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The Naval Postgraduate School combines student operational experience and graduate education with applied research and faculty expertise.
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A Unique Take on NPS: Important Then, Critical Today

Fifteen years ago, the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) was spared from the Base Realignment and Closure Study for good reasons. The school is even more important and relevant to naval and national security today.
By Dr. Wayne Porter, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)
February 2021
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In March 2005, Admiral Michael Mullen, then Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command summoned me to his office. He had learned I had two master’s degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School, and he had a special project for me. “I want you to write a paper I can give CNO [Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern] Clark to help get NPS off the BRAC list.” He was referring to the Congressional Base Realignment and Closure study then underway to save money by eliminating unnecessary or redundant military installations across the country. 

Then-Acting Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) Michael W. Wynne’s 4 January 2005 memorandum, “2005 Base Closure and Realignment Selection Criteria,” identified the criteria by which to measure “Military Value.” They were:

1. The current and future mission capabilities, and the impact on operational readiness of the total force of the Department of Defense, including the impact on joint war fighting, training, and readiness.

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Dr. Wayne Porter, Captain, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Dr. Porter is a Senior Lecturer in the Defense Analysis and Systems Engineering Departments of the Naval Postgraduate School, where he also serves as Co-Director of the CORE Lab and Director of the Littoral Operations Center. He holds a Ph.D in Information Sciences and two Masters of Science degrees – in Computer Science and Joint C4I Systems Technology - from the Naval Postgraduate School. His military career included duty in Japan, England, Italy, the Balkans, and Bahrain where he was the Fifth Fleet Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence and Maritime Operations Center Deputy Director of Operations. He also served three tours on the personal staff of Admiral Mike Mullen, including as Special Assistant for Strategy when Mullen was the Chief of Naval Operations and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

More Stories From This Author View Biography

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