Skip to main content
University of Nebraska Omaha logo University of Nebraska Omaha
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY

Students Faculty Staff Community
APPLY MY UNO DIRECTORY
Students Faculty Staff Community
  • About
    About UNO
    • Leadership
    • Mission and Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation
    • Our City: Omaha
    • Facts & Figures
    • News
    • Events
    • Organizational Units
    • Campus Safety
    • Buildings and Maps
    Get Started
    • Apply
    • Campus Visit
    • Contact Us
    Front view of UNO's ASH building
    Get Started Today

    Apply Now
  • Academics
    Majors and Programs
    • Undergraduate Programs
    • Master's Programs
    • Doctoral Programs
    • International Programs
    • Online Programs
    • Class Search
    Colleges
    • College of Arts and Sciences
    • College of Business Administration
    • College of Communication, Fine Arts and Media
    • College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
    • College of Information Science & Technology
    • College of Public Affairs and Community Service
    • Graduate Studies
    Resources
    • Catalogs
    • Academic Calendar
    • Library
    • Advising
    • Academic Affairs
    • Registrar
    • Academic Support
    • Request Transcript
    Top view glance of calendar showing August 2024
    Deadlines Are Approaching

    View year-at-a-glance calendars that include term start and end dates, and school holidays.

    Academic Calendar
  • Cost & Aid Backback to Main menu
    • Undergraduate Tuition
    • Graduate Tuition
    • Financial Support
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Undergraduate Scholarships
    • All Scholarship Information
    • Military and Veterans Benefits
    • Consumer Information
  • Admissions
    Get Started
    • Apply
    • Complete Your FAFSA
    • Schedule a Campus Visit
    • Request Info
    Admitted Students
    • Orientation
    • Enrollment Deposit
    • Transcripts
    • UNO 101
    • New Student & Family Events
    Cost & Aid
    • Undergraduate Tuition
    • Graduate Tuition
    • Financial Aid
    • Cost of Attendance
    • Scholarships
    • Military and Veterans Benefits
    • Consumer Information
    Admissions
    • Undergraduate Admissions
    • Transfer Students
    • Graduate Admissions
    Students walking together on campus for a tour
    Visit UNO's Campus

    Schedule a Tour
  • Student Life
    Campus Life
    • Event Calendar
    • Athletics
    • Campus Dining
    • Student Housing
    • Campus Recreation
    • Milo Bail Student Center
    • Parking and Transportation
    • Campus Safety
    Involvement and Leadership
    • Student Organizations
    • Student Government
    • Career Services and Internships
    • Spirit and Tradition
    • Student Leadership, Involvement, and Inclusion
    Support
    • Academic Support
    • Maverick Advising Center
    • Accessibility
    • Durango's Advancement & Support Hub (DASH)
    • Student Service
    • Student Safety
    Resources
    • Health Services
    • Military-Connected Resources
    • Student Conduct and Community Standards
    • Division of Student Life and Wellbeing
    Students participating in a beading craft activity
    Get Involved on Campus

    See Events Calendar
  • Engagement
    Students
    • Student Service and Leadership Collaborative
    • Find Volunteer Opportunities
    • Maverick Food Pantry
    • Voter Information
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Career Services
    • Student Resources
    • Become an Engaged Scholar
    Faculty and Staff
    • Faculty Senate
    • Center for Faculty Excellence
    • Staff Advisory Council
    • Faculty Resources
    • Engaged Research
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Community-Based Learning Courses
    Community
    • Campus Resources
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Promote Volunteer Opportunities
    • Promote Internship Opportunities
    • Rent Office Space
    • Senior Passport Program
    • Community Engagement Partnership Initiative
    Office of Engagement
    • Connect to Campus
    • Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center
    • Service Learning Academy
    • Rent Office Space
    • Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center
    • Partner With Us
    • Senior Passport Program
    • Nebraska Business Development Center
    • Community Partners on Campus
    Student volunteering with a food bank
    Connect with Us

    Contact the Office of Engagement
  • Research
    Student
    • Research and Creative Activity Fair
    • Graduate Research (GRACA)
    • Student Conference Travel Fund
    • Undergraduate Scholarly Experience (FUSE) Fund
    Faculty
    • Grant Databases
    • External Funding
    • Awards and Committees
    • Office of Sponsored Programs
    Research at UNO
    • Office of Research and Creative Activity
    • Research News
    • Centers and Institutes
    Students giving presentations on research projects
    UNO Pushes Innovation Forward

    Read UNO Research News
  • Athletics
    Men's Teams
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Soccer
    • Swimming & Diving
    • Tennis
    Women's Teams
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Golf
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming & Diving
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    Game Day Resources
    • Purchase Tickets
    • Team Schedules
    • Buy Maverick Gear
    Baxter Arena
    • Calendar
    • Tickets
    • Directions & Parking
    • Clear Bag Policy
    • Public Skating
    Hockey player walking out on the ice arena
    Cheer on our Mavericks!

