Department of Defense Management

Website

www.nps.edu/web/ddm

Chair

Raymond Jones, COL(ret) U.S. Army
Code GB, Ingersoll Hall, Room 241
(831) 656-3960, DSN 756-3960
rdjone1@nps.edu

Program Officer

Matthew Geiser, CDR, USN
Code GB, Ingersoll Hall, Room 220
(831) 656-7793, DSN 756-7793
mtgeiser1@nps.edu

The Department of Defense Management includes:

Acquisition Management (Contract Management) Academic Area

Acquisition Management (Program Management) Academic Area

Financial Management Academic Area

Manpower and Economics Academic Area

Operations and Logistics Management Academic Area

Strategic Leadership and Management Academic Area

Vision

To be recognized as the nation's premier school for defense-focused business management and public policy education and research. To be the institution that national leaders look to for education, research, information, and innovation in the management of the business of defense. To be recognized by our students, alumni, and other stakeholders for our excellence in defense-focused education and research.

Mission

To serve our Nation by educating US and allied military officers as well as defense civilians in defense-focused business and public policy, by conducting research in defense management and public policy, and by providing intellectual resources for leaders and organizations concerned with defense business management practices and policies.

Means

We pursue our vision and perform our mission through graduate education, research, and professional service.

• In Education: Through resident and distance learning degree and non-degree programs, we develop students' abilities to analyze, think critically, and take intelligent actions so they can more effectively carry out their future professional responsibilities to manage organizations, resources, people, and programs in complex, sometimes life-threatening environments.
• In Research: Conduct research, using the scholarships of discovery, application, integration, or teaching, that supports defense enterprise decision-making, problem solving, and policy setting; improves business management processes and practices; contributes knowledge to academic disciplines via dissemination in high-quality refereed research journals or suitable practitioner-oriented journals; and advances the development of graduate education.
• In Professional Service: Provide professional expertise that advances knowledge and business management within DDM, NPS, the Department of Navy, the Department of Defense, and other government agencies, as well as in our professional and academic organizations.

Areas of Excellence

Master of Science Degrees Program

The Department of Defense Management awards Master of Science degrees in Defense Contracting Management (815), Systems Acquisition Management (816), Defense Logistics Management (819), Defense Financial Management (837), and the Master of Science in Management (817, 847). Each of the Master of Science degrees is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - International (AACSB).

Distance learning Programs: “Reaching out to Serve Defense Community Needs

DDM is a leader in developing and providing off-campus education for the Defense community. DDM has developed faculty, facilities and capabilities to deliver graduate programs using Web-enhanced modes of instruction. Currently, DDM offers two unique distance learning degrees to serve Defense community needs.

Master of Science in Program Management: Developed to respond to the need for professional education for the Defense Acquisition workforce, the MSPM integrates Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) functional training requirements within the context of a graduate-level degree program.

Master of Science in Contract Management: Developed to respond to the need for professional education for the Defense Acquisition workforce, the MSCM integrates Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) functional training requirements within the context of a graduate-level degree program.

Management Development Programs “Continuing Education for Professional Success”

DDM provides Continuing Education in the form of Executive and Management Development programs by DDM faculty with both academic and professional experience in their respective discipline areas. Programs are provided in residence using Web-enhanced modes of instruction, and by faculty travelling to both national and international locations. DDM offers unique programs to serve Defense community and broader public sector needs.

Advanced Acquisition Program (AAP): The AAP provides graduate education while integrating DAWIA training to DoD's acquisition workforce, including Army, Navy and Air Force acquisition commands.

Acquisition Management Distance Learning Program (AMDLP): DDM provides this educational outreach program to the Defense acquisition community, offering acquisition management courses to Defense agencies across the country.

Defense Specialty Curricula: “Education Responsive to Sponsor Requirements”

DDM provides graduate management education in six curricular areas of direct relevance to military educational needs. All curricula have a senior leader from one of the services who sponsors the program. Sponsors are actively involved in the design and review of programs. These reviews, in conjunction with NPS and DDM assessments, result in high quality, unique, and military-relevant programs. Collectively, the curricula encompass all aspects of Resource Management, including the management of Human Resources, Physical Resources, Financial Resources, and Information Resources.

Logistics Management: Designed for military officers who will be responsible for managing the various segments of a military system's life cycle from initial planning for support to fielding the system, through sustaining operations to phase-out. Emphasizes all of the aspects of providing integrated logistics support of military systems.

Acquisition Management: Develops the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for graduates to assume leadership roles in the acquisition workforce and efficiently manage the resources allocated to the acquisition process.

Manpower Management: Serves the Navy Human Resource Community of Interest by developing leaders in the design, analysis, and management of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education Systems to maximize fleet readiness.

Financial Management: Designed to prepare military officers for effectively managing financial resources to achieve the goals and objectives of the defense forces. Graduates are prepared for assignment to positions in budgeting, accounting, financial management, cost management, cost analysis, internal control and auditing, and financial analysis.

Defense Management and Analysis: Designed to prepare military officers broadly for positions of leadership and management responsibility in defense organizations, and to develop the knowledge and abilities necessary for the analysis of policies and problems in defense organizations.

Information Systems Management: Designed to provide both technical skills and business acumen. This curriculum provides the knowledge to: acquire and manage information systems and infrastructure; address IS engineering and management problems; assimilate new technologies and transform organizations, processes, and strategies to compete in the marketplace or on the battlefield in the constantly changing digital world.

