FY26 MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMS (PHDP) SELECTION BOARD RESULTS

MARADMINS : 224/25

R 081819Z MAY 25 MARADMIN 224/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FY26 MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMS (PHDP) SELECTION BOARD RESULTS// REF/A/MSGID: MCO/MPO/YMD: 20210510// REF/B/MSGID: DOC/DODI/YMD: 20080429// REF/C/MSGID: WEB/U.S.C/YMD: 20110107// REF/D/MSGID: MCO/CMC/YMD: 20210519// NARR/REF A IS MCO 1300.8 W/CH 1, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF B IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1322.10, POLICY ON GRADUATE EDUCATION FOR MILITARY OFFICERS. REF C IS 10 U.S.C SECTION 2013, TRAINING AT NON-GOVERNMENT FACILITIES. REF D IS MCO 1524.2, MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM POLICY// POC/A. N. DOBSON/LTCOL/USMC/PP&O/PHDP-S/ EMAIL: ANDREW.N.DOBSON@USMC.MIL// POC/S. A. HUMR/LTCOL/USMC/CD&I/PHDP-T/ EMAIL: SCOTT.A.HUMR.MIL@USMC.MIL// POC/J. A. BILYEW/CIV/USMC/MCU/ EMAIL: MCU_REGISTRAR@USMCU.EDU// POC/D. T. DUMANOVSKY/MAJ/USMC/MMOA-3/ EMAIL: SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. To announce the results of the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Programs (PHDP) Selection Board. On 29 April 2025, the FY26 PHDP Board selected two officers for the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Strategist Program (PHDP-S) and two officers for the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Technical Program (PHDP-T). To accommodate the extremely competitive admissions process at top civilian universities and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), the board selected additional highly qualified officers as alternates. 2. Major milestone timeline (read in two columns): NLT Date Milestone 23 May 2025 Acceptance of selection 1 April 2026 PHD program acceptance letters due to MMOA-3 3. Board results 3.a. The board selected the following officers as primary selects for PHDP-S (read in four columns): Name Rank PMOS MCC Kerg, Brian A. LtCol 0602 1XC Ray III, Victor G. Maj 0602 1G9 3.b. The board selected the following officers as alternates for PHDP-S (read in three columns): Name Rank PMOS MCC Grant, Daniel P. Maj 0202 819 Mills, Walker D. Maj 7318 1J3 3.c. The board selected the following officers as primary selects for PHDP-T (read in three columns): Name Rank PMOS MCC Crispell, Caleb G. Capt 0802 V13 Kelly, Joseph J. Capt 1302 TSR 3.d. The board selected the following officer as an alternate for PHDP-T (read in four columns): Name Rank PMOS MCC Brannum, Benjamin A. Capt 1302 070 4. Coordinating Instructions 4.a. Acceptance and Obligations 4.a.1. Primary select officers must contact MMOA-3 via email at smb_mmoa_grad_edu@usmc.mil to accept selection and assignment to the PHDP NLT 23 May 2025. Officers who, due to extraordinary circumstances, are not able to participate in the program beginning in FY26 may request a deferral. Officers requesting deferral must do so via administrative action form, endorsed by the first general officer in their chain of command, forwarded to HQMC (MMOA-3) no later than 23 May 2025. 4.a.2. Acknowledging selection and assignment to PHDP also acknowledges that the officer agrees not to tender resignation or request retirement while enrolled in the program. Officers further agree to remain on active duty after completion of degree requirements or upon separation from the program. Service obligations incurred for this program are in accordance with references (b) and (d). 4.a.3. Upon successful completion of their degree program, participants will serve in at least two 36-month utilization tours prior to separation from the active duty Marine Corps, based on the needs of the Marine Corps. 4.a.4. Participants in the PHDP will not be screened on any Command Screening Board until they have completed their two 36-month utilization tours. 4.a.5. Marine Corps University will contact selected officers for PHDP-S to assist with the completion of their prospective civilian university's PHD applications. 4.a.6. Deputy Commandant Combat Development and Integration, Operations Analysis Directorate will contact selected officers for PHDP-T to assist with the completion of NPS's PHD application. 4.a.7. Participating in the PHDP is contingent upon acceptance to one of the specified doctoral programs at a civilian university or NPS. NLT 1 April 2026, selected officers will electronically submit all doctoral program acceptance letters to MMOA-3 via email. MMOA-3 will coordinate report dates and orders. 4.a.8. Alternates are encouraged to apply to high-quality PHD programs in order to have the opportunity to attend in the event that a primary select officer cannot attend. 4.b. Studies and Tuition 4.b.1. Officers selected for this program must maintain a full-time student status with the university. If the officer anticipates not meeting program requirements, they must notify MMOA-3 immediately. 4.b.2. Tuition. Primary select officers must contact the Education Command (EDCOM) Office at mcu_fiscal_team@usmcu.edu to obtain a third-party billing letter. When contacting the office, the email must contain the officer's name, DOD identification number (EDIPI), and this message showing selection. Additionally, the email must contain the school's name, physical address, phone number, and email address for the schools third-party billing office. EDCOM will provide a third-party billing letter with instructions for tuition payments to the student and the school's third-party billing office. It is the student's responsibility to ensure the school receives the letter and that the tuition is paid. 5. Program points of contact: 5.a. PHDP-S Program LtCol Andrew N. Dobson Email: andrew.n.dobson@usmc.mil 5.b. PHDP-T Program LtCol Scott A. Humr Email: scott.a.humr.mil@usmc.mil 5.c. Graduate Education Manager (MMOA-3) Maj Delaney T. Dumanovsky Email: delaney.t.dumanovsky.mil@usmc.mil MMOA-3 OMB: smb_mmoa_grad_edu@usmc.mil 5.d. Third-party Billing, EDCOM Email: mcu_fiscal_team@usmcu.edu 6. This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve. 7. Release authorized by MajGen Ryan S. Rideout, Director, Manpower Management Division.//