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Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Ethics

The Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Ethics is a specialized elective track for students in the Stockdale Leader Development Concentration (SLDC) that increases their capability and capacity for senior leadership. Students are given priority enrollment in Leadership and Ethics electives and will produce a well-researched, faculty-mentored professional paper on contemporary leadership and organizational challenges faced by the Navy and joint force.
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Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Bill Moran speaks to command master chiefs from around the Navy at the 2019 Leadership Mess Symposium.

General Information

Eligibility

This graduate certificate program is available for resident students including U.S. military, civilian federal employees (GS14-GS15, or equivalent), and international students who have been selected for the International Master of Arts Program.

Location & Duration

This 10-month specialized elective track is completed in conjunction with the U.S. Naval War College core curriculum. SLDC participants must enter in the fall trimester. Students are taught at the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island.

Learning Format

The Stockdale Leader Development Concentration uses the cohort construct. Courses are conducted in seminar format. Students also complete a faculty-mentored professional paper during the academic year.

Outcome

Students in this specialized program are awarded a graduate certificate, along with four additional credits. In addition, students will produce a well-researched, faculty-mentored professional paper on contemporary leadership and organizational challenges faced by the Navy and joint force. They will return to the Joint force ready to lead change amidst complexity by applying innovative advanced leadership and organizational concepts and practices.

Program Structure

Ongoing

Professional Paper or Article

Required | Core Course
Complete a high quality, faculty mentored, professional paper on contemporary leadership and organizational challenges faced by the Navy and joint force.

Course Requirement

Required | Core Course
Students in the Stockdale Leader Development Concentration (SLDC) meet as a cohort in weekly seminars to study advanced leadership concepts with College of Leadership and Ethics faculty. The “Leadership in the Profession of Arms” core course is validated by SLDC participation.

Priority Elective Enrollment

Electives in Leadership and Ethics

Required | Elective
Students receive priority enrollment in “EL 592 Foundations of Moral Obligation,” aka “The Stockdale Course” in the fall trimester and “EL 649B Cognitive Readiness” in the winter trimester.

Incoming Students

Contact Information

Director, Stockdale Leader Development Concentration

(401) 856-5643
SLDC_Admin@usnwc.edu

More Information

Senior resident officers in the College of Naval Warfare will complete a robust program of academic core courses and electives, as well as professional development.

Student reading a book at the U.S. Naval War College.
Nominated Civilian Applicants for CNW

Selected Civilian Application

Every academic year, selected departments and agencies are invited to nominate civilian applicants (GS14-GS15, or equivalent) for admission to CNW. Civilian students nominated to the resident program require a formal application to NWC along with additional information. Please see our Registrar page for more information.

More on Attending as a Civilian
Ships steering wheel at the U.S. Naval War College.
Core Teachings at U.S. Naval War College

Core Curriculum

The core teachings at U.S. Naval War College provide a framework for military and civilian leaders to gain an understanding of strategy and operations, the ability to think critically, deal with uncertainty and surprise, be proficient in joint matters, and comprehend the security environment and all elements of national power.

NWC Featured Alum

Brigadier General John J. Allen Jr. professional photo
U.S. Air Force

Brig. Gen. John J. Allen Jr.

Brig. Gen. John Allen is the Air Force director of civil engineers, deputy chief of staff for Logistics, Engineering & Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for providing policy and oversight for the planning, development, construction, maintenance, utilities and environmental quality of 183 Air Force bases worldwide valued at more than $297 billion. This responsibility includes housing, fire emergency services, explosive ordnance disposal and emergency management services. He also influences resourcing for installation support functions with an annual budget of $11 billion and is the focal point for organizing, training and equipping the 51,000-person engineering force. Brig. Gen. Allen's education includes a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech, a Master of Science in engineering management from the University of Alaska Anchorage, and a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

College of Naval Warfare, 2010
Capt. Mary Elizabeth Neill portrait photo
U.S. Navy

Capt. Mary Elizabeth Neill

Born in Baltimore, Md., Capt. Mary Elizabeth Neill has been part of the Dental Corps for more than three decades. Captain Neill received her B.S. from University of Maryland Baltimore County, her Doctor of Dental Surgery from University of Maryland College of Dental Surgery, her M.S. from University of Texas Health Sciences Center at San Antonio and her M.S. National Security and Strategic Studies 2016 from the U. S. Naval War College. Neill has held many positions (deputy chief of staff for Navy Medicine National Capital Area, executive officer at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor, commanding officer at Naval Health Clinic Quantico, Navy Medicine East chief of staff, commanding officer of NATO Role III Multinational Medical Unit Kandahar, Afghanistan, and deputy director for Medical Resources, Plans, Policy at the Pentagon) and has deployed in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.

College of Naval Warfare, 2016
Admiral Charles A. Richard military photo
U.S. Navy

Admiral Charles A. Richard

Decatur, Alabama native Admiral Charles Richard graduated from the University of Alabama and earned master's degrees from the Catholic University of America and the U.S. Naval War College. His operational assignments include multiple submarine commands. Staff assignments include executive assistant and naval aide to the Under Secretary of the Navy; chief of staff, Submarine Force Atlantic; director of resources on the staff of the Under Secretary of Defense; squadron engineer on the staff of SUBRON-8 and duty on the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations staff. He has served as a member of Chief of Naval Operations' Strategic Studies Group XXVIII, as well as being Deputy Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Director of Undersea Warfare (OPNAV N97), Deputy Commander of Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, and command of Submarine Group 10. His most recent assignment was Commander, Submarine Forces in Norfolk, Virginia. As Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, he is responsible for one of 11 Unified Commands under the Department of Defense.

College of Naval Warfare, 2000