About Strategic & Operational Research Department
SORD provides regional and functional security expertise and analysis to Naval War College academic programs through a variety of means, from teaching to research. Our faculty conduct original research, as well as teach and develop elective courses, in their areas of expertise, from strategy and doctrine to policy and operations.
Our regional areas of focus include Eurasia, the Indo-Asia-Pacific, and the greater Middle East. Faculty members not only possess in-country experience and historical knowledge, but also facility in critical languages such as Russian, German, French, Chinese, and Japanese.
SORD’s efforts go beyond the classroom: they also support the full range of Navy leadership and organizations as well as other elements of the joint force and the U.S. interagency, including the Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the intelligence community, the National Security Council staff, the Department of State, and the U.S. Congress.
Research Centers
The Strategic and Operational Research Department is home to several niche research centers and institutions that dive deeper into issues of interest to the Navy:
Special Advanced Research Programs (ARPs)
A group of faculty-led special advanced research programs also call our department home. These groups offer students a chance to participate in gaming, research, and other real-world scenarios pertaining to strategy, planning, and operations.