Reffett Associates Leading Provost Search for the Naval Postgraduate School

April 6, 2026 – Seattle, WA-based Reffett Associates has been selected by the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) to lead the search for a new provost and academic dean. The search will be conducted by Marshall Reffett, managing director in Seattle and Washington, D.C., and Eric Reffett, managing director in Washington D.C. Mr. Marshall has spent the last 15 years recruiting talent for the federal government and numerous private companies in nationwide. Dr. Reffett is a retired Air Force Colonel and former senior leader at Booz Allen.

The school is looking for an institutional leader with established academic credentials and demonstrated leadership qualities–military experience is not required; rather NPS is seeking someone with an extensive academic and administrative background.

The Postgraduate School is seeking a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as its next provost, and to guide the technology focused institution to the next phase of its success. The Naval Postgraduate school is centered around a national defense-based curriculum that is focused on the application of cutting-edge technologies for U.S. and Allied military officers, as well as civilian students. The curriculum is designed to provide a “defense-focused graduate education and to deal with complex problems in the manufacturing and defense industries, including classified studies and interdisciplinary research and to advancing the operational effectiveness, technological leadership and warfighting advantage of the Naval service.

The position of dean is appointed by the secretary of the Navy and will require a visionary academic leader with a doctoral or terminal degree in a relevant discipline and a deep understanding of the Department of War and Department of the Navy’s needs.

“In a world that continues to grow in uncertainty,” said Marshall Reffett. “Training and educating the premiere fighting force and officer Corp in the planet is critical. 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 in training and educating officers in every branch of service. We commit to finding the best and most qualified candidates for this critical recruitment.”

A String of Academic Recruitment

Reffett Associates partnership with the NPS is the latest in a string of academic recruitment for the nation’s military institutions of higher learning including:

• President of the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI).
• Superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
• Provost of the Naval War College.
• Chief learning officer of the Air Force for Air Education and Training Command.
• Dean of the Aerospace School of Medicine.
• President for the Naval Postgraduate School.

Located in Monterey, CA, NPS offers master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 70 fields of study. The school also offers research fellowships at the postdoctoral level. The Postgraduate school offers degrees in fields such as management, cybersecurity, engineering, energy management, all the STEM disciplines, and National Security Studies. Notably, more than 40 Astronauts have graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Related: Reffett Associates Completes Top Search for the Washington State Gambling Commission

Reffett Associates is a nationally recognized executive search firm. The boutique talent provider has extensive experience in retail and consumer packaged goods, private equity, commercial and federal services, government sectors, and associations and non-profits. Its team is made up of executives with tangible industry experience, possessing real world, relatable knowledge about the challenges executives face in managing talent in a competitive marketplace. Reffett Associates has office locations in the metro areas surrounding Seattle, WA; Washington, DC; Metro, NY; and Dallas, TX.

Marshall Reffett joined the search firm after having worked for U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert of Washington State. Mr. Reffett served as a legislative assistant to the congressman, advising him on legislation relating to financial services, small business, housing, consumer affairs, government oversight and reform, defense, veterans, foreign affairs and transportation. He helped to position the congressman as a leader on global health issues, working with organizations such as UNICEF, Save the Children and the U.S. Global Leadership Campaign.

Eric Reffett joined Reffett Associates having spent 19 years at Booz Allen Hamilton where he led a variety of efforts for U.S. government clients, most recently leading many of Booz Allen’s efforts in the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear arena. Dr. Reffett serves as a managing director focusing on the public sector, government contracting & professional services, and associations & non-profits practices and leads Reffett Associates’ Washington, D.C. office.

Related: Reffett & Associates Recruits 13th Architect of the Capitol

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media