Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. --
Recent shifts in the global security landscape have made it imperative for the acquisition community and its industry partners to work in lockstep to forge a modern, resilient defense ecosystem capable of deterring our stated adversaries and mitigating evolving threats across Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific.
At the Modern Day Marine 2023 conference, retired Gen. David Berger, former Commandant of the Marine Corps, cautioned that while the Corps has long excelled in logistics, hostile regimes have developed cutting-edge capabilities specifically designed to disrupt our supply chains and logistical operations.
“How do we make sure that we can sustain that force, that we can have the mobility for that force globally when it's being contested?” he asked a crowd.
At Marine Corps Systems Command, Timothy M. Gramp, US Marine Corps Chief Engineer and Deputy to the Commander, Systems Engineering and Acquisition Logistics for Marine Corps Systems Command, believes the Joint Executive Systems Engineering and Management (SEM) – Leadership in Product Development for the 21st Century (PD21) master’s program (Curriculum 721) at the Naval Postgraduate School can serve as a critical answer to the former commandant’s not-so-rhetorical question.
“A few years ago, I had the opportunity to participate in the SEM-PD21 master’s program, a two-year distance learning program with a focus on systems engineering and management,” said Gramp. “The program includes on-campus sessions and industry visits, where we engaged with acquisition experts and commercial partners like Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook. It offered a comprehensive curriculum that not only covered systems engineering but also included essential disciplines like budgeting, finance, and program management, preparing us for senior technical leadership roles. Overall, it was an invaluable experience that broadened my understanding of applying systems engineering to large-scale enterprise challenges.”
SEM-PD21—offered in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—is designed to develop a cadre of engineers and managers from across the acquisition community and industry who can drive innovation and—through networking and relationship building—strengthen the critical partnerships that ensure our military remains equipped to face evolving global threats.
Although the program is primarily conducted online, it includes key in-person components such as on-campus sessions and an annual one-week industry trip to foster deeper connections and practical learning. Beyond the essential skills and knowledge it provides, the program’s true strength lies in cultivating innovative thinkers who become change-makers, adept at navigating the challenges of an ailing American industrial base and rigid acquisition architecture.
“By integrating both management and engineering elements, the Joint Executive SEM-PD21 program strives to develop a new kind of leader with a holistic perspective and the educational foundation to become change agents and drive innovations in their own businesses and help achieve acquisition excellence,” said Dr. Walter E. Owen, Associate Chair for Distance Learning in the Department of Systems Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School. “One of the other key value propositions of the program is the joint government-industry perspective. Imagine the possibilities when government personnel and their industry counterparts are sitting side-by-side studying how to improve the way we do business so that our customers, the warfighters, have the best products in the world to enhance operational effectiveness and achieve mission success.”
Completion of this NPS master’s program offers significant advantages for those in program management and engineering roles by fulfilling key requirements for Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act Career Field Certifications (DAWIA). The program not only meets essential training mandates for program managers and system engineers but also supports participants' progression toward advanced DAWIA levels. Additionally, it provides ample continuing education opportunities and Continuous Learning Points (CLPs), allowing participants to exceed standard expectations while expanding their expertise.
Another key benefit of participation in the SEM-PD21 program is the opportunity to network with a cadre of engineers and managers from across the acquisition community.
Gramp stated, “You spend a lot of quality time with the individuals in your cohort through various in-person opportunities throughout the program. Whether it's industry visits, on-campus orientation, or other events, you really get to build friendships and professional connections that I've been able to rely on later."
Although there are countless success stories across the spectrum of alumni, Navy CAPT Victor “IKE” Glover—who graduated from the SEM PD-21 program in 2009—certainly stands out. In 2013, he was selected as a NASA astronaut and went on to serve as the pilot for NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission to the International Space Station. Currently assigned as the pilot for the Artemis II mission to the moon, CAPT Glover remains actively involved with the program, coordinating a behind-the-scenes tour at the Kennedy Space Center during the June 2024 SEM-PD21 student industry trip and flying a T-38 from Houston, Texas, to spend the day engaging with students.
Ultimately, this program is ideal for engineers and program managers within the Corps’ acquisition community who are interested in advancing to senior leadership positions, including roles in the Senior Executive Service. With a focus on leadership development and technical expertise, NPS’s master’s degree is designed for individuals who want to elevate their technical knowledge and apply it more effectively in larger Acquisition Category (ACAT) program offices or ACAT I programs.
As the Corps advances its modernization efforts with Force Design as its strategic blueprint, opportunities like these are crucial for aligning the talents of individual Marines with the evolving needs of the Marine Corps. This alignment not only maximizes the potential of each Marine but also reinforces a key pillar of Talent Management 2030—ensuring warfighter lethality in preparation for the future fight.