Navy Offers Masters Degree Intern Program

Applications for the FY-09 Navy Washington, D.C. Intern Program are being accepted through Dec. 12 as announced in NAVADMIN 291/08.

This program, which runs from August 2009 through June 2010, offers an opportunity for up to six officers to receive a fully-funded Masters of Arts degree in organizational management from The George Washington University while also serving on senior Washington, D.C. area staffs.

The program fosters a unique learning opportunity according to Lt. Cmdr. Brian Dreschler, who is currently enrolled in Navy Washington Intern Program.

DART "The fellowship is a great opportunity, not only for the curriculum in organizational management that is highly applicable to leadership in the Navy, but also for the cohort format where we learn from the civilians in the class. There are only 12 of us and we represent society well - from the military, State Department, nonprofit organizations," said Dreschler.

The intern program is designed for officers who have demonstrated superior performance, upward career mobility, and command potential. Participants will attend full-time evening classes at GWU and complete two-five month internships to expand upon their course work.

"The internship/curriculum combination is a phenomenal learning opportunity," Dreschler explained. "For the first six months, I am at the Joint Staff, Deputy Directorate for Special Operations. Then, for the last six months, I will be at National Counter Terrorism Center. Although, the learning curve is steep, I am really getting the big picture."

Other internship opportunities include serving on senior Washington DC area staffs such as Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Secretary of the Navy and other government agencies such as Department of State and Department of Homeland Security.

Eligibility is limited to active duty 0-4 and 0-5 unrestricted line officers who have demonstrated superior performance and command potential. Each prospective participant must be eligible for a 12 - month (minimum) tour of shore duty and have completed JPME phase I. Officers who have previously finished an in-residence Department of Defense funded master's degree are not eligible.

For more information on the program and application process see NAVADMIN 291-08.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.