Our Mission

Naval War College conducts research, analysis, and gaming to support the requirements of the Secretary of the Navy, the CNO, 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.

Naval War College conducts operational level of war education, leadership and professional ethics training, education, and assessment activities to support the ability of the Navy’s joint force maritime component commanders and Navy component commanders to function effectively as operational commanders. This effort includes supporting the needs of joint force commanders, Navy component commanders, and the Navy’s numbered fleet commanders for including operational planning, analysis, assessment, and wargaming to respond to emerging operational requirements.

Naval War College brings together flag, senior and intermediate level naval leaders from other countries to develop them for high command in their navies; promote an open exchange of views between international security professionals which encourages friendship and cooperation and builds trust and confidence; and study operational planning methods and common maritime security challenges. Naval War College shall develop research and gaming collaboration with its sister institutions in other navies and work to improve the general level of maritime research and analysis.

Leader Development rests on the twin prongs of competence and character. Effective Navy leaders work from a foundation of humility, embracing our core values of honor, courage, and commitment. Behaving with integrity, accountability, initiative, and toughness, leaders commit to improving the character of themselves and their teams. As the Chief of Naval Operations' Executive Agent for leadership and ethics, Naval War College helps the Navy to strengthen the ability of its leaders to always behave consistently with our core values, throughout their careers.

Naval War College holds the unique mission of educating service professionals about concepts of seapower and the military policy of the United States. Since the earliest lectures delivered at Naval War College in the 1880s, Rear Adm. Stephen B. Luce argued that “naval strategy adopts some of its most important measures during peace.” As Luce intended, the Hattendorf Center performs the task of conducting original historical research of interest to contemporary practitioners, strategic thinkers, and the American public to inform the future military policy of the United States into the 21st century and beyond.

The center provides original research, analysis, teaching, and engagement with the global international law community; contributes to the education and training of Navy leadership; and supports the conduct of naval, joint, interagency and combined operations in accordance with international law. The center also studies the international law of the sea, the law of armed conflict, aerospace and cyberspace law, international organizations, human rights, and other aspects of law.