Capt. Halvorsen is the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) and a career surface warfare officer. He graduated, with distinction, from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998, with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Halvorsen graduated from Oxford University, with distinction, in 2000 with a Master of Philosophy in Economic and Social History. He graduated from NWC, as Honor Graduate, in 2005 with a Master of Arts in National Security Studies. He has been published in The Journal of Strategic Studies, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings and National Journal Online. His operational assignments include command of USS Carney (DDG 64) and Destroyer Squadron 26.