Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) United States Marine Corps (USMC) Research Farming Pilot Program

1.  This message announces the launch of the USMC 
Research Farming pilot program at NPS.  This program will evolve 
iteratively over time based on participation and feedback. 
2.  Objective:  Research Farming will increase the return on 
investment of NPS's unique and multi-faceted academic capabilities 
in support of Marine Corps research requirements.  Key principles 
include:
2.a.  Reduce administrative barriers to expedite alignment between 
NPS student and faculty research and FMF and HQMC priorities.
2.b.  Promote direct collaboration between USMC stakeholders and NPS 
researchers.
3.  The Research Farming pilot program will execute in five phases:
3.a.  Seed Submission:  USMC stakeholder and/or unit representative 
submits research requests via an online form available at 
https:(SLASH)(SLASH)nps.edu/usmc.  This "plants the seed" for 
potential research.  The optimal window for new research requests is 
May-August. For this pilot program, submit requests no later than 31 
August 2025.
3.b.  Initial Review:  Marine Corps leadership at NPS reviews seeds 
and recommends alignment with appropriate academic programs.  
This "fertilizes" and "plants" the seeds for future research.
3.c.  Matching & Liaison:  NPS faculty and students review research 
seeds and initiate direct contact with the originators of topics that
are aligned to their academic area of expertise.  Topics can be 
aligned to several graduate programs, resulting in multi-disciplinary 
research that can holistically address problems.  Funding, as 
required, must be arranged between the originator and the research 
team.
3.d.  Research Growth:  Upon mutual acceptance of a request, NPS 
student-scholars grow the research in accordance with NPS academic 
standards and the needs of the originator(s).  Marine leadership at 
NPS tracks progress to inform future learning efforts.
3.e.  Harvest & Delivery:  Completed research will be harvested via 
out-briefs to sponsors, delivery of required tools, and documentation 
via NPS-approved repositories at the appropriate classification 
level(s). 
4.  Coordinating instructions:
4.a.  More information about Research Farming, NPS Academic Programs,
and research types available through NPS, can be found at 
https:(SLASH)(SLASH)nps.edu/usmc.
4.b.  This release of the 2025 Research Farming program is a pilot. 
Feedback is welcome and should be sent to the POCs listed.
5.  Points of Contact:
5.a.  Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Gordon, Military Faculty Advisor and
CD&I Liaison to NPS, joshua.gordon@nps.edu.
5.b.  Dr. Christopher Paul, DCI USMC Chair for Information, 
christopher.e.paul@nps.edu.
5.c.  NPS Senior Marine Office, MarineCorps@nps.edu.
6.  Release authorized by Brigadier General Matthew W. Tracy, 
Commanding General, Education Command.