Defense Media Network

Naval War College: School for Strategists

Educating Leaders for 125 Years

On Oct. 6, 1884, Secretary of the Navy William E. Chandler issued General Order No. 325 establishing “a College for an advanced course of professional study for naval officers, to be known as the Naval War College.” Founded in Newport, R.I., the Naval War College is the oldest war college in the nation.

Often referred to as the “Harvard of the Navy” the college has produced many of our nation’s great leaders.

Graduates include Fleet Admiral King, Admirals Nimitz, Spruance, Fletcher, and Halsey of WWII fame, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartright, EUCOM Commander Adm. James Stavridis, and more than 160 present-day admirals and generals on active duty.

Students and faculty at the Naval War College Maritime Staff Operators Course stand the watch and confer in front of monitors at the Maritime Operations Center in Evans Hall. The 25-student class trains officers how to operate while embarked with a major staff. U.S. Navy photo by Matthew Breen

Over 125 years after its establishment a new publication entitled Naval War College: School for Strategists – Educating Leaders for 125 years is to be launched. The publication is on the cutting edge of defining the future of strategic and operational leadership, combat readiness and maritime security.

The publication will interview many of those who are currently at the forefront of implementing many of the strategies and tactics learned from their time at the college, as well as many former graduates who have gone on to lead our country through war and peace time.

Feature stories will cover how the Naval War College helps to define the future Navy and its roles and missions; wargaming;

strengthening maritime security cooperation for more resilient peace; involvement in regions such as Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Greater Middle East, Latin America, Africa & the Indian Ocean; and much more.

May 2011 will see the publication distributed around the globe and to many of our country’s most important leaders, strategists and decision makers.