Chief of Naval Operations Addresses U.S. Naval War College Graduates at Commencement

NEWPORT, RI – The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) celebrated its in-residence summer graduation in a ceremony at its Newport, Rhode Island, campus on June 12, 2026.

The graduating class included 461 students from in-resident senior-level leadership and intermediate-level leadership courses, with 90 international students representing foreign militaries.

Also included were approximately 100 students who completed their coursework through NWC’s College of Distance Education (CDE) programs.

Graduates represented all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, more than 30 federal agencies and departments, and over 50 partner and allied nations.

The graduation’s commencement address was delivered by the 34th Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl L. Caudle.

“Today marks a transition from being students of strategy to practitioners of strategy,” Caudle told the assembled graduates. “The ideas discussed in these halls now become your responsibility to execute in the real world where the margin for error is shrinking.”

Distinguished graduates of the college included U.S. Navy Cmdr. Sara Neugroschel, recipient of the Stephen B. Luce Award for the College of Naval Warfare, and U.S. Air Force Maj. Eric Dayhuff, recipient of the William S. Sims Award for the College of Naval Command and Staff, for their outstanding achievement across a spectrum of disciplines including academic performance, participation in NWC activities, participation in civic and community activities and promotion of the armed services in the public interest. 

“The character of warfare is changing faster than at any point in modern history,” Caudle said. “We are seeing the convergence of cyber, space, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems compression decision space for commanders. In the future fight, the side that senses first, understands first, decides first, and acts first will possess a decisive advantage.”

Ceremony proceedings also recognized several additional students recognized for outstanding academic achievements, including 13 in-resident students who graduated with highest distinction, having ranked among the top 5 percent of their graduating class, and 39 students with distinction, having ranked among the top 15 percent.

“I want to congratulate all the warfighters graduating from the U.S. Naval War College today,” said Rear Adm. Darryl Walker, president of the war college. “Throughout the last year, they’ve studied through a demanding course load that incorporates not only the lessons of military history, but the latest developments from joint operations – ongoing in real-time – to walk off this campus fully prepared to lead our forces on the front lines all over the world.”

Graduates will go on to serve in executive leadership positions such as the Pentagon; U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand; Commander Naval Air Forces in San Diego; and Special Operations Command, Special Warfare School and College at Fort Bragg, N.C..

The graduation is a culmination of the students’ hard work in a one-year graduate-level program that accommodates either in-resident or distance learning status. U.S. graduates earned Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) certifications and master’s degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies or Defense and Strategic Studies.

“The faculty and staff continuously improved and evolved the curriculum, and assembled speakers from the highest levels of our armed forces, to ensure the military leaders who are receiving their diplomas today are deeply versed in modern warfare and current national strategy,” Walker said. “Our graduates are laser-focused and ready to win on the battlefield.”

Established in 1884, NWC informs today’s decision-makers and educates tomorrow’s leaders by providing educational experiences and learning opportunities that develop their ability to hedge aggressively, innovate continuously, fight distributively, delegate confidently, and command with clarity within complex battlespaces.