R 011230Z JUL 25
MARADMIN 309/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG EDCOM PRES MCU QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL (NPS) UNITED STATES MARINE
CORPS (USMC) RESEARCH FARMING PILOT PROGRAM//
POCs/LTCOL JOSH GORDON, JOSHUA.GORDON@NPS.EDU.; DR. CHRIS PAUL,
CHRISTOPHER.E.PAUL@NPS.EDU.//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/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.//