The Department of Defense Management leads efforts to innovate how the Department of Defense designs, develops, and delivers capabilities to the field.

We know that innovation comes from people and organizational culture. Defense management professionals must be prepared with top-level education, research, and operational experience to lead in a dynamic and complex era of great power competition.

The innovation leaders who graduate from our programs transform organizational cultures to be more responsive, creative, and mission-focused as they manage defense programs, set defense policy, provide defense sector administration, and deliver defense capabilities.
 

Responsive Image

DDM Adapts to Deliver 21st Capabilities   

A Message from Raymond Jones, DDM Chair

The Department of Defense Management (DDM) is a dynamic organization, continually self-assessing and evolving to maintain close alignment to priorities of the Secretary of the Navy and the Navy's ongoing Education Enterprise Requirements and Resourcing Review Board (E2R3B) process. Additionally, our programs integrate the principles of Get Real Get Better (GRGB), focusing on leader development in complex defense management environments.

In 2022, DDM was launched as a new, transformed organization to replace the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy. With this transformation, DDM is modernizing how the Naval Postgraduate School delivers graduate education, research, and capabilities in defense management.  These changes go into effect with new incoming classes in 2023 and include the following:

  • Flexible options to complete degrees in 12, 15, or 18 months
  • Focused certificates that align to Naval and DoD critical decision-making processes
  • Consolidated curricula that are laser-focused on core priorities 
  • Expanded capstone options that include Innovation Capstone Projects, experiential research projects that iterate with transition sponsors to deliver both validated problem sets and tangible solutions 
  • Alignment with NPS strategic priorities to deliver defense-unique and naval-relevant research, education, and innovation undergirded by a mission-focused institution designed to develop defense leaders in modern and technologically relevant facilities
  • Responsiveness to Naval priorities articulated by SECNAV guidance, Naval education enterprise, Get Real Get Better, and other core strategic guidance.


 

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.

Accreditation

As part of NPS, the Department of Defense Management is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In addition, the Department of Defense Management has the distinction of being one of only a few institutions in the world to have its graduate management programs accredited by both the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the premier accrediting association for schools of business, and the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the premier accrediting association for schools of public administration.

Eligibility

DDM programs and courses are open to:

  • The five U.S. Uniformed Services
  • Department of Defense and Federal Government Civilian Employees
  • International Officers and Government Employees
  • Defense Contractors

Contact us

General questions: ddm@nps.edu
Ray Jones, Chair 
Blake O'Neal, Management and Program Analyst
Christina Hart, Director of Distance Learning Programs

Main Office Phone: 831-656-2471
Fax: (831) 656-3407

Mailing Address
Department of Defense Management
Naval Postgraduate School
555 Dyer Road
Monterey, CA 93943