FISCAL YEAR 2025 UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT MASTERS PROGRAM:
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//
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SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2025 UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY LEADERSHIP EDUCATION AND
DEVELOPMENT MASTERS PROGRAM//
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces application procedures for the
Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Leadership Education and Development (LEAD)
masters program. The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is seeking
applications from motivated, academically, and professionally
qualified Unrestricted Line Officers for the FY25 LEAD masters
program. Selected officers will serve as both company officers and
role models for our future naval officers. The USNA company officer
masters program is a unique opportunity for junior officers to
participate in a 36-month graduate education and leadership
experience. The program combines a fully-funded masters degree in
leadership education and development from the Naval Postgraduate
School with a required 2-year follow-on commitment as a company
officer at USNA in Annapolis, MD.
2. Additional information can be found on the USNA website at
https://www.usna.edu/LEAD/Lead-Masters-Program/index.php.
3. Community specific eligible Year Groups (YG) and additional
eligibility requirements follow:
a. Surface Warfare:
(1) Eligible YG: YG 21 surface warfare qualified officers
who have demonstrated superior performance at sea, have screened for
Department Head (DH) afloat, and who have the career timing to
support a 36-month shore duty assignment prior to their 7.5-year
mark of commissioned service. Select YG 19 surface warfare officers
may be eligible depending on career timing and current shore duty
assignment. Nuclear trained officers are also eligible however, due
to the specific nature of their career timing, it is understood that
they will rotate earlier than 36 months for DH school timing. All
YG 20 and 21 officers should contact their respective Surface
Warfare Officer Assignment Division (PERS-41) junior officer
detailer to determine their timeline to DH School.
(2) Eligible officers will compete for USNA LEAD nominations
via the PERS-41 Talent Management Board (TMB). PERS-41 junior
officer detailers will assist the nominated officers with their
online nomination package submission. All TMB details will be
announced via separate correspondence and support the timeline
defined in this NAVADMIN.
(3) A DH retention bonus contract must be submitted
immediately upon selection for the LEAD Program. DH school
attendance and the successful completion of two DH tours as defined
by PERS-41 is required following the completion of USNA assignment.
b. Submarine:
(1) Eligible YG: YG 20 and 21.
(2) Submarine and Nuclear Officer Distribution Division
(PERS-42) will review all applications and recommend for selection
top performing officers who can meet Submarine Officers Advanced
Course (SOAC) gate at 7.5 years of commissioned service. SOAC
attendance and completion of a DH tour is required following
completion of USNA assignment.
(3) Eligible officers will compete for nominations via the
PERS-42 TMB. Application materials required for the TMB are those
listed in this NAVADMIN.
(4) A nuclear officer bonus contract must be submitted
immediately upon acceptance into the LEAD program. SOAC attendance
and the successful completion of a DH tour as defined by PERS-42 is
required following the completion of USNA LEAD assignment.
c. Aviation:
(1) Eligible YG: Officers eligible for first shore tour.
(2) Eligible officers will compete for USNA LEAD nominations
via USNA-run TMB. Primary criteria utilized for selection will be
past performance, qualifications, career timing, and community
needs. Interested officers should contact their respective Aviation
Officer Distribution Division (PERS-43) detailer for assistance with
nomination package submission.
d. Special Warfare:
(1) Eligible YG: No restriction.
(2) Prospective applicants must be screened by the DH board
and education panel and have signed the naval special warfare
officer continuation pay contract. Applicants meeting these
criteria will compete for SEAL/SWCC Officer Assignments and
Placement Division (PERS-415) nominations based on their
performance, academic qualifications, and suitability for the
program.
e. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD):
(1) Eligible YG: YG 17-19.
(2) Prospective applicants must have completed an EOD
company commander tour, be administratively board screened for EOD
DH, and signed the EOD warfare officer retention bonus contract.
Applicants meeting these criteria will compete for EOD Officer
Assignment and Placement Division (PERS-416) nominations based on
their performance, academic qualifications, and suitability for the
program.
f. Information Warfare:
(1) Eligible YG: No restriction.
(2) Prospective applicants will compete for USNA LEAD
nominations via the Information Warfare Community Division (PERS-47)
TMB. Primary criteria utilized for selection will be past
performance, qualifications, career timing, and community needs.
Interested officers should contact their respective PERS-47 detailer
for assistance with nomination package submission.
4. Interested officers must:
a. Complete an application and forward to respective detailer.
A sample can be found at https://www.usna.edu/LEAD/Lead-Masters-Program/LEAD-
Program-Application.php. The application package must include:
(1) Completed application page (PDF fillable version found
at the website above).
(2) Personal statement that specifically addresses the
reason for the application to the LEAD program, how the program fits
into your career goals, and your expectations with respect to the
program.
(3) Biography (following the format provided at the website
above).
(4) All higher education transcripts.
(5) Copy of Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores taken
within the last 5 years (or statement explaining why you are unable
to take the GRE such as deployment or operational commitments).
(6) Chain of command endorsement (required).
(7) Additional professional and academic letters of
recommendation (desired, not required).
(8) Copy of performance summary report, officer summary
record, and last five fitness reports.
b. Communicate intentions to apply for this program to the
cognizant detailer to ensure adequate career timing. All
applications will be vetted through detailers to verify career
timing impact.
5. Any inquiries should be sent to LCDR Michael Watrol, PERS-443,
PERS-440_submit.fct@navy.mil
6. Released by VADM Richard J. Cheeseman, Jr., N1.//
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