CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// 
ROUTINE 
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FM CNO WASHINGTON DC 
TO NAVADMIN 
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC 
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NAVADMIN 094/24 
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N2N6/MAY// 
 
SUBJ/FY25 GRADUATE SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES AT MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF 
TECHNOLOGY AND WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION// 
 
REF/A/DOC/OPNAV/24OCT17// 
REF/B/DOC/OPNAV/17JAN20// 
 
NARR/REF A IS OPNAVINST 1520.31D, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-WOODS 
HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION JOINT MASTER'S IN OCEANOGRAPHY PROGRAM. 
REF B IS OPNAVINST 1520.23C CHANGE TRANSMITTAL 3, GRADUATE EDUCATION.// 
 
POC/MICHAEL SAUNDERS/CIV/OPNAV N2N6IP4/-/TEL:  (703) 693-4160 
/EMAIL:  michael.j.saunders1.civ@us.navy.mil.// 
 
RMKS/1.  This NAVADMIN announces eligibility requirements and application 
procedures for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Massachusetts Institute of 
Technology (MIT)-Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Joint Master's 
Degree in Oceanography Program.  Where information differs between this 
NAVADMIN and reference (a), this NAVADMIN takes precedence.  This world-class 
program offers deep knowledge of ocean processes, ocean vehicles and 
instrumentation, acoustics, and signal processing.  Furthermore, it seeks to 
enhance understanding and application of operational oceanography as it 
pertains to the Undersea Warfare domain. 
 
2.  Five quotas are available for the June 2025 program start. 
Applications can be submitted online starting 1 July 2024 at 
https://apply.mit.edu/apply/.  The application fee is waived for all active 
duty applicants.  Applicants should contact Ms. Patricia Nesti (contact 
information below) prior to applying to receive an application fee waiver 
code.  MIT deadline for applications is 1 October 2024.  Program information 
and admission requirements can be found online at https://mit.whoi.edu/, 
within reference (a), and from the points of contact provided in this 
message.  Additionally, instructions to sign up for education program 
notification are available at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/group/mnpmain  
/training-education-qualifications/e-graduate-education-and-fellowship-
programs. 
 
3.  Eligibility and program requirements for active duty officers in FY-25 
include: 
    a.  Warfare qualified officers from any unrestricted line community. 
    b.  Warfare qualified officers in designator 1800. 
    c.  Midshipmen 1st Class at US Naval Academy (USNA) or Naval Reserve 
Officer Training Corps (NROTC) who will be commissioned in the spring of 
2025. 
    d.  Applicants must meet the academic eligibility requirements of MIT-
WHOI. 
    e.  Applicants must be available to report to MIT-WHOI at the beginning 
of June 2025 to start summer refresher coursework. 
 
4.  Service obligation requirements:  Per reference (b), officers selected 
for this program must execute an agreement to remain on active duty, for a 
period of three years after completion of or withdrawal from the 
program.  For any officer participating in this program without first serving 
a tour in a permanent fleet billet (Immediate Graduate Education), the 
service obligation for this program (81 months) will be served consecutively 
to their initial service obligation, not to exceed 10 years from the date of 
commissioning. 
 
5.  Selectees are eligible for the 6402P subspecialty code (Operational 
Oceanography) after fully satisfying the educational skill requirements. 
 
6.  Selectees may defer enrollment for up to one year to meet operational and 
detailing requirements. 
 
7.  Two fields of study are offered through the program.  The Applied Ocean 
Science and Engineering field of study is associated with the Mechanical 
Engineering Department at MIT and the Department of Applied Ocean Physics and 
Engineering Department at WHOI.  The Physical Oceanography field of study is 
associated with Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at MIT and the 
Department of Physical Oceanography at WHOI.  Applicants must select the 
field for which they are applying during the application process. 
 
8.  Interested applicants should submit an online application directly to the 
MIT-WHOI Joint Program.  Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results will not 
be mandatory component of the application this year.  However, if applicants 
desire their results to be included in their application package, the results 
must be sent directly to the MIT-WHOI Joint Program.  If more than five 
applications are accepted by MIT-WHOI, a Navy selection board will be 
convened to select the five candidates. 
 
9.  Applicants must contact their detailer for counseling on the career 
impact of participation in the MIT-WHOI master's degree program.  An 
endorsement letter from the detailer is required. 
 
10.  In addition to applying online all applicants must submit a separate 
application package sent via encrypted email to Mr. Michael Saunders, OPNAV 
N2N6IP4, by 1 October 2024, at the email listed below.  This package must 
include: 
     a.  Commanding Officer endorsement 
     b.  Detailer endorsement letter (with the exception of USNA and NROTC 
Midshipmen) 
     c.  Last three fitness reports 
     d.  Copy of GRE scores (not mandatory) 
     e.  Copies of all post-secondary education transcripts 
     f.  Copy of Statement of Objective essay from the MIT-WHOI application 
to include a statement on how they found out about the program. 
     g.  In lieu of fitness reports, USNA and NROTC Midshipmen may submit 
three letters of recommendation from professors and military faculty 
highlighting academic and military accomplishments and capabilities. 
 
11.  Overall POC is Mr. Michael Saunders, OPNAV N2N6IP4, (703) 693-4160 or 
michael.j.saunders1.civ@us.navy.mil. 
For questions regarding the MIT application, POC is Ms. Patricia Nesti, 
Program Administrator, MIT-WHOI Joint Program, (617) 253-7544 or 
tnesti@mit.edu. 
 
12.  This message is canceled for record purposes on 31 March 2025. 
 
13.  Released by VADM K. O. Thomas, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for 
Information Warfare, OPNAV N2N6.// 
 
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CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//