Participants converse during the Chief of Naval Operations' 23rd International Seapower Symposium (ISS) at U.S. Naval War College.
Participants converse during the Chief of Naval Operations' 23rd International Seapower Symposium (ISS) at U.S. Naval War College. More than 180 senior officers and civilians from more than 100 countries including many of the senior-most officers from those countries' navies and coast guards, are attending the biennial event Sept. 18-21. This year's theme is "Security, Order, Prosperity," and will feature guest speakers and panel discussions to explore the common security challenges of maritime nations. First held in 1969, ISS has become the largest gathering of maritime leaders in history and provides a forum for senior international leaders to create and solidify solutions to shared challenges and threats in ways that are in the interests of individual nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jess Lewis/released)

Programs Offered

A U.S. Naval War College (NWC) education provides a framework in which military and civilian leaders gain an understanding of the nature and use of naval strategy and organization through its scholastic programs. As the NWC programs are conducted at the graduate level, the style, arrangement, and content of student submissions should reflect generally accepted graduate-level requirements.

Find a Program

*Please note, not all fields need to be selected.

Program Outcome Eligibility Student Type College/Department Program Description Location Duration Learning Format
Advanced Flag and Senior Executive Course
  • Certificate
Flag and General Officers: O7+
U.S. Government Civilians: SES
  • U.S. Military
  • U.S. Government Civilian
College of Leadership and Ethics Explore Program
  • The Advanced Flag and Executive Course (AFLEX) brings together 3-star Flag and Senior Executive Service members (SES) navigating a whole new level of rapid change and dynamism in their roles to build a culture of excellence, warfighter resilience and readiness, and learning organizations with a growth mindset.
  • Washington, D.C. and Virtual
  • Five days
  • Classroom
Advanced Strategist Program and JPME Phase I Credit
  • JPME Phase I Credit
  • Master's Degree
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
  • Resident
College of Naval Command and Staff Explore Program
  • The Advanced Strategist Program is a specialized track for students skilled in the practice of formulating, developing, and executing strategy at various leadership levels in order to fill key billets in Navy, Joint, and high-level political staffs. This course is completed in conjunction with the College of Naval Command and Staff curricula.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 13 Months
  • Classroom
Advanced Strategist Program and JPME Phase II Credit
  • JPME Phase II Credit
  • Master's Degree
Senior Officers: O5, O6
  • Resident
College of Naval Warfare Explore Program
  • The Advanced Strategist Program is a specialized track for students skilled in the practice of formulating, developing, and executing strategy at various leadership levels in order to fill key billets in Navy, Joint, and high-level political staffs. This course is completed in conjunction with the College of Naval Warfare curricula.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 13 Months
  • Classroom
Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Course
  • Senior Executive Navy PME Credit
  • Senior JPME Credit
Flag and General Officers: O7+
International Officers: NATO Equivalent
  • Distance
College of Maritime Operational Warfare Explore Program
  • Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Flag Course educates students to focus on the operational level while working toward maritime security. The course serves as a forum to develop and deepen relationships based upon trust and confidence among stakeholders and nations in the framework of regional challenges. It also helps to evolve the Combined Maritime Command and Control concepts and mechanisms, while advancing the understanding of those security issues facing participating nations.
  • Site of regional headquarters for U.S. Forces
  • One Week
  • Classroom
Executive Level Operational Level of Warfare Course
  • Certificate
Senior Officers: O6
  • Resident
College of Maritime Operational Warfare Explore Program
  • The Executive Level Operational Level of Warfare Course (ELOC) is part of a series of Professional Military Education courses. ELOC focuses at the senior leadership level; the course will ensure the attendees are properly educated in, and understand the intricacies of, effectively participating in the decision-making process and managing a Maritime Operations Center and its resources.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • One Week
  • Classroom
Fleet Seminar Program
  • JPME Phase I Credit
  • Navy Enlisted Classification
Senior Officers: O5, O6
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
U.S. Government Civilians: GS11, GS12, GS13, GS14, GS15
  • Resident
  • Distance
College of Distance Education Explore Program
