Newport, R.I. – Stephen J. Mariano arrived and assumed provost of the U.S. Naval War College on August 1. Mariano, who most recently held the position of deputy commodore and dean of the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy, arrived to give an address to the NWC faculty at the 15th annual Faculty Cloister in Spruance Auditorium. Mariano opened by speaking about his enthusiasm for the upcoming academic year.
“If you're anything like me, I find part of the reason I'm here is that I find a certain sweetness to the academic cycle,” said Mariano. “Although this is my first academic season here in Newport, it's this freshness of coming back at this time of year every year with new students showing up and new faculty members and new things in the international environment.”
Over the last decade, Mariano has held senior leadership positions at military education institutions around the world and holds several degrees, including a Ph.D. in war studies from The Royal Military College of Canada.
“Professional military education institutions are absolutely worth the effort; they're worth our courage; they're worth our commitment,” said Mariano. “It's why I took the job; it's the job of education and developing the future leaders of the United States of America and the national security enterprise and those of our allies and partners that deal with the most difficult challenges facing the world today.”
The NWC faculty cloister, which began in 2008 to bring faculty together, develop relationships, and acknowledge their achievements, also served the purpose this year of familiarizing the faculty with NWC’s Strategic Plan 2022-2027.
Concluding, he was enthusiastic about getting acquainted with the college and the people.
“Colin Powell has this saying that enthusiastic optimism is infectious, and I believe that. And I think that based on what I see here today and what I've read in my preparation, I'm really curious to know more about the NWC and its faculty in particular.”
Read Provost Mariano’s biography