Naval War College graduates 1,502 in ceremony

NEWPORT, R.I. - U.S. Naval War College (NWC), Newport, RI, graduated 1,502 students during a ceremony held June 16 at Dewey Field on board Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island.

“Today we celebrate the many accomplishments of our graduates and to formally mark their transition from intellectually curious students at arrival, to the enlightened and dedicated professionals in strategy and national security they are today,” said Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley, president, NWC, delivering the commencement speech. “For our graduates, I simply hope my words today reinforce your experience of this last year and perhaps in some small way tie together the threads of this rigorous year of education.” 

During the ceremony, graduates were presented with Master of Arts degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies or Defense and Strategic Studies. International graduates were awarded a NWC diploma.

There were 130 graduates from the College of Naval Warfare, the senior-level course; and 188 from the College of Naval Command and Staff, the intermediate-level course. These students are members of the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard or civilian government employees.

NWC’s Naval Command College and Naval Staff College graduated 105 international officers. 

The College of Distance Education also graduated 1,079. These students completed requirements through the Fleet Seminar Program, web or CD-ROM-based courses.

In his remarks, Harley focused on the next steps in the careers of the graduates.

“Today you sail away to destinations far and near, distant corners of the globe, to strange and curious cultures including a place called Pentagon, to further define the stature of your homeland, to keep her free to even the last full measure of devotion if required, to keep that torch of freedom burning for now and forevermore,” he added.

The education received will serve graduates as they continue in military of government service.

“The Naval War College allowed me to generate ideas and build relationships that will pay dividends well into the future," said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Fahy, who graduated from the College of Naval Command and Staff.

Degrees are accredited by the New England Association for Schools and Colleges.

International graduates represented 69 nations to include: People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria; Argentine Republic; Commonwealth of Australia; Republic of Azerbaijan; People's Republic of Bangladesh; Belize; Republic of Benin; Federative Republic of Brazil; Republic of Bulgaria; Canada; Republic of Chile; Republic of Colombia; Republic of the Congo; Republic of Cote d’Ivoire; Republic of Croatia; Kingdom of Denmark; Dominican Republic; Arab Republic of Egypt; Republic of Estonia; French Republic; Georgia; Federal Republic of Germany; Republic of Ghana; Helenic Republic; Republic of Guatemala; Republic of Haiti; Republic of India; Republic of Indonesia; Republic of Iraq; State of Israel; Italian Republic; Japan; Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Republic of Kenya; Republic of Korea; State of Kuwait; Republic of Latvia; Lebanese Republic; Republic of Lithuania; Malaysia; Islamic Republic of Mauritania; United Mexican States; Montenegro; Kingdom of Morocco; Republic of Mozambique; New Zealand; Federal Republic of Nigeria; Kingdom of Norway; Sultanate of Oman; Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Republic of Peru; Philippines; Republic of Poland; Romania; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Republic of Senegal; Republic of Singapore; Republic of Slovenia; Republic of South Africa; Kingdom of Spain; Taiwan; United Republic of Tanzania; Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste; Togolese Republic; Tunisian Republic; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; United States of America; and Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

NWC is a one-year resident program that graduates about 600 resident students and about 1,000 distance learning students each year. Its primary mission is to educate and develop future leaders. Additional missions include: helping to define the future Navy and its roles and missions, supporting combat readiness, strengthening global maritime partnerships, promoting ethics and leadership throughout the force, contributing knowledge to shape effective decisions through our Maritime History Center, providing expertise and advice to the international legal community through the Stockton Center for the Study of International Law. Students earn Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) credit and either a diploma or a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies or Defense and Strategic Studies. Established in 1884, U.S. Naval War College is the oldest institution of its kind in the world. More than 50,000 students have graduated since its first class of nine students in 1885 and about 300 of today’s active duty admirals, generals and senior executive service leaders are alumni.