Professor of the Practice in Operations Research

Department of Operations Research

Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA

The Department of Operations Research (OR) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) invites applications for a full-time/seasonal, non-tenure track Professor of the Practice faculty position. This position is intended for an accomplished practitioner with extensive naval operational and analytical experience who is passionate about graduate education, applied research, and engagement with senior defense stakeholders. The role will contribute to NPS’s mission by educating military leaders, conducting executive-level professional education, and supporting applied research in areas critical to naval and joint operations.

Primary duties include:

• Teaching graduate-level courses in operations research, naval and joint operations analysis, and systems analysis.
• Designing and delivering executive seminars focused on organizational risk and decision-making.
• Liaising with U.S. Navy Fleet-level commands, OPNAV staff, naval warfare development centers, Joint organizations, and defense industry partners.
• Assisting faculty and students with sponsored research programs in future force design, naval tactics, warfare analysis, and maritime decision aids for tactical and operational command and control.
• Developing curricula, courses, executive seminars, research proposals, and thesis topics that bring current and future Navy challenges to NPS students, faculty, and staff.
• Assisting graduate-student researchers pursuing master's or PhD degrees.

The Department of Operations Research at NPS in Monterey, California is one of the oldest and largest OR departments in the world. The department consists of 36 faculty members with expertise spanning the full breadth of operations research, including large-scale optimization, applied statistics, military logistics, warfare analysis, and critical infrastructure resilience. Our students are primarily military officers from the U.S. and its allies pursuing master’s degrees in defense-oriented OR topics. They bring substantial operational experience, professionalism, and intellectual maturity to the classroom. Our research addresses important and challenging problems in national security, and we foster close collaborations with U.S. Navy and Department of War sponsors, other government agencies, and other universities. Additional information about our department can be found at https://www.nps.edu/web/or

Review of applications will begin on 8 May 2026, additional applications will be considered until the position is filled. 

Applicants should submit the following materials:

• Cover letter.
• Résumé.
• Statements of teaching and research interests.
• Three letters of recommendation from senior naval officers with names and contact information.
• Evidence of ability to liaise with the Department of War and senior naval stakeholders.

All materials should be submitted to or_jobs@nps.edu 

Minimum Qualifications include:

• Master's degree in operations research or a related quantitative discipline.
• One tour of duty as a naval operations research analyst.
• Interest in and aptitude for teaching and mentoring graduate students.
• Naval operational experience at the senior officer level.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and liaise with Navy Fleet-level commands, OPNAV staff, naval warfare development centers, and defense industry.
• Ability to assist faculty and students with sponsored research projects.
• Three letters of recommendation from senior naval officers.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Active U.S. Secret security clearance (or ability to obtain one).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Multiple tours of duty as a Navy operations research analyst.
• Joint staff experience as an operations research analyst.
• Record of graduate teaching excellence.
• Experience at U.S. Navy Flag officer level.
• Demonstrated ability to liaise with Combatant Commanders, Joint staff, Navy Fleet level commands, OPNAV staff, naval warfare development centers, and defense industry.
• Demonstrated ability to form and lead a coalition of willing participants from multiple disciplines and organizations to pursue a campaign of learning and research that make the Navy and the U.S. Armed Forces a more effective and more resilient fighting force.
• U.S. Top Secret clearance (or ability to obtain one).
• Three letters of recommendation from naval flag officers.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Required Documents Statement:

Your C.V. or resume must be two pages or less and must support the minimum qualification described in this announcement. Additional supporting documentation may be submitted to provide additional details regarding experience, publication record, and scholarship.

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. Applicants with foreign education will be required to select from a list of private organizations that are members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES), which provide foreign education evaluations acceptable to NPS.

The Naval Postgraduate School is an equal opportunity employer. For additional information about NPS, please refer to the website at http://www.nps.edu

Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation such as a DD-214 or a VA Letter.

Additional Veterans’ information:  If you are not sure of your preference eligibility, visit the Department of Labor website: Veterans' Preference | U.S. Department of Labor For more veterans’ preference information, visit: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

About Naval Postgraduate School

The mission of the Naval Postgraduate School is to provide relevant and unique advanced education and research programs to increase the combat effectiveness of commissioned officers of the Naval Service to enhance the security of the United States. In support of the foregoing, and to sustain academic excellence, NPS and the DON foster and encourage a program of relevant and meritorious research which both supports the needs of Navy and Department of Defense while building the intellectual capital of Naval Postgraduate School faculty.

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