Department of Operations Research
Chair
W. Matthew Carlyle, Ph.D.
Glasgow Hall, Room 211
(831) 656-2106, DSN 756-2106
FAX (831) 656-2595
mcarlyle@nps.edu
Associate Chair, Research
Johannes O. Royset, Ph.D.
Glasgow Hall, Room 212
(831) 656-2578, DSN 756-2578
FAX (831) 656-2595
joroyset@nps.edu
Associate Chair, Operations
Kevin J. Maher
Glasgow Hall, Room 227
(831) 656-2691, DSN 756-2691
FAX (831) 656-2595
KJMaher@nps.edu
Associate Chair, Instruction
Javier Salmeron, Ph.D.
Glasgow Hall, Room 214
(831) 656-2779, DSN 756-2779
FAX (831) 656-2595
jsalmero@nps.edu
Associate Chair, Distributed Programs
Steven E. Pilnick, Ph.D.
Glasgow Hall, Room 291
(831) 656-2283, DSN 756-2283
FAX (831) 656-2595
spilnick@nps.edu
* The year of joining the Naval Postgraduate School faculty is indicated in parentheses.
David L. Alderson, Professor (2006); Ph.D., Stanford University, 2003.
Jeffrey Appleget, Senior Lecturer (2009); Ph.D., Naval Postgraduate School, 1999.
Michael Atkinson, Associate Professor (2009); Ph.D., Stanford University, 2009.
Robert Bassett, Assistant Professor (2018); Ph.D., University of California Davis, 2018.
Samuel E. Buttrey, Associate Professor (1996); Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, 1996.
W. Matthew Carlyle, Professor (2002); Ph.D., Stanford University, 1997.
Louis Chen, Assistant Professor (2019); Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2019.
Quinn Kennedy Cortez, Senior Lecturer (2007); Ph.D., Stanford, 2002.
Emily Craparo, Associate Professor (2010); Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2008.
Daniel Eisenberg, Research Assistant Professor (2018); Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2018.
Paul Lee Ewing, Research Associate Professor (2010); Ph.D., Colorado School of Mines, 2002.
Robert Froberg, Major, U. S. Army, Military Assistant Professor (2023); Ph.D. North Dakota State University, 2019.
Thomas E. Halwachs, Senior Lecturer (1988); M.S., Naval Postgraduate School, 1976.
Thomas A. Hamrick, Lecturer (2006); M.S., Naval Postgraduate School, 1997.
Jefferson Huang, Assistant Professor (2018); Ph.D., Stony Book University, 2016.
Patricia A. Jacobs, Distinguished Professor (1978); Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1973.
Meghan Quinn Kennedy Cortez, Research Associate Professor (2007); Ph.D., Stanford, 2002.
Jeffrey E. Kline, Professor of Practice (2005); M.S., Naval Postgraduate School, 1991.
Robert A. Koyak, Associate Professor (1998); Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, 1985.
Moshe Kress, Distinguished Professor (2003); Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1981.
Darian Lawrence-Sidebottom, Research Associate (2021); Ph.D., Washington State University, 2020.
Kyle Y. Lin, Professor (2004); University of California at Berkeley, 2000.
Thomas W. Lucas, Professor (1998); Ph.D., University of California at Riverside, 1991.
Kevin J. Maher, Lecturer (1997); M.S., Naval Postgraduate School, 1993.
Mary McDonald, Research Associate (2008); M.S., Naval Postgraduate School, 1997.
Gregory K. Mislick, Senior Lecturer (2005); M.S., Naval Postgraduate School, 1988.
Karen Richey Mislick, Senior Lecturer (2019); Master of Cost Estimating and Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School, 2016.
Claire M. Modica, LCDR, MSC, USN, Military Assistant Professor (2023); Ph.D., University at Buffalo, 2016.
Peter Nesbitt, LTC, USA, Military Assistant Professor (2020); Ph.D., Colorado School of Mines, 2020.
Matthew Cody Nicholson, Lecturer (2020); Master of Human Systems Integration, Naval Postgraduate School, 2019.
Michael O'Neil, Lecturer (2019); M.S., Naval Postgraduate School, 2014.
Douglas E. Otte, Senior Lecturer (2007); M.S., Naval Postgraduate School, 1989.
Steven E. Pilnick, Senior Lecturer (1999); Ph.D., Naval Postgraduate School, 1989.
