CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED// ROUTINE R 281903Z OCT 24 MID180000017868U FM CNO WASHINGTON DC TO NAVADMIN INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC BT UNCLAS NAVADMIN 221/24 PASS TO OFFICE CODES: FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1// MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/OCT// 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.// BT #0001 NNNN CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED//