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ACADEMIC YEAR 2027-2028 TOP LEVEL SCHOOL SELECTION BOARD RESULTS
Date Signed: 8/17/2026 | MARADMINS Number: 370/26
MARADMINS : 370/26

R 141652Z AUG 26
MARADMIN 370/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM//
SUBJ/ACADEMIC YEAR 2027-2028 TOP LEVEL SCHOOL SELECTION BOARD
RESULTS//
REF/A/MSGID:  MSG/CMC/271356ZJUN26//
REF/B/MSGID:  MCO/CMC/20190530//
REF/C/MSGID:  MCO/CMC/20080125//
REF/D/MSGID:  MCO/CMC/20210510//
REF/E/MSGID:  MCO/CMC/20190215//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 239/26, ACADEMIC YEAR 2027-2028 TOP LEVEL 
SCHOOL SELECTION BOARD ANNOUNCEMENT.  REF B IS MCO 1524.1, MARINE
CORPS GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAM.  REF C IS MCO 1553.4B,
PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION.  REF D IS MCO 1300.8 W/CH-1,
MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY.  REF E IS MCO 1900.16
W/CH 2, THE MARINE CORPS SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT MANUAL.//
POC/J. SCHULZE/MAJ/MMOA-3/(703) 784-9983/
EMAIL: JOSEPH.SCHULZE1@USMC.MIL// 
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  This message announces the results
of the Academic Year 2027-2028 (AY27-28) Top Level Schools (TLS)
Selection Board, which convened on 3 August 2026.  Reporting
instructions, security clearance information, and passport 
requirements for each school and fellowship will be included in
follow-on orders.
2.  The board, composed of two general officers and 16 
colonels, screened the records of the eligible population and
selected the officers listed below.  The small number of TLS 
assignments available relative to the number of eligible officers
makes selection a highly competitive process.
3.  Primary selectees
3.a.  Department of War (DoW) schools.  The board selected the 
following officers to attend the DoW schools listed below. 
Name                       MOS     School 
Berkman, Brett M.          3002    Air War College
Bishop III, Lanier A.      7518    Air War College
Cullen, Kyleigh M.         7566    Air War College
Holderbaum, James B.       7202    Air War College
Kneemiller, Brandon L.     6002    Air War College
Lefever, Knathan T.        7202    Air War College
Whitaker Jr., Terry L.     0402    Air War College     
Billings, Michael P.       8061    Army War College
Columbus, Douglas A.       7202    Army War College
Connor, Shawn P.           0302    Army War College
Heeter, Brian E.           7532    Army War College
Jacobs, Makoto C.          7532    Army War College
Jankowski, Robert J.       1302    Army War College
Katzman, Daniel B.         0402    Army War College
Kraft, Shane F.            7315    Army War College
Psyhogis, James P.         6602    Army War College
Stokes, Nathan B.          1706    Army War College
Unkle, Adam S.             0302    Army War College
Wells, Robert A.           0802    Army War College
Whitlow, James D.          7532    Army War College
Greenberg, Stephen J.      0302    Army War College (Blended)
Larson, Lynn M.            7565    Army War College (Blended)
Barrett, Sean F.           0202    College Of Info And Cyber Stud
Cody, Andrew F.            7518    College Of Info And Cyber Stud
Russell, Joseph M.         0602    College Of Info And Cyber Stud
Fairfield, Evan J.         0370    College of Intl Security Affairs
Aronson, Richard E.        0370    College of Naval Warfare
Callanan, Audrey F.        1702    College of Naval Warfare
Chirhart, Keenan J.        7318    College of Naval Warfare
Devuono, Anthony J.        0202    College of Naval Warfare
Dicks, Jarod W.            7518    College of Naval Warfare
Eavers II, Ronald J.       7532    College of Naval Warfare
Gangemella Jr., Michael E. 0402    College of Naval Warfare
Harris Jr., Paul G.        0402    College of Naval Warfare
Howe, Benjamin R.          0202    College of Naval Warfare
Jauregui III, Salvador     7566    College of Naval Warfare
Miller, Jordan D.          0802    College of Naval Warfare
Nelson, Andrew E.          1302    College of Naval Warfare
Reule, Kristi D.           7565    College of Naval Warfare
Sawyer III, Joseph E.      0802    College of Naval Warfare
Uziel, Steven J.           0302    College of Naval Warfare
Couto, Jorge C.            7518    Joint Adv Warfighting School
Eppes, John R.             0202    Joint Adv Warfighting School
Perry, Matthew T.          0302    Joint Adv Warfighting School
Bunce, Jamie W.            7532    Marine Corps War College
Burns, Catherine J.        8059    Marine Corps War College
Collins, Gregory L.        4402    Marine Corps War College
Jeffcoat, Nathan L.        0302    Marine Corps War College
Littlejohn, Dwane M.       0802    Marine Corps War College
Martin, Ryan O.            6002    Marine Corps War College
Murray II, Robert M.       0302    Marine Corps War College
O'Donnell, Benjamin J.     0302    Marine Corps War College
Thomas III, Reginald E.    0402    Marine Corps War College
Wright, Andrew D.          0302    Marine Corps War College
