NWC Mission
Develop strategic and operational leaders: The College shall provide
professional military education programs that are current, rigorous, relevant, and
accessible to the maximum number of qualified U.S. officers and Navy enlisted personnel,
civilian employees of the U.S. Government and non-governmental organizations, and
international officers. The desired effect is a group of leaders of character who
have trust and confidence in each other and are operationally and strategically
minded, critical thinkers, proficient in joint matters, and skilled naval and joint
warfighters.
- The curriculum is based upon three core courses of study: Strategy and Policy,
National Security Decision Making, and Joint Military Operations.
- The Strategy and Policy course is designed to teach students to think strategically
about the theory of warfare from the early battles at sea between Athens and Sparta
to the wars of the present day. The focus is on the relationship between a nation's
political goals and the way in which its military means are most appropriately used
to achieve those ends.
- The National Security Decision Making courses are uniquely designed to assist the
military and civilian executive dealing with the economic, political, and military
factors of decision making in the national security arena. Case studies exploring
major contemporary warfare, geopolitical crises, and contingency force-planning
issues challenge students to develop the skills to assess the many, often competing,
demands involved in the size, shape and budget of future military forces.
- The Joint Military Operations course focuses on the translation of contemporary
national and regional military strategies into naval, joint, and multinational operations,
with particular emphasis on operational art and employment of the sea services.
Historical and contemporary case studies and planning exercises permit students
to hone their skills in making sound operational decisions, to prepare them for
critical command and staff positions.
- The Naval War College awards Master of Arts degrees in National Security and Strategic
Studies as accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Nearly
half of the American students are officers from the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard,
and Marines, with several civilian students from defense-related agencies. More
than 100 international students attend the Naval War College annually
Help CNO define the future Navy and its roles and missions: The
College shall conduct research, analysis, and gaming to support the requirements
of the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Combatant Commanders,
the Navy Component Commanders, the Navy’s numbered fleet commanders, other Navy
and Marine Corps commanders, the U.S. Intelligence Community, and other departments
and agencies of the U.S. Government. The desired effect is a program of focused,
forward-thinking and timely research, analysis, and gaming that anticipates future
operational and strategic challenges; develops and assesses strategic and operational
concepts to overcome those challenges; assesses the risk associated with these concepts;
and provides analytical products that inform the Navy’s leadership and help shape
key decisions.
Support combat readiness: The College shall conduct training, education,
leadership and assessment activities to support the ability of the Navy’s Joint
Force Maritime and Navy Component Commanders to function effectively as operational
commanders. This effort shall include supporting the needs of the Combatant Commanders,
Navy Component Commanders, and the Navy’s numbered fleet commanders for operational
planning, analysis, and war gaming to respond to emerging operational requirements.
The desired effect is to improve the capability of Navy commanders to lead maritime,
joint and combined forces and their staff members to plan, execute and assess and
function cohesively as a maritime headquarters organization.
Strengthen maritime security cooperation: The College shall bring
together senior and intermediate level naval officers from other countries to develop
leaders for high command in their navies; promote an open exchange of professional
views; encourage friendship and cooperation; and study operational planning methods.
The desired effect is to build and strengthen national and international maritime
relationships and to improve the ability of U.S. and partner nations to operate
together in the maritime domain.