Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the U.S. Naval War College on Monday to announce a sweeping overhaul of the military’s professional education system, telling about 700 students, faculty and staff that the schools exist to teach victory in war.
“The primary task of our senior service colleges, like this one … must be teaching victory,” Hegseth said in Spruance Hall, according to a Naval War College account of the visit. “The deliberate, uncompromising task of forging senior military leaders who are intellectually, ethically and operationally prepared to decisively deter — but if necessary, defeat — our enemies in unforgiving combat.”
A memorandum issued the same day sets out 33 implementation requirements. Among them:
- Warfighter Chairs at every senior service college, filled by O-5 and O-6 commanders coming directly from operational deployments.
- An end to tenure and emeritus status for newly hired civilian faculty, replaced by three-year performance-based contracts evaluated on teaching and national security research.
- Standardized end-of-course wargames and comprehensive exams, replacing what the department called subjective seminar grading.
- Direct oversight by the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness to track each requirement.
The changes follow a review of military school curricula that Hegseth ordered in March, led by Under Secretary Anthony Tata, who traveled to Newport with him. Hegseth credited the Naval War College with running two intelligence-enhanced wargames this year.
“This was a truly extraordinary opportunity for our students, faculty and staff to hear from the man at the very top of our Department of War,” said Rear Adm. Darryl Walker, the college’s president. “Secretary Hegseth’s clear vision, priorities and direction have guided — and will continue to guide — our programs and curriculum.”
The Naval War College, established in Newport in 1884, is one of the city’s largest institutions and employs civilian academic faculty alongside military personnel.
Impeachment effort announced the same day
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, announced on Monday that he is forcing a House vote on eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth.
Massie’s articles allege violations of the War Powers Resolution of 1973 in connection with military action in Iran and Yemen, as well as charges related to civilian casualties, strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels, retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly for protected speech, and an operation to seize Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The full text is posted on Massie’s House website.
“By engaging in hostilities in Iran for more than 90 days without congressional authorization, Secretary Hegseth is breaking the law and must be held accountable,” Massie said.
The allegations are charges brought by a single member of Congress and have not been adjudicated. The Department of War has not responded publicly.
