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*_Notice and Invitation_* Oral Defense of Doctoral Dissertation The Volgenau School of Engineering, George Mason University Ahmed Abu Jbara Bachelor of Science, Islamic University - Gaza, 2002 Master of Science, George Mason University, 2006 *On Using Meta-Modeling and Multi-Modeling to Address Complex Problems* Wednesday, July, 3, 2013, 2:00 -- 4:00 PM Engineering Bldg., Room 3507 All are invited to attend. *_Committee_* Dr. Alexander H. Levis, Chair Dr. Larry Kerschberg Dr. Gabor Karsai Dr. Abbas Zaidi Dr. Sam Malek *_Abstract_* Models, created using different modeling techniques, usually serve different purposes and provide unique insights. While each modeling technique might be capable of answering specific questions, complex problems require multiple models interoperating to complement/supplement each other; we call this Multi-Modeling. To address the syntactic and semantic challenges of this multi-modeling approach for solving complex problems, a systematic methodology for developing multi-modeling workflows is presented. The approach is domain specific: Identification of the domain and the supporting modeling techniques is the first step. Then a Domain Specific Multi-Modeling Workflow Language (DSMWL), supported by a Domain Ontology, is developed and then used to construct workflows that capture interoperations between various models. The domain ontology provides semantic guidance to effect valid model interoperation. The approach is illustrated using a case study from the Drug Interdiction and Intelligence domain. The Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF) - South, an agency well known for interagency cooperation and intelligence fusion, receives large amounts of disparate data regarding drug smuggling efforts. Analysis of such data using various modeling techniques is essential in identifying best Courses of Action (COAs). The proposed methodology is applied to the Drug Interdiction domain by performing domain analysis, developing a Domain Specific Multi-Modeling Workflow Language (DSMWL) and a Domain Ontology, and then using the DSMWL and the Domain Ontology to create workflows of model interoperations involving Social Networks, Timed Influence Nets, and Geospatial models. A copy of this doctoral dissertation is on reserve at the Johnson Center Library.