  • The Fleet Seminar Program delivers Joint Professional Military Education Phase I to students who cannot attend the U.S. Naval War College in-residence. Courses offered at multiple Naval bases and stations across the United States. The academic year runs from the first week in September to the third week in May and each course requires one academic year to complete.
  • 19 Regional Locations
  • Three Years
  • Classroom
Graduate Degree Program
  • Master's Degree
Senior Officers: O5, O6
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
U.S. Government Civilians: GS11, GS12, GS13, GS14, GS15
  • Resident
  • Distance
College of Distance Education Explore Program
  • The Graduate Degree Program offered by College of Distance Education provides an opportunity for Fleet Seminar Program students and graduates who meet the program's eligibility requirements and are accepted into the program to earn a Master of Arts degree.
  • 19 Regional Locations
  • Three Years
  • Classroom
Intermediate Flag and Senior Executive Course
  • Certificate
Flag and General Officers: O7+
U.S. Government Civilians: SES
  • U.S. Military
  • U.S. Government Civilian
College of Leadership and Ethics Explore Program
  • The Intermediate Flag and Executive Course (IFLEX) challenges 2-star flag officers and Senior Executive Service leaders to think more critically and adaptively as they serve in positions of increased responsibility and complexity.
  • Washington. D.C. and Virtual
  • Five days
  • Classroom
International Maritime Staff Operators Course
  • Certificate
Senior Officers: O5
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
International Officers: NATO Equivalent
  • Resident
College of Maritime Operational Warfare Explore Program
  • International Maritime Staff Operator Course provides international students the skills needed to support the planning and execution of maritime operations and integrate with existing operational planning teams. Designed to meet the learning needs of maritime officers, the course uses the U.S. Navy Maritime Operations Center as an organizing concept, and is informed by NATO, UN joint and U.S. Naval doctrine, with a special emphasis on the U.S. Navy Planning Process.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 12 Weeks
  • Classroom
Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Course
  • Senior Executive Navy PME Credit
  • Senior JPME Credit
Flag and General Officers: O7+
  • Resident
College of Maritime Operational Warfare Explore Program
  • The Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Course is part of a series of Professional Military Education courses. This course is designed to prepare U.S. and International students for theater-level combat leadership and to give them a broad perspective of operational and strategic levels of war.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • One Week
  • Classroom
M.A. in Defense and Strategic Studies and JPME Phase I Credit
  • JPME Phase I Credit
  • Master's Degree
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
U.S. Government Civilians: GS13, GS14
  • Resident
College of Naval Command and Staff Explore Program
  • M.A. in Defense and Strategic Studies for resident students is divided into trimesters with core teachings and electives. Core courses are primarily taught in seminar format but include capstone exercises, wargame participation, and writing assignments.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 10 Months
  • Classroom
M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies and JPME Phase II Credit
  • JPME Phase II Credit
  • Master's Degree
Senior Officers: O5, O6
U.S. Government Civilians: GS14, GS15
  • Resident
College of Naval Warfare Explore Program
  • M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies for resident students is divided into trimesters with core teachings and electives. Core courses are primarily taught in seminar format but include capstone exercises, wargame participation, and writing assignments.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 10 Months
  • Classroom
Maritime Advanced Warfighting School
  • Additional Qualification Designation
  • JPME Phase I Credit
  • Master's Degree
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
U.S. Government Civilians: GS13
  • Resident
College of Naval Command and Staff Explore Program
  • Maritime Advanced Warfighting School is a resident program that is completed in conjunction with College of Naval Command and Staff curriculum. Objectives for this course are to develop strategic and operational leaders with the skills required to plan, execute, and assess combined, joint, and naval operations.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 13 Months
  • Classroom
Maritime Headquarters Staff Course
  • Additional Qualification Designation
Senior Officers: O5, O6
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
Junior Officers: O1, O2
Senior Enlisted: E7+
  • Distance
College of Maritime Operational Warfare Explore Program
  • The Maritime Headquarters Staff Course (MHSC) is a three week, online synchronous/asynchronous course that exposes personnel that participate in Maritime Operations to the maritime operational level of war (OLW), maritime headquarters and maritime operations center (MHQ/MOC) concepts, organizational structure, processes, and procedures. Total course commitment is 54 hours over the three weeks. It is hosted online at MilUniversity six times per year.​
