← News · November 2025
Naval Postgraduate School Retains Reffett Associates to Recruit New Provost and Academic Dean
Reffett Associates will lead the search for the next Provost and Academic Dean of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.
Reffett Associates has been retained by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) to recruit its next Provost and Academic Dean.
Located in Monterey, California, the Naval Postgraduate School provides graduate education and research for officers of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, other U.S. services, federal civilians and international partners. NPS offers master's and doctoral degrees in more than 70 fields of study, including management, cybersecurity, engineering, energy management, the STEM disciplines and National Security Studies, as well as postdoctoral research fellowships. More than 40 astronauts are NPS graduates.
The Provost serves as the school's chief academic officer and is appointed by the Secretary of the Navy. NPS is looking for an institutional leader with established academic credentials and demonstrated leadership. Military experience is not required; the school is seeking a visionary academic leader with a doctoral or terminal degree in a relevant discipline, an extensive academic and administrative background, and a deep understanding of the needs of the Department of War and the Department of the Navy.
“In a world that continues to grow in uncertainty, training and educating the premier fighting force and officer corps on the planet is critical,” said Marshall Reffett, Managing Director at Reffett Associates. “The next Provost at the Naval Postgraduate School will play a central role in educating not just the next generation of naval officers and scientists but also officers in every branch of service. We commit to finding the best and most qualified candidates for this critical recruitment.”
This engagement continues the firm's relationship with NPS. Reffett Associates previously led the school's Provost search in 2020, and its higher education practice has also supported the U.S. Naval War College, the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the Air Force Research Laboratory. The search was featured by Hunt Scanlon Media.
About Reffett Associates
Reffett Associates is a nationally recognized, fully retained executive search firm founded in 1992 and headquartered in Seattle. A Veteran-Owned Small Business on the GSA Schedule, the firm recruits senior leaders for federal and public sector agencies, government contractors, retail and consumer companies, private equity, manufacturing, associations and nonprofits, and higher education.
Practice: Higher Education & Research