By Javier Chagoya

Graduating students from NPS' Manpower Systems Analysis program – Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Alcock, Lt. Cmdr. Serena Blankenship, Lt. J.g. Ryan Bowers, Lt. Cmdr. Kristin Shepherd, and Lt. Cmdr. Brett Williams, from left to right – are pictured following their detailed briefs to senior Navy personnel leadership during the Graduate School of Business and Public Policy's (GSBPP) Thesis Day, March 19.

A Naval Flight Officer, Williams' efforts in aviation pay incentives caught the attention of the Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) and other senior leadership. His thesis offered a detailed evaluation of utilizing auction mechanisms in aviation career pay incentives across the Naval Aviation enterprise.

"Our research shows that a market-based auction could include improvements in cost, quality, and particularly quantity, of aviators that would be eligible for the Aviation Department Head Screen Board. The uniform-price auction meets all retention objectives across the various communities, while reducing total costs in some communities by $1.25 million," explained Williams.

Faculty in GSBPP's manpower program took notice of Williams' work ethic and inquisitiveness.

"I was impressed with his ability to generate synergy among the different service representatives in the classroom," noted Associate Dean and Military Faculty Cmdr. Simonia Blassingame. "He often elevated discussions, and gave thoughtful and insightful comments on manpower and personnel policies that were not necessarily governed by conventional wisdom."

Williams thesis was so well-received, in fact, that his efforts earned him the CNP Award for Academic Excellence in Manpower, Personnel and Training Analysis. Williams will be reporting to VAW-113 in Pt. Magu, Calif., upon his graduation, March 27.