FY27 Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program (PHDP) Selection Board Results
Names the primary selects and alternates chosen by the FY27 PHDP board for the Strategist (PHDP-S) and Technical (PHDP-T) doctoral programs. This MARADMIN is explicitly not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve.
This is a routine update — a name list, a set of results, or a recurring notice. There is nothing here to translate into plain English, so the official text is reproduced in full below. Read it on marines.mil
Official text
R 182030Z MAY 26 MARADMIN 231/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MM// SUBJ/FY27 MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAMS (PHDP) SELECTION BOARD RESULTS// REF/A/MSGID: MCO/MPO/YMD: 20250307// REF/B/MSGID: DOC/DODI/YMD: 20080429// REF/C/MSGID: WEB/U.S.C/YMD: 20110107// RED/D/MSGID: MCO/CMC/YMD: 20190530// REF/E/MSGID: MCO/CMC/YMD: 20210519// NARR/REF A IS MCO 1300.8 W/CH 2, MARINE CORPS PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENT POLICY. REF B IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1322.10, POLICY ON GRADUATE EDUCATION FOR MILITARY OFFICERS. REF C IS 10 U.S.C SECTION 2013, TRAINING AT NON-GOVERNMENT FACILITIES. REF D IS MCO 1524.1, GRADUATE EDUCATION ORDER, REF E IS MCO 1524.2, MARINE CORPS DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM POLICY// POC/J. L. ASH/LTCOL/USMC/PP&O/PHDP-S/ EMAIL: JAMIE.L.ASH.MIL@USMC.MIL// POC/E. W. AKIN/LTCOL/USMC/CD&I/PHDP-T/ EMAIL: EZRA.AKIN@USMC.MIL// POC/J. D. PINEIRO/LTCOL/USMC/MCU// EMAIL: FELLOWS_FPME_OLMSTED@USMCU.EDU// POC/D. T. DUMANOVSKY/MAJ/USMC/MMOA-3/ EMAIL: SMB_MMOA_GRAD_EDU@USMC.MIL// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. Purpose. To announce the results of the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Programs (PHDP) Selection Board. On 4 May 2026, the FY27 PHDP Board selected two officers for the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Strategist Program (PHDP-S) and one officer for the Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Technical Program (PHDP-T). To accommodate the extremely competitive admissions process at top civilian universities and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), the board selected additional highly qualified officers as alternates. 2. Major milestone timeline (read in two columns): NLT Date Milestone 10 days from release of this MARADMIN Acceptance of selection 1 April 2027 PHD program acceptance letters due to MMOA-3 3. Board results 3.a. The board selected the following officers as primary selects for PHDP-S (read in four columns): Name Rank PMOS MCC Ramsey, Aric A. Maj 0602 U02 Donahue Jr, Michael W. Maj 0202 110 3.b. The board selected the following officers as alternates for PHDP-S (read in four columns): Name Rank PMOS MCC Schmitt, Jesse B. Maj 0202 QAT Thomsen, Tyler J. Maj 6002 1TC 3.c. The board selected the following officer as primary select for PHDP-T (read in four columns): Name Rank PMOS MCC Rosario-Hoover, Ricardo J. Capt 7209 QAE 3.d. The board selected the following officer as an alternate for PHDP-T (read in four columns): Name Rank PMOS MCC Ball, Colin P. Capt 3002 J38 4. Coordinating Instructions 4.a. Acceptance and Obligations 4.a.1. Primary select officers must contact MMOA-3 via email at smb_mmoa_grad_edu@usmc.mil to accept selection and assignment to the PHDP NLT 10 days from release of this MARADMIN. Officers who, due to extraordinary circumstances, are not able to participate in the program beginning in FY27 may request a deferral NLT 10 days from release of this MARADMIN. Officers requesting a deferral must do so via administrative action form, endorsed by the first general officer in their chain of command, forwarded to HQMC (MMOA-3). 4.a.2. Acknowledging selection and assignment to PHDP also acknowledges that the officer agrees not to tender resignation or request retirement while enrolled in the program. Officers further agree to remain on active duty after completion of degree requirements or upon separation from the program. Service obligations incurred for this program are in accordance with references (b), (d) and (e). 4.a.3. Upon successful completion of their degree program, PHDP-T participants will serve in at least two 36-month utilization tours prior to separation from the active-duty Marine Corps, based on the needs of the Marine Corps. 4.a.4. PHDP-T participants will not be screened on any Command Screening Board until they have completed their two 36-month utilization tours. 4.a.5. Upon successful completion of their degree program, PHDP-S participants will serve a total of 72-months of service obligation. 