Landing Page FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

This quarter's New Student Orientation will be held on 30 June-01 July from 0800-1000 in King Hall Auditorium. Attendance is mandatory on both days.

This quarter's Pre-Graduation Briefing will be held on 21 April from 1215-1300 in King Hall Auditorium. Attendance is mandatory for all graduating students.

Students who have operational or other professional commitments that require them to miss graduation, should route a Dean of Students Request Form to the Dean of Students (DOS) office.

Graduating Ph.D. students can now order their regalia through the Herff Jones website. Be sure to place your order before the shipping deadline to ensure your regalia arrives on time for the ceremony.

Important Deadlines

Round 1 Deadline: 03/02/2026 8:59pm
Round 2 Deadline: 03/13/2026 8:59pm

Shipping Information Home-shipped to Student Address

Through 03/02/2026 8:59pm

Standard - $14.90

APO - $21.30

International - $32.00

Through 03/13/2026 8:59pm

RUSH - $21.30

Visit the Herff Jones website for full details and ordering instructions. If you have any questions, contact Dexter Kennedy at dexter.kennedy@nps.edu.

Students requesting to stay at NPS greater than seven (7) days after their scheduled graduation date or requesting to change their PRD should route a "Dean of Students Request Form" to the Dean of Students (DOS) office via the Program Officer.

Service Record Full Length Photos: are provided every Tuesday 0900-1200 and 1300-1500 by appointment only. Schedule an appointment here.

The photo sessions take 10 minutes. You will be provided a digital copy of the photo suitable for submitting to your Navy Portal account. Marines will have their photos delivered to them and MMSB simultaneously by the photographer. Marines can check their Personnel account the following day for receipt confirmation.

NOTE: Marine Corps officers must present their signed Command Height/ Weight Verification Form when they arrive at the studio. Marines can also e-mail their signed form to photographer@nps.edu after they make an appointment

Service Dress Blues portrait availabilities are by appointment only: 
Seated portraiture is reserved for official programs requiring a photo by NPS or Navy Instruction, students with academic recognition awards, and NPS military faculty and staff. Examples of eligible programs is the Conrad Scholar Program and Meyer Scholar Program (Systems Engineering IAMD). 

Incoming students are not authorized to report before the "no earlier than date" on their orders. Navy orders have this date listed on page 2/3.

Navy- Upon release of the promotion message (NAVADMIN XXX/YY), the Dean of Students Office will draft the promotion paperwork.  You will be contacted, via email, when the paperwork is prepared for your signature.  Promotees are responsible for planning and scheduling their promotion ceremonies, mass promotions are not conducted at NPS. 

All Other Services- Promotions are handled by the respective service reps and the administrative chain of command.   

Any students requiring endorsements by their commanding officer should review the following information.

Endorsement Gouge

The NPS Passport Office is currently vacant. The closest options for government passports are:

Travis AFB Passport Office

  • Schedule appointments using the 60 FSS Passport Org Box:  60FSSFSMPDPassports@us.af.mil
  • Tuesdays and Thursdays: Passport Application Submission/passport pick up, by appointment only.
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Inquires only.
  • Closed Office: US Federal Holidays, AMC Family Days, and Every 4th Thursday of each month for Mandatory Training Day.
    • Make appointment requests via email (preferred). When requesting a passport appointment, let them know what type of passport(s) are needed – official or dependent no-fee Special Issuance Passport, as well as how many applicants need an appointment.
    • For more information regarding passport procedures and requirements, visit: https://usaf.dps.mil/teams/60MSG/60FSS/FSP/SitePages/Passport-&-Visa.aspx
    • For any other inquiries or concerns, e-mail or call DSN 424-5324/707-424-5324

Moffett Field Passport Agent

USN: Any Personal Military Decorations (PMDs) that are not reflecting in your record that you have both the 1650 and Citation. 

  • Reach out to awarding command FIRST if you do not have your 1650, to obtain a copy.
  • If the command does not have a copy retained, contact MNCC listed on the SOP below.

NDAWS SOP