NEWPORT, R.I.— U.S. Naval War College (NWC) students and faculty fill Spruance Auditorium during the institution's Convocation ceremony onboard Naval Station Newport, Aug. 4, 2026. Convocation welcomed a total of 477 students to the 2026-27 academic year and was highlighted by a keynote address by the Honorable Hung Cao, Acting Secretary of the Navy. 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. (U.S. Navy photo by Kristopher Burris)
NEWPORT, R.I. – The Honorable Hung Cao, Acting Secretary of the Navy, delivered keynote remarks as the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) began its 2026-2027 academic year with two ceremonies, Aug. 3-4.
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, NWC held its annual Convocation ceremony, welcoming a total of 477 students to the academic year.
Cao, who addressed the Convocation audience virtually from Washington, D.C., called the war college “the leadership laboratory,” urging the enrolled military officers to embrace their roles as leaders, build relationships and stay loyal to their oath, their fellow service members and their allies.
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The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) Center on Irregular Warfare and Armed Groups (CIWAG) hosted the fourth annual maritime symposium on irregular warfare at the Wyndham Hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, June 23-25, 2025. This year’s symposium, titled “Shadows and Sabotage”, brought select academics, industry experts and military and government officials together to examine gray zone activities such as the rise of Chinese and Russian shadow fleets, maritime sabotage, the race for critical minerals and the impact of other irregular warfare methods on the future of maritime operations. Established in 1884, NWC informs today’s decision-makers and educates tomorrow’s leaders by providing educational experiences and learning...