Johannes O. Royset, Professor (2003); Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley 2002.
Anton Rowe, Research Associate (1999); M.S., Stanford University, 1997.
Javier Salmeron, Professor (2000); Ph.D., Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 1998.
Susan M. Sanchez, Professor (2000); Ph.D., Cornell University, 1986.
Ross Schuchard, Lt. Col., U.S. Army, Military Assistant Professor (2019); Ph.D., George Mason University, 2019.
Nita Lewis Shattuck, Professor (2000); Ph.D., University of Texas, 1982.
Dashi Singham, Research Associate Professor (2010); Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, 2010.
Roberto Szechtman, Professor (2003); Ph.D., Stanford University, 2001.
Stephen Upton, Research Associate (2007); Applied Scientist, George Washington University, 2005.
Ruriko (Rudy) Yoshida, Associate Professor (2016); Ph.D., University of California at Davis, 2004.
Adrian Zavala, Research Associate (2020); B.S., U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 2006.
Emeritus Professors
Gordon H. Bradley, Professor Emeritus (1973); Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1967.
Gerald G. Brown, Distinguished Professor Emeritus (1973); Ph.D., University of California at Los Angeles, 1974.
James N. Eagle, Professor Emeritus (1982); Ph.D., Stanford University, 1975.
Peter Purdue, Professor Emeritus (1986); Ph.D., Purdue University, 1972.
Susan M. Sanchez, Distinguished Professor Emeritus (2000); Ph.D., Cornell University, 1986.
David A. Schrady, Distinguished Professor Emeritus (1965); Ph.D., Case Institute of Technology, 1965.
Michael G. Sovereign, Professor Emeritus (1970); Ph.D., Purdue University, 1965.
Alan R. Washburn, Distinguished Professor Emeritus (1970); Ph.D., Carnegie Institute of Technology, 1965.
Lyn R. Whitaker, Professor Emeritus (1988); Ph.D., University of California at Davis, 1985.
R. Kevin Wood, Distinguished Professor Emeritus(1982); Ph.D., University of California at Berkeley, 1982.
Brief Overview
Operations Research (OR) originated during World War II as a response to tactical problems relating to the effective and efficient operation of weapon systems, and to operational problems relating to the deployment and employment of military forces. Since then, OR has evolved into a full-scale, scientific discipline that is practiced widely by analysts in industry, government, and the military.
OR is the science of helping people and organizations make better decisions. More formally, it is the development and application of mathematical models, statistical analyses, simulations, analytical reasoning, and common sense to the understanding and improvement of real-world operations. Improvement can be measured by the minimization of cost, maximization of efficiency, or optimization of other relevant measures of effectiveness.
The military uses OR at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. OR improves decision making and facilitates insights into the phenomena of combat. OR applications cover the gamut of military activities including: national policy analysis, resource allocation, force composition and modernization, logistics, human resources (recruiting, retention, promotion, training, and personnel assignment), battle planning, flight operations scheduling, intelligence, command and control, weapon selection (weapon system effectiveness, cost, compatibility, and operability), engagement tactics (fire control, maneuver, target selection, and battle damage assessment), maintenance and replenishment, and search and rescue.
The Naval Postgraduate School's Operations Research Department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. In 2021, it celebrated the 70th anniversary of its curriculum, which was the first educational program in OR in the United States. It is one of the oldest, largest, and highest-ranking OR departments in the country. It is without peer in terms of the extent to which graduate education is integrated with a commitment to solving real military problems. Our students and faculty use the latest mathematical modeling ideas and computing technology to penetrate deeply into the analysis of important real-world problems. Analysis is a key word; NPS operations researchers frequently influence decisions and serve as agents for change.
For further information, see the OR Department Website: https://nps.edu/web/or.
Degree
Master of Science in Operations Research
Master of Science in Applied Science (Operations Research)
Doctor of Philosophy in Operations Research
Master of Science in Human Systems Integration
Master of Operational Analysis (Warfare)
Master of Operational Modeling and Analysis
Master of Systems Analysis
Master of Cost Estimation and Analysis
Master of Human Systems Integration
Certificates
Cost Estimation and Analysis Certificate
Human Systems Integration Certificate
Systems Analysis Certificate
Data Science (joint with Department of Computer Science)
Operational Data Science and Statistical Machine Learning
Operations Research Course Descriptions
OA Courses
OS Courses