Naval Postgraduate School
History
The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is a graduate school operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees. The school also offers research fellowship opportunities at the postdoctoral level through the National Research Council research associateship program.
The school was established on June 9, 1909, as the School of Marine Engineering at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It relocated to Monterey in 1951. The school has evolved into a premier research university primarily focused on advanced science and engineering education to military officers of the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security as well as members of the foreign military.
Academics
NPS offers graduate programs through four graduate schools and twelve departments. The university is organized into four schools: Graduate School of Business & Public Policy, Graduate School of Operational & Information Sciences, Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, and the School of International Graduate Studies. Each school is charged with the responsibility of managing their respective departments.
The programs are designed to accommodate the unique requirements of the military. The curriculum is structured to allow flexibility for students who are often called away for duty assignments. The majority of the students are active-duty officers from all branches of the U.S. military, although civilian and international students are also admitted.
Research
Research at NPS is conducted by a combination of students, faculty, and visiting scholars. The research program supports the education and training mission of the university and contributes to the body of knowledge in the various disciplines represented at the school. The research program is supported by a wide variety of sponsors, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and various other governmental and private organizations.
The research activities are organized into four institutes: the Cebrowski Institute for information innovation and superiority, the Meyer Institute for systems engineering, the Wayne E. Meyer Institute of Systems Engineering, and the MOVES (Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation) Institute.
Campus
The NPS campus is located in Monterey, California, on the former site of the Hotel Del Monte, a grand resort hotel of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The campus occupies over 627 acres of land, much of it forested and includes numerous historic buildings. The campus also includes state-of-the-art laboratories, research facilities, and a library that holds over 500,000 volumes.
Notable alumni
NPS has produced many notable alumni, including astronauts, admirals, and generals. Some of the most notable include Vice Admiral Timothy J. Keating, former commander of the U.S. Pacific Command; General Michael Hagee, former Commandant of the Marine Corps; and astronaut James F. Reilly.