Resident students make the most out of a 12-month course of study that minimizes time spent away from the operational field and concludes with a focused final project that delivers tangible outcomes for the defense management community.

The Department of Defense Management offers Master of Science degrees in five areas for resident learners:

• Defense Contract Management

• Defense Financial Management

• Defense Logistics Management

• Manpower System Analysis

• Defense Program Management

The Navy’s Supervisor of Shipbuilding reviews the official document that will formally transfer ownership of the littoral combat ships.(U.S. Navy photo/Released)

The Defense Contract Management curriculum is an interdisciplinary program which integrates management theory, accounting, economics, finance, behavioral science, management theory, operations/systems analysis, and specific courses in acquisition and contracting. The 815 curriculum includes a concentration option in strategic purchasing. Student input includes officers and civilians from all DoD services, other federal agencies and allied nations. The curriculum is designed to provide officers and civilians with the skills to serve effectively in systems buying offices, field contracting offices, contract administration offices, and contracting policy offices.

Browse the Defense Contract Management curriculum (815)

The Defense Financial Management curriculum prepares officers for business, financial, and analysis positions within the DoN and DoD. Financial Managers assist the DoN's decision-making processes at all levels by providing accurate, timely and relevant information and analysis. They are concerned with the optimal allocation of human, physical and financial resources to achieve the DoN's goals and objectives while assuring efficient and effective expenditure of public funds. Graduates of the Defense Financial Management Curriculum will be prepared for assignment to positions in strategic planning, business analysis, financial analysis, budgeting, accounting, business and financial management, and internal control systems and auditing.

Graduate courses cover topics such as financial reporting standards, cost standards, cost analysis, budgeting and financial management, internal control, auditing, management planning and control systems, strategic resource management, quantitative techniques used in planning and control, system acquisition and program management, and the Planning Programming, Budgeting Execution System (PPBES) used within the Department of Defense.

Browse the Defense Financial Management curriculum (837)

Sailors move supplies aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) during a vertical replenishment with USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7).  (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Malcolm Kelley) 

The Defense Logistics Management curriculum provides a foundational education that prepares graduates to operate successfully across the spectrum of defense logistics, from the industrial base and our Naval installations, through inter- theater and intra-theater distribution, to the last tactical mile in direct support of combat forces in contested environments. The curriculum is comprised of a brief management core, a logistics concentration, and a capstone project. The management core addresses defense acquisition, budgeting, and finance, as well as organizational innovation and transformation. The logistics courses address significant components of the military supply chain, each providing unique and defense-relevant education that meets the critical needs of the armed services. The specialized logistics courses concentrate on studies in data and process analytics, modeling methods for defense decision making, supply chain management, logistics engineering and integrated logistics support, risk management, the defense distribution system, and logistics strategic planning.

The 12-Month Defense Logistics Management curriculum provides foundational education in all aspects of the logistics function. Students can extend their program to 15 months, 18 months, or longer by adding Joint Professional Military Education courses or elective academic certificates.

Browse the Defense Logistics Management curriculum:

• Supply chain management (curriculum 819) and Materiel Logistics Support (curriculum 827)
• Logistics information technology (curriculum 870)

Sailors aboard USS Spruance (DDG 111) conduct a replenishment-at-sea with USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Taylor Crenshaw)

The Manpower Systems Analysis Curriculum (MSA) leading to the MSM degree is designed for U.S. and international officers. Officers enrolled in the Manpower Systems Analysis curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School undertake the challenge of an academic program designed to fill leadership and analytical roles in military manpower personnel, training, and education management. MSA subspecialists are responsible for developing and analyzing policies to ensure that the Navy and DoD are recruiting, training, utilizing and retaining personnel in the most efficient and effective ways possible. The MSA curriculum emphasizes mathematical, statistical, and other quantitative and qualitative analysis methods. Successful completion of the curriculum yields an officer skilled in conducting manpower personnel, training, and education policy analysis.

Areas covered in the MSA curriculum include an understanding of manpower, personnel, training, education policy development, managing diversity, compensation systems, enlistment supply and retention models, manpower training models, manpower requirements determination processes, career mix, enlistment and reenlistment incentives, training effectiveness measures, and hardware/manpower trade-offs. Students gain familiarity with current models and methods of manpower analysis and economics as well as military manpower organizations, information systems and issues. The curriculum directly supports the Navy Human Resource Community of Interest.

Browse the Manpower Systems Analysis curriculum:

• Manpower Systems Analysis (curriculum 847)
• Defense Systems Analysis (curriculum 817)

The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and the guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf sail with an Italian navy destroyer ITS Caio Duilio during operations in the Adriatic Sea, Sept. 19, 2022. (Photo By: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Christine Montgomery)

Defense Program Management is an interdisciplinary program within the Acquisition Sciences area designed to integrate business principles, program leadership and management theory, operations analysis, and systems engineering applications. It is uniquely tailored to federal government acquisition management and intensive exposure to the fundamental principles of the acquisition environment.

The courses in this program apply business analysis and problem-solving techniques essential to effective major system program management within the structure of DoD acquisition management. It further focuses on the decisions and problems facing the acquisition manager, the various forces at work within industry and government, and the impact of acquisition policies and strategies. Student input includes officers and civilians from all DoD Services, other federal agencies, and allied nations.

The program can be delivered in 12 to 18-months, by adding Joint Professional Military Education courses or elective academic certificates as required.

Browse the Defense Program Management curriculum (816)