By Mary Kate Aylward
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Sept. 15, 2015) – Mr. James B. “Brent” Logan received the “Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for DOD Students” from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) for the 2015 summer quarter.
Logan, a production engineer with the Army’s Apache production and fielding group, is completing his studies for a master’s in program management (MSPM) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). The Office of the Army Director for Acquisition Career Management, or Army DACM Office, located within the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center, sponsored Logan’s studies.
NPS presents the award each quarter to a graduating student with an outstanding academic record at the school, strong thesis research, and demonstrated professionalism, motivation and community involvement. Thesis advisors and program officers nominate candidates, and the provost, dean of students and other school administrators meet to choose the winner. Logan received a plaque and a personal letter of congratulations from the president with the award.
Logan, who works with the Apache, the backbone of the Army’s attack helicopter fleet, collaborated with a three-person team to write the thesis that impressed the award committee: “Analysis of the Army’s Apache Key Reliability Issues and Recommended Methodology for Improvement.”
“The study involved analyzing logbook records from Apache users, and reviewing improvement plans within the project office to see if the issues raised in the logbook data are being addressed,” he explained.
Logan recommends the MSPM “to anyone who wants to learn more about program management and is willing to work hard.” He credits the “outstanding” experience with “already help[ing] me be more effective as an acquisition professional.”
The MSPM “provide[s] primarily civilians (officers may participate with sufficient time on station to complete the program) in the Department of Defense (DOD) and other federal agencies an advanced education in the concepts, methodologies and analytical techniques necessary for successful management of programs/projects within complex organizations,” according to NPS. Classes take place twice a week over the Internet, and students earn a master’s after two years of part-time study.
The Army DACM Office pays the cost of books and tuition for selected DA civilians, like Logan, to attend the program. Thirty-one applicants were selected this spring to participate in program. Interested? The next application window opens February 2016.
