LEAD GE+T

FY-27 Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Master's Program
 

The LEAD Master’s Program provides graduate education and preparation for talented, highly qualified URL officers to serve as Company Officers at the United States Naval Academy and for continued future service in the Navy.  Officers selected for this fully-funded program will spend one year obtaining a Master of Science in Leadership, Education, and Development from the Naval Postgraduate School via distance learning from Annapolis, Maryland.  Officers will be stationed at Annapolis, Maryland for the entirety of their 3 year tour, with the possibility of short TAD periods in Monterey, California. The coursework will also allow the students to obtain the 4500 Sub-Specialty Code. After spending the first year focused on obtaining their MS, officers will then complete a two-year follow-on commitment as a Company Officer at USNA.  There is a requirement for three years of Active-Duty service after completion of a Master's degree, the first two-years of which are served at the Naval Academy.  Additional information on the LEAD Master’s Program can be found at https://www.usna.edu/LEAD/Lead-Masters-Program/index.php

 
Interested Officers should submit:

• A completed application, forwarded to your cognizant detailer.  A sample can be found at https://www.usna.edu/LEAD/Lead-Masters-Program/LEAD-Program-Application.php

• A personal statement that specifically addresses the reason for your application to the LEAD program to include how the program fits into your career goals and your expectations with respect to the program.

• An unofficial copy of all Undergraduate or Graduate transcripts.

• Last 3 Fitness Reports.

• Chain of Command endorsement.

• Additional letters of recommendation (desired, not required; academic references encouraged).
  *A GRE is NOT required for this program but scores are an optional supplement to application materials*

​Deadline: Applications for FY27 participants must be submitted to detailers no later than 31 October 2026.  All packages will be vetted by detailers to ensure your career timing aligns with the program. 
 
*NOTE: If selected to the LEAD Master’s Program and servicemember opts to accept orders, it will incur a term of obligated service (OBLISERV) to remain on active-duty for three years following completion of the educational portion of the LEAD program. The service obligation is discharged concurrently with any other service obligation already incurred. The specific terms should be confirmed with your community detailer and will be explicitly outlined in the details of your written PCS orders.

Contact your respective detailer to discuss eligibility.

USNA POC: LCDR Lindsey Santiago lsantiag@usna.edu

For program application questions, please contact your detailer or LCDR Jenna Quist, PERS-443, at 901-874-4060.

Graduate Education plus Teaching (GET) Program Announcement

The Graduate Education Plus Teaching (GET) Program seeks active duty unrestricted line (URL), restricted line (RL), and Information Warfare Community (IWC) officers selected for or in the permanent grade of Lieutenant (O-3).

The GET program provides the USNA with officers who are qualified academically and professionally to serve as teachers and role models for future officers and then return to the Fleet in career competitive assignments.  The GET program includes approximately 12 months of graduate education directly followed by a two-academic-year teaching assignment at USNA, resulting in a 36-month combined tour. Applicants shall commit to remaining in their parent community and to accept a set of follow-on orders to a career progression tour (e.g., department head) in the operating forces upon completion. Conflicts between career path requirements and the 24 month GET teaching obligation should be avoided to the greatest extent possible and could negatively affect an officer’s chance of selection.

Additional eligibility criteria are included in OPNAVINST 1524.2, Graduate Education Plus Teaching (GET) Program. 

Community Managers will manage which year groups are eligible to participate and the individual community obligations. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their potential eligibility with their Officer Community Manager.

To learn more about FY-26 board, eligible disciplines, and application procedures, please visit USNA's Officer Faculty Opportunities Webpage

USNA is accepting applications for instructors in the following disciplines:

1. Aerospace Engineering
2. Chemistry
3. Computer Science Department (Specialty in Computer Security, Data Science, Machine Learning)
4. Cyber Science (Specialty in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Mathematics w/computer security focus, Law w/cybersecurity focus)
5. Economics
6. Electrical and Computer Engineering
7. English
8. Foreign Language (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish/Portuguese)
9. History
10. Leadership, Ethics, and Law (Specialty in Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Sociology, Philosophy)
11. Mathematics
12. Mechanical Engineering
13. Naval Architecture/Ocean Engineering
14. Nuclear Engineering
15. Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
16. Physics
17. Political Science
18. Seamanship and Navigation
19. Weapons, Robotics and Control Engineering (Specialty in Robotics, Control, Cyber-Physical Systems, Automation, or Bio-mechanics)

In addition to the application requirements set in OPNAVINST 1524.2, applicants must also submit a Performance Summary Report, Officer Summary Record, and their last five Fitness Reports. Applications must be received by 01 October 2025.

For program questions, please contact LCDR Justin Downs, USNA, downs@usna.edu

Submissions must be sent:

• By encrypted email to PERS-440_Submit.fct@navy.mil, or
• By DoD SAFE to PERS-440_Submit.fct@navy.mil, or
• By mail to

Navy Personnel Command
Attn:  PERS-443B
5720 Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055