Professional Development Program: The Department of Defense Management also administers several non-degree programs consisting of graduate education or professional courses taught in residence or via distance learning modes. These programs support professional development for managers in DoD. Current programs emphasize acquisition and financial management, and include: Advanced Acquisition Program, and Advanced Comptroller Course.

Faculty: “A Unique Blend to Perform DDM's Academic Mission”

The DDM faculty is unique in its composition, combining individuals with varying academic, professional, practitioner, and service backgrounds to provide relevant graduate instruction and research programs.

Academics and Professionals: DDM’s faculty are drawn from a wide variety of academic disciplines. A majority of the faculty holds doctoral degrees from the nation's distinguished universities. In addition to the academics, practitioners are an integral part of the faculty. In keeping with the mission, DDM employs highly qualified practitioners on a full-time basis to enhance the relevance and quality of programs. All full-time practitioners have at least a master's degree and have been recognized as accomplished professionals in their fields.

Civilian and Military: A combination of top notch civilian faculty combined with active and retired military officers provides DDM with expertise both within and beyond the Department of Defense. The civilian faculty provides the theoretical and academic expertise enhanced by numerous contacts throughout the Navy and Defense community, while the military faculty provides recent DoD experience, and professional and operational expertise.

Business and Government: The DDM faculty blends backgrounds from both the private and public sectors. More than half of the faculty come with academic and/or professional experience from the business world. More than half come with academic and/or professional experience in the public sector.

Instruction and Research: DDM faculty are expected to excel in teaching as well as conduct significant research that is relevant to the Department of Defense. Faculty members maintain high degree of connectivity with sponsors of instructional and research programs. Almost all faculty work year round, teaching two quarters and conducting research and/or engaging in administrative work for the other two quarters.

Defense Management Research: “Scholarship Analysis Relevant to Defense Problems”

Research Mission: Research is an important component of DDM's mission. The primary goal of DDM's research programs to provide the Navy and DoD with the capability of managing defense organizations, systems, and processes both efficiently and effectively. DDM recognizes the importance of both basic and applied research to the Navy and DoD; and seeks to create a balance of both types of research in its research program. DDM's research programs can be grouped into six functional areas:

Acquisition (Program Management and Contracting)

Logistics and Transportation

Financial Management

Manpower Systems and Human Resources

Organization and Management

Economic and Policy Analysis

Research Relevance: In-depth knowledge of military problems allows the faculty to provide assistance to DoD decision makers. Expertise in private sector business practices enables the faculty to assist DoD organizations in adopting best business practices. Research in military-relevant issues additionally allows the faculty to develop unique and relevant instructional material for education of military officers.

DoD sponsorship of DDM research comes from several commands and areas, such as: ASN(RDA), ONR, OSD, SPAWAR, NAVSUP, AIRPAC, DAU, NETSAFA, NPRST, PERSEREC, USMC, N82, Manpower, Acquisition, and Logistics.

Research Excellence: DDM faculty include nationally and internationally recognized experts in simulation modeling, supply chain management, work motivation, knowledge management, military manpower, public sector management, change management, public budgeting, managerial communications, conflict management, acquisition, defense economics, information technology and other defense-relevant fields.

Research Centers and Programs

Acquisition Research Program: Established in 2002, Naval Postgraduate School's Acquisition Research Program provides leadership in innovation, creative problem solving and an on-going dialogue, contributing to the evolution of Department of Defense acquisition strategies. Objectives of the NPS Acquisition Research Program include: Establishing NPS acquisition research as an integral part of policy-making for Departments of Defense and Navy officials. Creating a stream of relevant information concerning the performance of DoD acquisition policies with viable recommendations for continuous process improvement, preparing the workforce to participate in the continued evolution of the defense acquisition process, collaborating with other universities, think tanks, industry and Government in acquisition research.

Human Resources Center of Excellence: Established in October 2007 by the Chief of Naval Personnel, the Human Resources Center of Excellence (HRCOE) serves as a focal point for the lifelong career learning for the Human Resources (HR) community. In support of this goal, the Center is responsible for the development and execution of programs that promote professional development for all active duty and reserve HR officers to include formal education opportunities for new and experienced HR officers, a robust mentoring program, and a resources and learning tools repository. Center activities and efforts to enrich the professional development and abilities of the HR Community will be aligned with the Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education mission to anticipate warfighting needs, identify associated personnel capabilities, and recruit, develop, manage and apply those capabilities in an agile and cost effective manner.

Programs Offered

The Department of Defense Management (DDM) has responsibility for graduate academic programs and awards graduate degrees in defense management. DDM offers specialized Master of Science degree programs focused on defense management fields, and non-degree professional development programs. These programs are:

Master of Science Degree Programs

• MS in Management
• MS in Systems Acquisition Management
• MS in Defense Contract Management
• MS in Defense Logistics Management
• MS in Defense Financial Management
• MS in Program Management
• MS in Contract Management
• MS in Financial Management

Graduate Certificate Programs

• Strategic Leadership
• Leadership for Public Administrators
• Principles of Analytic Management
• Advanced Acquisition Studies
• Acquisition Logistics
• Managerial Logistics
• DoD Financial Management
• Basic Contract Management
• Advanced Contract Management
• Cost-Benefit and Program Evaluation

Professional Development Programs

• Acquisition Management Distance Learning Program
• HRCOE/VA