National War College
Encyclopedia
The National War College (NWC) of the United States
is a school in the National Defense University
. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair
, Washington, D.C.
, the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the Army-Navy Staff College, which operated from June 1943 to July 1946. The college was one of James Forrestal
's favorite causes.
According to Lt. Gen.
Leonard T. Gerow
, President of the Board which recommended its formation,
Mid-level and senior military officers who are likely to be promoted to the most senior ranks are selected to study at the War College in preparation for higher staff and command positions. About 75 percent of the student body is composed of equal representation from the land, air, and sea (including Marine and Coast Guard) Services. The remaining 25 percent are drawn from the Department of State and other federal departments and agencies. In addition, international fellows from a number of countries join the student body.
Graduates of the National War College include numerous current and former flag officers, general officers, and U.S. ambassadors. Notable graduates include former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, U.S. Senator John McCain
, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Wesley Clark
, former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace
and Hugh Shelton
, former National Security Advisor and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe James L. Jones
, former U.S Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki
, former U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Elmo Zumwalt, U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle
, World War II submarine officer and best-selling novelist Edward L. Beach, Jr.
, former military aide to President John F. Kennedy Godfrey McHugh
, and U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Norton A. Schwartz
.
(built 1903-07) is a Beaux Arts-style building housing the NWC since its inception in 1946. Designed by the New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, it is now designated a National Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is a school in the National Defense University
National Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair
Fort Lesley J. McNair is a United States Army post located on the tip of a peninsula that lies at the confluence of the Potomac River and the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. To its west is the Washington Channel, while the Anacostia River is on its south side...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the Army-Navy Staff College, which operated from June 1943 to July 1946. The college was one of James Forrestal
James Forrestal
James Vincent Forrestal was the last Cabinet-level United States Secretary of the Navy and the first United States Secretary of Defense....
's favorite causes.
According to Lt. Gen.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
Leonard T. Gerow
Leonard T. Gerow
Leonard Townsend Gerow was a United States Army general.-Early life:Gerow was born in Petersburg, Virginia. The name Gerow is derived from the French name "Giraud". Gerow attended high school in Petersburg and then attended the Virginia Military Institute. He was three times elected class...
, President of the Board which recommended its formation,
"The College is concerned with grand strategy and the utilization of the national resources necessary to implement that strategy... Its graduates will exercise a great influence on the formulation of national and foreign policy in both peace and war...."
Mid-level and senior military officers who are likely to be promoted to the most senior ranks are selected to study at the War College in preparation for higher staff and command positions. About 75 percent of the student body is composed of equal representation from the land, air, and sea (including Marine and Coast Guard) Services. The remaining 25 percent are drawn from the Department of State and other federal departments and agencies. In addition, international fellows from a number of countries join the student body.
Graduates of the National War College include numerous current and former flag officers, general officers, and U.S. ambassadors. Notable graduates include former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell, U.S. Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Wesley Clark
Wesley Clark
Wesley Kanne Clark, Sr., is a retired general of the United States Army. Graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1966 at West Point, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he obtained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and later graduated from the...
, former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace
Peter Pace
Peter Pace is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first Marine appointed to the United States' highest-ranking military office. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Pace succeeded U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers on...
and Hugh Shelton
Hugh Shelton
General Henry Hugh Shelton is a retired American career military officer of the United States Army. He served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997 to 2001.-Early life, family and education:...
, former National Security Advisor and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe James L. Jones
James L. Jones
James Logan Jones, Jr. is the former United States National Security Advisor and a retired United States Marine Corps General....
, former U.S Army Chief of Staff Eric Shinseki
Eric Shinseki
Eric Ken Shinseki is a retired United States Army four-star general who is currently serving as the 7th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. His final U.S. Army post was as the 34th Chief of Staff of the Army...
, former U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Elmo Zumwalt, U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle
John Beyrle
John R. Beyrle , a career Foreign Service Officer and specialist in Russian and Eastern European affairs, is currently Ambassador of the United States to the Russian Federation.- Biography :...
, World War II submarine officer and best-selling novelist Edward L. Beach, Jr.
Edward L. Beach, Jr.
Edward Latimer Beach, Jr. was a highly-decorated United States Navy submarine officer and best-selling author....
, former military aide to President John F. Kennedy Godfrey McHugh
Godfrey McHugh
Godfrey T. McHugh was a United States Air Force general, and served as military aide to President John F. Kennedy.-Early years:McHugh was born in Brussels, Belgium to American parents...
, and U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Norton A. Schwartz
Norton A. Schwartz
Norton Allan Schwartz is a United States Air Force general who is serving as the 19th Chief of Staff of the Air Force. He previously served as Commander, United States Transportation Command from September 2005 to August 2008...
.
Roosevelt Hall
Roosevelt HallRoosevelt Hall (National War College)
Roosevelt Hall is an immense Beaux Arts-style building housing the National War College on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC, USA. The original home of the Army War College , it is now designated a National Historical Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
(built 1903-07) is a Beaux Arts-style building housing the NWC since its inception in 1946. Designed by the New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, it is now designated a National Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
See also
- Naval War CollegeNaval War CollegeThe Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
- Marine Corps War CollegeMarine Corps War CollegeThe Marine Corps War College , is the senior school of the Marine Corps University, providing Joint Professional Military Education to selected United States military officers, civilian Government officials, and international military officers...
- Army War College
- Air War CollegeAir War CollegeThe Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
- List of National Historic Landmarks in the District of Columbia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in the District of Columbia