Professional Development Resources

Abstract

The majority of the below listed certifications have some of the cost of the certification covered by Navy COOL, and many offer military discounts, as well: * Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP); Association For Supply Chain Management * Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM); Association for Supply Chain Management * SCPro Level One; Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals * Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM); Institute for Supply Management * Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM); National Contract Management Association * Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM); National Contract Management Association * Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM); National Contract Management Association * Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM); American Society of Military Comptrollers * Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM); Project Management Institute * Project Management Professional; Project Management Institute Graduate Program Exams: Many supply officers are interested in furthering their professional education, and we have three programs that require graduate exams as part of the application process. Educational Opportunities: If you desire to enhance your Supply Corps toolbox through formal education, the following colleges and universities are a few of the educational organizations that offer graduate certificates and/or master's degrees online in supply chain management and logistics: * University of Southern California * University of Washington * University of Texas - Dallas * Arizona State University * Michigan State University * University of Pennsylvania World Campus * University of Tennessee - Knoxville * Rutgers University * University of Colorado - Boulder Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC): MOOC's are online courses provided by top tier educational institutions for free or for cost, and, if at cost, usually at a significant price cut if taken directly from the college or university. Several examples of the programs they offer that apply to the Supply Corps are: * Master of Business Administration; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign * Master's Degree in Supply Chain Management; Arizona State University * Master of Business Administration; Boston University * Supply Chain Management Micromasters; MIT * Corporate Finance; Columbia * Project Management Professional Certificate; University of California Irvine * Business Writing Professional Certificate; University of California Berkeley * Strategic Management Professional Certificate; University of Pennsylvania Wharton * Supply Chain Excellence Certificate; Rutgers University Reading Lists: As supply officers, we continually find ourselves working in a Joint environment, and these lists are a great resource to improve our understanding of other military branches and government agencies.

In the last two years, the Navy has published multiple strategies and frameworks that focus on improving officer education and decision making. These include the Secretary of the Navy Memorandum Education for Seapower Decisions and Immediate Actions (February 2019), Navy Leader Development Framework Version 3.0 (May 2019), Education for Seapower Strategy 2020 (March 2020), and most recently, NAVADMIN 137/20 Publication of Bupersinst 1610.1E (Evalman) Change One. NAVADMIN 137/20 dictates that senior leaders must document all personal achievements in education and learning, to include civilian education coursework, professional and academic qualifications, and personal reading programs. In light of this new direction that the Navy is taking in focusing on officer educational development, I've put together a list of resources available to supply officers in case you don't know where to start on your personal education journey:

Civilian Certifications:

Multiple civilian certifications are available for Supply Corps officers to pursue in the areas of supply chain management and logistics, financial management, contract management, and project management. The Navy Credentialing Opportunities Online website (Navy COOL) has primarily provided funding to enlisted Sailors for civilian certification training and test costs, but recently opened up funding for officers, as well. The majority of the below listed certifications have some of the cost of the certification covered by Navy COOL, and many offer military discounts, as well:

* Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP); Association For Supply Chain Management

* Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM); Association for Supply Chain Management

* SCPro Level One; Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals

* Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM); Institute for Supply Management

* Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM); National Contract Management Association

* Certified Federal Contract Manager (CFCM); National Contract Management Association

* Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM); National Contract Management Association

* Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM); American Society of Military Comptrollers

* Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM); Project Management Institute

* Project Management Professional; Project Management Institute

Graduate Program Exams:

Many supply officers are interested in furthering their professional education, and we have three programs that require graduate exams as part of the application process. The Olmsted Scholar Program requires a Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and the 810 and 811 programs require a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or a GRE score. Each test can cost several hundred dollars, which may be a deterrent to someone taking the test. A resource offered by the Department of Defense that I used to get reimbursed for the GMAT test I took as part of my 811 application was the Defense Activity for NonTraditional Education Support (DANTES). Through their website, you can upload your test scores and your receipt of payment, and you are eligible to be reimbursed for the cost of the test.

Educational Opportunities:

If you desire to enhance your Supply Corps toolbox through formal education, the following colleges and universities are a few of the educational organizations that offer graduate certificates and/or master's degrees online in supply chain management and logistics:

* University of Southern California

* University of Washington

* University of Texas - Dallas

* Arizona State University

* Michigan State University

* University of Pennsylvania World Campus

* University of Tennessee - Knoxville

* Rutgers University

* University of Colorado - Boulder

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC):

MOOC's are online courses provided by top tier educational institutions for free or for cost, and, if at cost, usually at a significant price cut if taken directly from the college or university. Two of the primary MOOC hosts are edx.org and coursera.org. Several examples of the programs they offer that apply to the Supply Corps are:

* Master of Business Administration; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

* Master's Degree in Supply Chain Management; Arizona State University

* Master of Business Administration; Boston University

* Supply Chain Management Micromasters; MIT

* Corporate Finance; Columbia

* Project Management Professional Certificate; University of California Irvine

* Business Writing Professional Certificate; University of California Berkeley

* Strategic Management Professional Certificate; University of Pennsylvania Wharton

* Supply Chain Excellence Certificate; Rutgers University

Reading Lists:

As supply officers, we continually find ourselves working in a Joint environment, and these lists are a great resource to improve our understanding of other military branches and government agencies. In addition to the CNO's professional reading program, here are several other reading lists that have been put together by senior leaders in our military and civilian workforce:

* USINDOPACOM

* Defense Acquisition University

* Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

* U.S. Army Chief of Staff

* USMC Commandant

* Chief of Staff of the Air Force

* Coast Guard Commandant

* USSOCOM

* Central Intelligence Agency

* Defense Intelligence Agency

In addition to the above listed resources, the Navy offers several online degrees through the Naval Postgraduate School, to include an MBA degree and a contract management degree. If you are looking to round out your personal military record and meet the prerequisites required, the Certified Defense Financial Manager certification can earn you a NR1 or NR2 additional qualification designation (AQD) and Pennsylvania State University's World Campus online ERP undergraduate certificate can qualify you for a 92E AQD.

To summarize, personal education and skill set enrichment does not have to be intimidating. There are resources available to help offset the cost of many of these programs, and programs like the Navy MWR reading program provides online access to thousands of books free of charge. By taking charge of our own education, we can become better leaders ready to take on the challenges of today and the challenges of the future. ?