U.S. Naval War College Joins Polish Navy to Hold Regional Alumni Symposium in Gdynia

GDYNIA, Poland – The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) and Polish Navy hosted the 2026 Regional Alumni Symposium at the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia from March 29-April 1.

The event attracted more than 90 attendees, including at least 60 NWC alumni, from 19 European and North American countries, including at least 17 flag officers – navy admirals or their equivalents.

Rear Adm. Jaroslaw Ziemianski, Inspector of the Polish Navy – the equivalent of America’s Chief of Naval Operations – and Rear Adm. Tomasz Szubrycht, Rector-Commandant of the Polish Naval Academy, were among the NWC alumni to welcome attendees on behalf of the host nation.

The senior U.S. military officer in attendance was Vice Adm. Jeffrey Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet.

"I want to offer my thanks and deepest appreciation to our hosts in the Polish Navy – and to all involved – for this extraordinary and important event,” said NWC President Rear Adm. Darryl Walker. “We're honored to have many of the brightest and most influential military leaders from across Europe with us here in Gdynia, where we're building the foundation for winning wars. We're able to reinforce already strong relationships between warfighters from different nations and with different specialties, and we're able to apply that vast experience and expertise to working through some of the most important challenges facing our joint combined forces."

The regional alumni symposia, held approximately annually with regional partner navies, are open to all graduates of the college and reinforce the relationships built among U.S. and international military leaders during their enrollment.

Each year, the college welcomes between 100 and 150 foreign officers to the U.S. from around the world to study strategy, warfare, decision making, and operational art. Since creating a program for international officers in 1956, the NWC has more than 5,500 international alumni from 145 countries worldwide.

NWC International Programs Department offerings include the 11-month in-residence Naval Command College and Naval Staff College programs, for senior-level and mid-career international officers, respectively, as well as the concentrated five-month Maritime Security & Governance Course and the 11-week International Maritime Staff Operators Course.

Approximately 10 percent of the alumni from these programs have become chief of their country’s respective navy.

After graduation, NWC continues to strengthen cooperation by sponsoring events like the alumni symposia to further promote multilateral relationships, cooperation, and exchange of ideas, as well as to give U.S. Navy regional commanders a unique opportunity to meet and collaborate with these distinguished military leaders.

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.