4.a.5.a. Within the 72-months of service obligation they will serve at least one 36-month utilization tour. 4.a.5.b. PHDP-Ss are eligible to screen on Command Screening boards provided they will be All But Dissertation (ABD) complete and meet all other established requirements in the annual Command Screening Board Announcement MARADMIN. 4.a.6. Marine Corps University will contact selected officers for PHDP-S to assist with the completion of their prospective civilian university's PHD applications. 4.a.7. Deputy Commandant Combat Development and Integration, Operations Analysis Directorate will contact selected officers for PHDP-T to assist with the completion of NPS's PHD application. 4.a.8. Participating in the PHDP is contingent upon acceptance to one of the specified doctoral programs at a civilian university or NPS. NLT 1 April 2027, selected officers will electronically submit all doctoral program acceptance letters to MMOA-3 via email. MMOA-3 will coordinate with MCU in regards to approval and report dates and then issue orders. 4.a.9. Alternates are encouraged to apply to high-quality PHD programs in order to have the opportunity to attend in the event that a primary select officer cannot attend. 4.b. Studies and Tuition 4.b.1. Officers selected for this program must maintain a full-time student status with the university. If the officer anticipates not meeting program requirements, they must notify MMOA-3 immediately. 4.b.2. Tuition. PHDP-S primary select officers must contact the Education Command (EDCOM) Office at mcu_fiscal_team@usmcu.edu to obtain a third-party billing letter. When contacting the office, the email must utilize the third-party billing letter request template found at: https:(slash)(slash)www.manpower.marines.mil/ Divisions/Manpower-Management/Officer-Assignments/Plans-and-Programs -MMOA-3/#tab/graduate-education-boards 4.b.2.a. Once EDCOM receives a primary's third-party billet letter request, they will provide instructions for tuition payments to the student and the school's third-party billing office. 4.b.2.b. It is the student's responsibility to ensure the school receives the letter and that the tuition is paid. 5. Program points of contact: 5.a. PHDP-S Program LtCol Jamie L. Ash Email: jamie.l.ash.mil@usmc.mil 5.b. PHDP-T Program LtCol Ezra W. Akin Email: ezra.akin@usmc.mil 5.c. Graduate Education Manager (MMOA-3) Maj Delaney T. Dumanovsky Email: delaney.t.dumanovsky.mil@usmc.mil MMOA-3 OMB: smb_mmoa_grad_edu@usmc.mil 5.d. Third-party Billing, EDCOM Email: mcu_fiscal_team@usmcu.edu 6. This MARADMIN is not applicable to the Marine Corps Reserve. 7. Release authorized by MajGen Fridrik Fridriksson, Director, Manpower Management Division.//
Resources & references
The documents this bulletin points to, with a plain-English note on why each matters. Links marked CAC required need a government login.
- Marine Corps Personnel Assignment Policy (MCO 1300.8 w/CH 2)Reference
This order governs how Marines are assigned to programs and billets. It is cited as a governing reference for the PHDP selection and assignment process.
- Policy on Graduate Education for Military Officers (DODI 1322.10)Reference
This DOD Instruction sets policy for graduate education programs for military officers. It is cited as the basis for service obligations incurred through the PHDP.
- Training at Non-Government Facilities (10 U.S.C. § 2013)Reference
This statute authorizes military members to train or study at non-government institutions. It provides the legal foundation for sending Marine officers to civilian doctoral programs.
- Graduate Education Order (MCO 1524.1)Reference
This order governs Marine Corps graduate education broadly. It is cited as one of the references establishing service obligations for PHDP participants.
- Marine Corps Doctor of Philosophy Program Policy (MCO 1524.2)Reference
This order sets the specific policies for the Marine Corps PhD programs. It is a primary governing document for the PHDP-S and PHDP-T programs announced in this MARADMIN.
This document is a resource page from MMOA-3 that explains the Marine Corps' graduate education board process, including the Commandant's Education Boards (CPIB and CCLEB) that select officers for resident professional military education and graduate school programs. Reserve officers interested in understanding how active duty officers are selected for these programs, or who may be competing for similar opportunities, would find the program overviews, eligibility details, and board descriptions useful here.