Maj. Ezra Akin is the first Marine to graduate from the Marine Corps’ Doctor of Philosophy Program - Technical, initiated to develop a cadre of strategic thinking, technically-astute uniformed leaders capable of guiding the applied research and innovative thought necessary to create warfighter advantage in the modern, cognitive age. - Maj. Ezra Akin is the first Marine to graduate from the Marine Corps’ Doctor of Philosophy Program - Technical, initiated to develop a cadre of strategic thinking, technically-astute uniformed leaders capable of guiding the applied research and innovative thought necessary to create warfighter advantage in the modern, cognitive age.