U.S. Naval War College Graduates 31 Students From Colleges of Naval Warfare, Naval Command & Staff

The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) graduated 31 students from its Colleges of Naval Warfare (CNW) and Naval Command & Staff (CNCS) on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025.

“Training our next generations of warfighters and battlefield leaders is at the very core of what we do here at the U.S. Naval War College,” said NWC President Rear Adm. Darryl Walker. “These are rigorous, selective programs that help advance careers and tangibly prepare our ascending and established commander-track officers to deter and win wars, at all levels and across all domains. I want to congratulate these men and women. They worked hard here over the past year and earned the expertise to go back out and make our armed forces more lethal and effective.”

The graduating November class selected Strategy and Policy Department Assistant Prof. Jesse Tumblin, Ph.D., as its faculty speaker for the Friday ceremony. Tumblin talked about the oral tradition of telling sea stories in the Navy, how they can become imaginatively embellished, and how that creativity can make graduates more effective warfighters.

“Your imagination, not your intellect or your training, is your most powerful strategic weapon,” Tumblin told the graduates, suggesting it’s critical for military leaders to be able to “imagine a conflict” from the perspective of enemy forces in order to counter them, and for them to be able to imagine branch plans and solutions to unpredictable challenges.

CNCS provides intermediate-level officers from the U.S. Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard – as well as civilians with equivalent seniority – courses to develop essential leadership and strategic skills, while preparing for increased responsibilities and promotion. The O-3 and O-4-level students who complete the program are awarded Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) Phase I certification, as well as a Master of Arts in defense and strategic studies.

CNW is geared toward senior-level officers with a courseload intended to prepare them for executive-level civilian leadership. It features core courses in national security decision making, strategy and policy, joint military operations, and Leadership in the Profession of Arms, as well as access to more than 120 elective courses and independent research projects. The O-5 and O-6-level students who complete this senior program are awarded JPME Phase II and a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies.

Both programs have yearlong cycles that begin in November and March, as well as during the traditional academic year, running from August to the following June.

Maj. Steven Pashko, U.S. Army, and Cmdr. Brian DeMell, U.S. Navy, were recognized at the Friday event as the honor graduates from CNCS and CNW, respectively.

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 anticipate and prepare strategically for the future, strengthen the foundations of peace, and create a decisive warfighting advantage.