  • Virtual
  • Three Weeks
  • Online
Maritime Operational Planners Course
  • Additional Qualification Designation
  • Navy Enlisted Classification
  • Partial JPME Phase I Credit
Senior Officers: O5
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
U.S. Government Civilians: GS11, GS12, GS13, GS14
  • Resident
College of Maritime Operational Warfare Explore Program
  • The Maritime Operational Planners Course (MOPC) is part of a series of Professional Military Education courses. MOPC develops planners capable of performing in dynamic, complex, and high-tempo maritime operational environments. This course produces officers that are capable of forming, organizing, and leading operational planning teams and are proficient in the detailed application of the Navy Planning Process.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 12-13 Weeks
  • Classroom
Maritime Security & Governance Staff Course
  • U.S. Naval War College Diploma
Senior Officers: O5
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
International Officers: NATO Equivalent
  • International Military
International Programs Explore Program
  • The Maritime Security and Governance Staff Course is an unclassified five-month course designed to provide officers from small navies and coast guards the knowledge and skills necessary to more effectively promote and achieve maritime security and good maritime governance in their national and regional waters.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 22 Weeks
  • Classroom
Maritime Staff Operators Course
  • Additional Qualification Designation
  • Navy Enlisted Classification
  • Partial JPME Phase I Credit
Senior Officers: O5
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
Junior Officers: O1, O2
Senior Enlisted: E7+
U.S. Government Civilians: GS11, GS12, GS13, GS14
  • Resident
College of Maritime Operational Warfare Explore Program
  • The Maritime Staff Operators Course (MSOC) is part of a series of Professional Military Education courses. MSOC provides education in the application of the Maritime Operations Center concept, organization and processes; maritime operational level of warfare concepts, terminology and processes; and the Navy Planning Process in order to produce graduates capable of immediately supporting the commander’s decision cycle at the operational level of warfare in a dynamic and complex environment.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • Five Weeks
  • Classroom
NCC Diploma for International Students
  • U.S. Naval War College Diploma
Senior Officers: O5, O6
International Officers: NATO Equivalent
  • Resident
Naval Command College Explore Program
  • Naval Command College Diploma is a residence graduate-level study program for senior international officers. The program consists of orientation, core curriculum, electives, Field Studies Program, and the cultural exchange. International Students are fully integrated with their U.S. counterparts in the College of Naval Warfare and must complete all class, seminar exercises, and writing assignments.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 11 Months
  • Classroom
Naval Staff College Diploma for International Students
  • U.S. Naval War College Diploma
Senior Officers: O5
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
International Officers: NATO Equivalent
  • Resident
Naval Staff College Explore Program
  • Naval Staff College Diploma (NSC) is a graduate-level curriculum that emphasizes naval planning and decision making, with particular attention to broadening the officers’ understanding of the importance and role of sea power in international affairs. It consists of three major areas of study, electives program, Field Studies Program, and country presentations. U.S. students may apply to be embedded in NSC.
  • U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island
  • 11 Months
  • Classroom
Online Program
  • JPME Phase I Credit
Senior Officers: O5, O6
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
U.S. Government Civilians: GS11, GS12, GS13, GS14, GS15, SES
  • Distance
College of Distance Education Explore Program
  • The Naval Command and Staff online program educates students on the fundamentals of U.S. national security policy, military strategy, and the relationship between them. The program is organized into five educational blocks and all blocks must be completed to earn Joint Professional Military Education Phase I credit.
  • Wherever the eligible student is located
  • 41 Weeks
  • Web
U.S. Naval War College at the Naval Postgraduate School
  • JPME Phase I Credit
Senior Officers: O5, O6
Intermediate Officers: O3, O4
U.S. Government Civilians: GS11, GS12, GS13, GS14, GS15
  • Distance
College of Distance Education Explore Program
  • U.S. Naval War College (NWC) Monterey is a satellite office of NWC, College of Distance Education located on campus at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, California. In partnership with NPS, we provide qualified officers and select DoD civilians attending NPS the opportunity to earn an NWC diploma and Joint Professional Military Education Phase I credit.
  • Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California
  • 12 Months
  • Classroom