    Buy Tickets
  • Alumni Backback to Main menu
    • Alumni
    • Transcripts
    • Thompson Center
  1. UNO
  2. News
  3. 2021
  4. 01
  5. UNO, NSRI Streamlining USSTRATCOM Personnel Databases to Create Efficiency

UNO, NSRI Streamlining USSTRATCOM Personnel Databases to Create Efficiency

  • published: 2021/01/13
  • contact: Katelyn Ideus - National Strategic Research Institute
  • email: kideus@nsri.nebraskaresearch.gov
  • search keywords:
  • USSTRATCOM
  • NSRI
  • research
  • military
image

Dustin White, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics, is serving as principal investigator on the project. He is joined by Patricia Meglich, Ph.D., professor of management, and Ben Smith, Ph.D., associate professor of economics.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), with the National Strategic Research Institute at the University of Nebraska, has been awarded a $150,000 contract with U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) to streamline and update database processes to increase efficiencies for the command’s personnel team.

From UNO, Dustin White, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics, Patricia Meglich, Ph.D., professor of management, and Ben Smith, Ph.D., associate professor of economics, are combining their expertise in human resources, process analysis and data assessments to dive into the 12-month project and deliver a final dashboard system to USSTRATCOM by October 2021.

"This is similar to another project I recently completed for USSTRATCOM,” said White, principal investigator for the project. “The command has this tremendous wealth of data, and they are constantly innovating ways to make it more efficient to work with while generating more sophisticated insights and reports. We are honored they have called on UNO and NSRI again to help them in this process.”

“The command has this tremendous wealth of data, and they are constantly innovating ways to make it more efficient to work with while generating more sophisticated insights and reports. We are honored they have called on UNO and NSRI again to help them in this process.”

 Dustin White, Ph.D., assistant professor of economics and principal investigator

USSTRATCOM personnel total nearly 150,000 across the globe, with about 3,500 assigned at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb. With military personnel coming from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Space Force, as well as Department of Defense (DOD) civilians, the command needs more efficient ways to manage the information that flows in and out of the personnel databases that support the many teams involved in its deterrence mission.

After completing this research effort, the USSTRATCOM personnel team will have an automated process to identify discrepancies in the various personnel databases and to share information and provide updates more efficiently than the manually intensive process used today.

Meglich brings an extensive background of private sector human resources management and business application as well as academic research and teaching. She will serve as the subject matter expert on the project to ensure the data is built properly for use by a HR team.

“This project will deliver important and useful outcomes to the STRATCOM team that will enable them to work more effectively,” she said. “Working on this project offers me the chance to help our partners to do their best work — my guiding force for all that I do."

Smith, who previously ran a software company, is assisting White in building the technical components of the project. Within their academic appointments, Smith and White spend their time working to understand and develop best practices, allowing them to be deliberate when developing a solution for a customer.

"Technology is a moving target — there are always new technologies available for developers to try,” Smith said. “However, the best way to utilize a new technology is to implement it in a big project where the new technology is particularly appropriate. I’m looking forward to this opportunity.”

There are many benefits to this type of project, White said. First and foremost, there is a sense of grander purpose whenever he can support USSTRATCOM — serving in a small way to support the national security mission of the DOD.

The project also provides an opportunity to challenge himself as a researcher and practitioner while providing depth to what and how he teaches his students who are the potential future DOD workforce.

"It’s projects like these that can help you build your expertise, meet people you wouldn’t otherwise meet and create student experiences,” White said. “This work teaches you how to do things in a new way, a better way, and how to widen your world view.”


About the University of Nebraska at Omaha

Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

Follow UNO on Facebook, Twitter (X), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. 

  • News Sections:
  • UNO News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

News Sections

  • News Center
  • Maverick Daily
  • The Bullseye
  • Campus Events

Featured Stories

  • Limited Parking Around Baxter Arena | May 16
  • Omaha Softball Heads to Oklahoma for 2025 NCAA Regional
  • Three-peat! Omaha Softball Wins Summit League Tournament Title for Third-Straight Season
  • Smart Start Program Builds School Readiness One Backpack at a Time

Contact Us

If you have a story idea, news tip, or other question, please email the UNO News team at unonews@unomaha.edu.

About the Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications (MarComm)

Next Steps

  • Visit UNO
  • Request Information
  • Apply for Admission
  • The UNO Advantage
  • Our City (Omaha)

Just For You

  • Future Students
  • Current Students
  • Work at UNO
  • Faculty and Staff
  • A-Z List

Popular Services and Resources

  • my.unomaha.edu
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Buildings & Maps
  • Library
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Course Catalogs
  • Internships & Career Development
  • The Maverick Store
  • MavCARD Services
  • Military-Connected Resource Center
  • Speech Center
  • Writing Center
  • Human Resources
  • Center for Faculty Excellence

Affiliates

  • University of Nebraska System
  • NU Foundation
  • Buffett Early Childhood Institute
  • Daugherty Water for Food Institute
  • National Strategic Research Institute
  • Peter Kiewit Institute
  • Rural Prosperity Nebraska
  1. University Policies
  2. Privacy Statement
  3. Accessibility
  1. 402.554.2800

University of Nebraska Omaha
University of Nebraska Omaha, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182
  • ©  
  • Emergency Information Alert
  • MavsReport

Social Media


Omaha Skyline

Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement.