Mission/Vision:

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 course is 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; understand and evolve operational planning methods; create opportunities for expanded, high-level professional exchange through venues such as the International Sea Symposium, Regional Symposia, formal college-to-college relationships with international counterparts, international publications, and alumni relations; and establish a regional studies structure to focus resources for greater impact in building and extending maritime partnerships. The desired effect is to build more robust and productive international maritime relationships, to improve the ability to operate effectively with partner nations, and to improve maritime security cooperation.

Deliver Excellent Support

To discharge successfully these primary mission responsibilities, the College shall strive for excellence in organization, processes, and infrastructure to enable mission accomplishment. The desired effect is to remain an exemplary steward of the resources entrusted to us and fully accomplish our mission both efficiently and effectively.