A National Research Council (NRC) study committee will conduct a review of specialized degree-granting graduate programs of the Department of Defense in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and management. Per the Defense Authorization Act for FY 2013, HR4310 Sec. 245, the review will address the following issues:
1. The need by the Department of Defense and the military departments for military and civilian personnel with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and management, including a list of the numbers of such personnel needed by discipline.
2. An analysis of the sources by which the Department of Defense and the military departments obtain military and civilian personnel with such advanced degrees.
3. The need for educational institutions under the Department of Defense to meet the needs identified.
4. The costs and benefits of maintaining such educational institutions, including costs relating to in-house research.
5. The ability of private non-Department of Defense institutions (public and private) or distance-learning programs to meet the needs identified.
6. Existing organizational structures, including reporting chains, within the military departments to manage the graduate education needs of the Department of Defense and the military departments in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and management.