NPS and TOPGUN Unveil Cutting-Edge Master of Warfare Operations Program

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), in collaboration with the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) based at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, has unveiled a new Military Warfare Operations (MWO) degree program. The initiative initially targets a select group of TOPGUN students and instructors, aiming to address the distinct needs of aviators who are navigating a rapid career trajectory.

U.S. Navy Lt. Matt Haney, a seasoned instructor at the airborne electronic attack weapons school HAVOC, has committed to the MWO program. With years of experience in the EA-18G Growler, Haney immediately recognized the program’s value.

“I seized the opportunity upon learning that my background as an EA-18G weapons tactics instructor would be leveraged,” said Haney. “The program offers a strategic insight I greatly appreciate, and I look forward to the program’s other certificates. This accessibility is crucial given the operational demands, and the five-year completion window assures me that I can finish it, despite potential interruptions.”

Participants from sanctioned warfare/weapons tactics instructor (WTI) programs are eligible for equivalency in up to 25 percent of the necessary course credits for the MWO degree. Haney values the WTI credit and highlights the program’s potential to broaden military officers’ perspectives, particularly beneficial for those immersed in specialized daily tasks.

Given the rigorous nature of readiness requirements, operators often find attending in-residence programs challenging. In response, NPS faculty developed the MWO as a flexible, asynchronous, distance-learning curriculum. This allows service members to acquire stackable certificates delivered at the point of need, aligning with the Naval Education Strategy.

Professor Joseph Hooper, Ph.D., of the NPS Department of Physics, played a vital role in crafting the MWO degree. “The program aligns with the Navy’s Strategic Education Alignment (SEA) Plan. It’s tailored for warfighters needing a broad-based, interdisciplinary perspective over a narrowly focused technical degree,” Hooper explained.

NPS faculty, with backing from senior Navy leadership in the Pentagon, have rapidly expanded educational access through the MWO program. The program’s demand has spread swiftly among other warfare communities as awareness grows.

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Dan Dwyer, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, emphasized the program’s importance. “The MWO program allows us to supplement operational knowledge with strategic insights critical for leadership,” he stated. “It’s an ideal match for Officers aiming to enhance their warfighting acumen while fulfilling operational duties.”

The MWO program builds on what WTIs learn, introducing advanced topics like strategic competition, combat systems analysis, naval tactics, and space systems fundamentals.

Jennifer Barkley, a former naval aviator and current MWO program board member, noted the course’s classroom success amongst WTIs. “Officers often delay obtaining relevant degrees or incur high costs for less suitable programs. I wish such a program had existed during my flying career,” she remarked.

The comprehensive curriculum includes critical topics: unmanned systems, orbital mechanics, and U.S. space policy, alongside geopolitical and strategic elements influencing warfare planning.

Lt. John Hartsough, an MH-60R pilot at SEAHUNTER, enrolled after exploring the degree’s utility for career advancement. “Understanding global tensions and space technologies is pivotal for leaders in aerial communities and beyond,” Hartsough observed.

Hartsough further elaborated on how the MWO curriculum fortifies WTI officers with inexhaustible warfighting knowledge. “Working alongside various weapons schools fosters a comprehensive understanding of interconnected tactical realities,” he said.

Graduates will be proficient in diverse naval warfare domains, equipped to assess modern warfare from a multidisciplinary standpoint using advanced methodologies.

Dr. Bret Michael, NPS Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, highlighted the program’s responsiveness to evolving fleet educational requirements. “The stackable certificate demand is growing. The MWO program aims to spur essential cross-domain dialogue impacting warfighting results,” he affirmed.

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Randy Pugh, involved in the original MWO concept development, expressed satisfaction with the program’s accreditation and launch. “Cognitive superiority in modern conflicts is crucial. MWO graduates, with fare-reaching NPS insights, will bolster our operational prowess,” Pugh concluded.