U.S. Naval War College

We educate and develop leaders, support defining the future Navy and associated roles and missions, support combat readiness, and strengthen global maritime partnerships. The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) offers a one-year, resident program graduating about 600 students a year, and a robust distance program that graduates about 1,000 students a year. Students earn Joint Professional Military Education credit and either a diploma or a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. More than 50,000 students have graduated since its first class of 9 students in 1885 and about 300 of today’s active-duty admirals and generals and senior executive service leaders are alumni. The college’s Professional Military Education programs prepare leaders for the challenges of operational and/or strategic level leadership over the remainder of their careers as decision makers and problem solvers. More than 1,400 students have graduated from the Maritime Staff Operators Course and more than 342 U.S. and international flag and general officers from the flag course. Just as our educational programs have expanded in depth and reach, so have the research and analysis efforts conducted by our Center for Naval Warfare Studies. Through war games, conferences, workshops, and publications, our research arm provides direct curriculum support to our educational programs and focused, task-driven analysis for fleet customers and government agencies across the national security spectrum.