Operations Research (OR) originated during World War II as a response to tactical problems relating to the efficient operation of weapon systems, and to operational problems relating to the deployment and employment of military forces. OR has evolved since then to a full-scale scientific discipline that is practiced widely by analysts in industry, government and the military.

OR is the science of helping people and organizations make better decisions. More formally, it is the development and application of mathematical models, statistical analyses, simulations, analytical reasoning and common sense to the understanding and improvement of real-world operations. Improvement can be measured by the minimization of cost, maximization of efficiency, or optimization of other relevant measures of effectiveness.

The military uses OR at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. OR improves decision making and facilitates insights into the phenomena of combat. OR applications cover the gamut of military activities including: national policy analysis, resource allocation, force composition and modernization, logistics, human resources (recruiting, retention, promotion, training and personnel assignment), battle planning, flight operations scheduling, intelligence, command and control, weapon selection (weapon system effectiveness, cost, compatibility and operability), engagement tactics (fire control, maneuver, target selection, and battle damage assessment), maintenance and replenishment, and search and rescue.

The Naval Postgraduate School's Operations Research Department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. It is one of the oldest, largest, and highest ranking OR departments in the US. It is without peer in terms of the extent to which graduate education is integrated with a commitment to solving real military problems. Our students and faculty use the latest mathematical modeling ideas and computing technology to penetrate deeply into the analysis of important real-world problems. Analysis is a key word; NPS operations researchers frequently influence decisions and serve as agents for change.

The military specifically uses OR at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. OR applications cover the gamut of military activities including: national policy analysis, resource allocation, force composition and modernization, logistics, human resources, battle planning, flight operations scheduling, intelligence, command and control, weapon selection, engagement tactics, maintenance and replenishment, and search and rescue.

The OR Mission

• to educate analysts who are fully capable of conducting independent analytical studies of military problems, and to provide an educational basis for continued learning and development;
• to develop and maintain a world class research program in operations research and related areas;
• to provide operations research and general analysis support to DOD.

The OR Department has a new Center--the Center for Infrastructure Defense. Learn about it here!

The 2010 winner of the Carl E. and Jessie W. Menneken Faculty Award for Excellence in Scientific Research is Dr. Johannes O. Royset, Assistant Professor of Operations Research.  Dr. Royset is recognized for the meritorious quality and large quantity of his research, the high impact his results have had on the DoN and DoD, his exemplary collaboration with NPS students in all aspects of his research and publishing, and his extensive publication record.  

OR Professors Kress and Szechtman receive INFORMS' 2009 Koopman Award. This Prize was named after Bernard Koopman, a founding father of military operations research. It is awarded for the outstanding publication in military operations research of the previous year.

Your Town hosted by CAPT Jeff Kline
See interviews with distinguished OR Professors

OR Seminar Schedule

The OR Department is recruiting!

"I think that the operations research curriculum that I went through is one that's very relevant to what we do in the Navy. ...I've used it in three significant tours in the Pentagon. I've also used it at sea and war fighting. What the curriculum taught me to do was to properly frame a problem, ask the right questions, to assess risk and to move on from there."

--Admiral Michael G. Mullen, USN, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
NPS OR M.S. '85