Bradford, Chase A.         0302    National War College
Chiriboga, Daniel S.       7563    National War College
Jones, Michael B.          7518    National War College
Lamb, Natalie M.           0602    National War College
Luedtke, Alexander T.      0302    National War College
Magee, Stephen M.          0602    National War College
Mozzi, Joseph R.           0802    National War College
Noone, Justin M.           0802    National War College
Rea, Joel N.               7202    National War College
Sanchez, Gabriel D.        0402    National War College
Saville, Mark              0302    National War College
Smith, Clark K.            0302    National War College
Stuart, John P.            7518    National War College
Wallace, Jonathan B.       0802    National War College
Burton, Daniel J.          5803    The Eisenhower School
Butta, Alex M.             1302    The Eisenhower School
Cardona, Edgardo B.        7318    The Eisenhower School
Chamberlin, Travis K.      0402    The Eisenhower School
Docherty, Sean F.          8061    The Eisenhower School
Harvey Jr., James M.       0802    The Eisenhower School
Jedlicka Jr., Charles A.   0302    The Eisenhower School
Lewis, Joshua M.           0402    The Eisenhower School
Ludlow, Matthew C.         1803    The Eisenhower School
Luedtke, Gloria C.         0402    The Eisenhower School
Moynihan, Gregory T.       0102    The Eisenhower School
Taylor, Joseph E.          8059    The Eisenhower School   
3.b.  School specific requirements.  These schools will generally 
convene in July 2027 and graduate in May or June 2028.  PMOS 
monitors and senior service school points of contact will provide 
more information following acceptance.              
3.c.  Foreign senior service colleges.  The board selected the 
following officers to attend a foreign senior service college.
Name                       MOS    School
Kendrick, Matthew S.       0402   Inter-American Defense College
Carey, Seamus B.           6002   NATO Defense College
Kelling, Chad S.           7532   NATO Defense College
McCarley, Kyle P.          1302   NATO Defense College
Nicholson, Kevin C.        0302   NATO Defense College
Given the diversity of requirements for these schools, 
selectees should contact the MCU POC listed in paragraph (9) below
with questions about report dates and requirements.
3.d.  Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) fellowships.  The board
selected the following officers for assignment to CMC fellowships.
Name                       MOS    Fellowship/Program
Arriaga, Marco A.          7202   Advanced Strat Leadership Studies
Skogman, John P.           7532   Arizona State University (Tempe)
Pagan, Zachary J.          3002   Department of Homeland Security
Little, Jeffrey E.         4402   Department of State (DOS)
Waters, Spencer S.         7518   Hoover Institution (Stanford)
Valenti, Steven A.         0402   Logistics Fellowship (Penn State)
Lynch, Gregory E.          0402   SECWAR Strategic Thinkers Program
Nilan, James A.            0802   SECWAR Strategic Thinkers Program 
Takor, Raymond N.          0602   SECWAR Strategic Thinkers Program 
Edick, Denver M.           5803   Stockdale Ctr for Ethical Leadshp
Moberg, David K.           3404   Virginia Tech (Blacksburg)
CMC fellows will report to their respective ADCON commands 
NLT July 2027 and complete the fellowship June 2028.  Orders 
from PMOS monitors will include information on ADCON commands.
Selectees should contact the MCU POC listed in paragraph (9) with
questions about fellowships.
4.  MMOA-3 will place a letter annotating selection in the official
military personnel files of all officers selected as primaries or
alternates.
5.  MMOA will publish the list of officers selected as alternates on
the MMOA-3 Top Level Schools and Programs tab in the Top Level 
Schools Historical Data sub-tab webpage located at https://
www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/Manpower-Management/Officer
-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs-MMOA-3/#tab/top-level-schools-and-
programs.  MMOA will list alternates alphabetically by full name and 
MOS.
6.  Coordinating instructions
6.a.  Primary selectees.  Primary selectees are to accept or decline 
via email to their monitor listed in paragraph (9) NLT 10 days 
after the release of this message.
6.b.  Alternate selectees.  No action is required by officers on the
alternate list.  If an assignment becomes vacant due to a 
declination or other circumstances, Manpower Management will 
fleet-up an officer from the alternate list. 
6.c.  Declinations.  Officers who decline TLS must submit a 
declination in writing (AA Form) to HQMC via MMOA-3 NLT 
10 calendar days after the release of this message.  No endorsement 
is necessary.  Officers who decline TLS are ineligible for future 
TLS assignments, unless otherwise approved by the Deputy 
Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.  A letter will be 
placed in an officer's official military record annotating 
declination. 
