? Chinese Perspectives on Space Operations and Escalation

United States policymakers must prepare to manage escalation in West Pacific confrontations that involve space operations. How can they put themselves in the shoes of Chinese planners and manage escalation in the current strategic environment in space? We raise three key points.
Year Published:
2018
View Publication

SMA Speaker Series

There are no SMA Speaker Series with Mariah Yager listed as a speaker.

View All SMA Speaker Series

NSI Publications

NSI Publication

What Do Others Think / How Do We Know What They Think?

This white paper deals with broad topic of assessing options to gain better understanding of the subjective world of populations we need to interface and relate to. How can we reliably anticipate behavior patterns? Our challenge is gaining the most accurate and useful information for commanders and other agencies for planning purposes. Who are the right people to try to influence to achieve strategic goals (individuals and/or groups). Which behaviors are we targeting? Why do people display those particular behaviors? Finally, how do we coordinate operations to drive the desired behaviors? We cannot rely entirely on social media (we must blend it with other intelligence), even though it can be an important contributor. This White Paper is intended to provide recommendations for planning methodologies, technological approaches, and required expertise.
Year Published:
2018
View Publication
NSI Publication

Use of Remote Sensing to Assess Political Durability

The Use of Remote Sensing to Support the Assessment of Political Durability Pilot Workshop was held jointly by the Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Office and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) from 7-8 December 2010 in Arlington, Virginia. The workshop is part of a proposed effort called Observable Manifestations of Hearts & Minds: Identifying Opportunities for Remotely Sensing Popular Perceptions Effort.
Year Published:
2010
View Publication
NSI Publication

Thematic Analysis of Russian and NATO Speeches

This study addresses key questions posed in the SMA EUCOM project by using thematic analysis of speeches from leaders of state and non-state polities in Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Caucasus. The importance of an issue is measured by the density (mentions/words in speech) with which it is mentioned and the use of associated emotive language.
Year Published:
2016
View Publication
NSI Publication

The Development of Communication Models

In July 2019, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) endorsed a list of specific actions for the Operations in the Information Environment (OIE) DOTMLPF-P Change Recommendation (DCR). A requested action under item 1b asks for a “process to develop a baseline understanding of the IE (Information Environment) and subsequently modify the model of relevant actor perceptions, attitudes, and other elements that drive behaviors.”
Year Published:
2020
View Publication
NSI Publication

The Age of Disruption: How Power Shifts Create More Conflict

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.
Year Published:
2019
View Publication
NSI Publication

Outer Space; Earthly Escalation? Chinese Perspectives on Space Operations and Escalation

United States policymakers must prepare to manage escalation in West Pacific confrontations that involve space operations. How can they put themselves in the shoes of Chinese planners and manage escalation in the current strategic environment in space? We raise three key points.
Year Published:
2018
View Publication
NSI Publication

Oman Succession Crisis 2020

While the death of Sultan Qaboos is inevitable, the succession will likely fall well within the purview of the Basic Law and will be done with minimal national or regional disturbance. Who that successor will be and the ability to navigate and lead as Sultan Qaboos has done for 49 years is at this time unclear. It is very likely that the people of Oman will express a desire for greater local and regional self-governance as well as more freedom of expression and the rolling back of restrictions on the cybersphere, but for actual internal violence, there is no way to predict this.
Year Published:
View Publication
NSI Publication

Necessary Conditions For Achieving FFVD Without Militarized Conflict – A Korea Strategic Outcomes Virtual Think Tank Report

[Q3] Under what regional and domestic political, economic, and social conditions would it be possible to achieve final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD) of the DPRK without resorting to militarized conflict (i.e., what conditions would have had to occur to make that possible)?
Year Published:
2018
View Publication
NSI Publication

9th Annual SMA Conference - No War/No Peace...

Since the end of the Cold War and with the advent of the new century, new geopolitical realities have emerged that have made classical wars with national military forces pitted against each other far less likely. What we are witnessing are new categories of conflict that cannot be considered full1scale wars in the classical sense but cannot be described as “peace” either. Small1scale conflicts are complemented with intense engagement in the Information and other Spheres. These will almost certainly have great implications in the legal domains as well new forms of alliances. Multiple factors have come into play for these trends to emerge. This is a story of change versus continuity, and the conference focused on what has changed since the collapse of the USSR. As such, there are structural and intellectual challenges that prevent the United States Government (USG) from adapting and thriving is this new environment.
Year Published:
2015
View Publication

Site-wide Search

Search all site content, including all NSI and SMA publications, SMA Speaker series, NSI Team member bios, services, portfolio projects, company info, and more.