NEWPORT, R.I. – Forty-three joint military and civilian students graduated from U.S. Naval War College’s (NWC) Maritime Advanced Warfighting School (MAWS), Sept. 9, during a ceremony held in McCarty Little Hall.
In 1998, the Chief of Naval Operations directed the establishment of an advanced warfighting school at NWC. It was the first of its kind in the Navy and was titled the Naval Operational Planner Course. Over the past 17 years, the program has evolved and grown significantly in both size and depth of instruction, to its current architecture as the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School.
“You were selected to participate because you possess the requisite experience, expertise, career timing, and unlimited potential to achieve the very best results from your NWC and MAWS education,” said NWC Provost Lewis Duncan, who gave the opening remarks at the ceremony.
For the graduating class of 22 Navy officers, four Marine officers, eight Air Force officers, eight Army officers, and one Defense Intelligence Agency civilian, MAWS was a 13-month long, thought-provoking and time-intensive program that required them to build upon past experiences in a complex and ever-changing environment.
In a journey that began in August 2015, students completed core courses in theater security decision making, strategy and warfare and joint maritime operations, as well as three electives tailored to combined arms tactics, operations and planning foundations. Students also completed a three-month capstone planning project in direct support of Navy and joint operational commanders.
“You are the new 21st Century war college graduates, officers at the intersection of creativity required for changing times and the ability to act in implementation of proven theories to be true innovators,” said Duncan. “You have excelled as students, you have provided significant insight and assistance to improve the MAWS curriculum, and you have developed great competence and skill in the planning of joint operations in the maritime environment.”
With this year’s graduating class, the MAWS program now has 434 graduates worldwide.
The MAWS graduates earn a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, the NWC diploma, Joint Professional Military Education Phase I certification, and designation as a joint operational planner.
Graduates are assigned to operational planner tours either immediately or following warfare community assignments.