6.d.  Deferrals.  Officers selected for TLS who are unable to 
execute orders due to extraordinary circumstances may request a 
deferral.  If approved, the Director, Manpower Management will 
defer the officer to a future TLS selection board.  Primary 
selectees may submit a deferral request in writing (AA Form) to 
HQMC (MMOA-3) via the first general officer in their chain of 
command.
6.e.  Once an officer accepts their selection and receives orders 
they are subject to references (d) and (e).
7.  Registration.  Officers selected to attend service colleges or
National Defense University colleges and schools are directed to 
orient themselves to, and if required initiate registration for, 
their respective school as outlined in the below links.  Contact
Senior Service School Representatives listed below with questions.  
7.a.  Air War College (AWC)
Website:  https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/AWC/Inbound-Students/
  POC:  Col Gary Thompson
  Comm:  (334) 953-4970
  Email:  gary.d.thompson@au.af.edu
7.b.  US Army War College (USAWC)
Website:  https://www.army.edu/USAWC/
  POC:  Col Christopher P. O'Connor
  Comm:  (717)245-3491
  Email:  christopher.p.oconnor8.mil@army.mil
7.c.  College of Naval Warfare (CNW)
Website:  https://usnwc.edu/college-of-naval-warfare/
  POC:  Col Timothy J. Scott
  Comm:  (401) 856-5137
  Email:  timothy.scott1@usnwc.edu
7.d.  Marine Corps War College (MCWAR)
Website:  https://www.usmcu.edu/MCWAR/
  POC:  Mr. Jake Bilyew
  Comm:  (703) 432-5503
  Email:  mcu_registrar@usmcu.edu
7.e.  Joint Advanced Warfighting School (JAWS)
Website:  https://jfsc.ndu.edu/Registrar/
  POC:  Col Zebulon C. Philpott
  Comm:  (757) 443-6276
  Email:  zebulon.c.philpott.mil@ndu.edu 
7.f.  National War College (NWC)
Website:  https://nwc.ndu.edu/
  POC:  Col Dan J. Wittnam
  Comm:  (202) 685-3644
  Email:  daniel.j.wittnam.mil@ndu.edu
7.g.  Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy
Website:  https://es.ndu.edu/Incoming-Students/
  POC:  Col Ian D. Stevens
  Comm:  (202) 685-1786
  Email:  ian.d.stevens.mil@ndu.edu
7.h.  College of International Security Affairs (CISA) 
Website: https://cisa.ndu.edu/
  POC:  Col Kevin H. Hutchison
  Comm:  (202) 685-3713
  Email:  kevin.h.hutchison.mil@ndu.edu
7.i.  College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC)
Website:  https://cic.ndu.edu/
  POC:  Col Danielle E. Thomas
  Comm:  (202) 685-8634
  Email:  danielle.e.thomas.mil@ndu.edu
7.j.   Officers selected to attend a fellowship or foreign PME are
directed to contact the MCU POC listed in paragraph (9) for 
applicable registration, indoctrination, and language training.
8.  Security Clearance.  Officers selected as a primary 
should immediately consult their local security manager-
special security office (SSO) to confirm their eligibility for
those programs requiring TS/SCI access.  Failure to coordinate 
clearance-access requirements may negate eligibility to attend TLS.
9.  Points of contact are:
Col E. J. Smith
  Branch Head
  DSN:  278-9300, COMM:  (703) 784-9300
  Email:  erik.smith@usmc.mil 
Col E. F. Bradley
  Ground Colonel Monitor
  DSN:  278-9300, COMM:  (703) 784-9300
  Email:  evan.bradley@usmc.mil   
Col J. C. Davis
  Aviation Colonel Monitor
  DSN:  278-9300, COMM:  (703) 784-9300
  Email:  jeffrey.c.davis1@usmc.mil
LtCol B. D. Kelly
  Aviation Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
  DSN:  278-9485, COMM:  (703) 432-9485
  Email:  brandon.d.kelly@usmc.mil
LtCol B. A. Salter
  Combat Arms Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
  DSN:  278-9275, COMM:  (703) 784-9275
  Email:  brandon.salter@usmc.mil
LtCol D. C. Walker
  Combat Service Support Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
  DSN:  278-9433, COMM:  (703) 784-9433
  Email:  daniel.c.walker.mil@usmc.mil
LtCol C. T. Thompson
  Information Lieutenant Colonel Monitor
  DSN:  278-9274, COMM:  (703) 784-9274
  Email:  clinton.t.thompson@usmc.mil
LtCol J. D. Pineiro
  Director CMC Fellowships/Foreign PME, MCU
  COMM: (703) 432-4837
  Email: james.pineiro@usmcu.edu
10.  This message is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
11.  Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director,
Manpower Management Division.//