Representatives from the navies of 27 nations met at Naval War College's latest regional alumni symposium held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, April 12-14, to discuss issues facing the group and how to meet common challenges.

The nations represented, mostly European and North American, discussed topics including cooperation or conflict in the opening of the Arctic, the future of the Black Sea, and others.

"This symposium is about promoting education, encouraging innovation, and building stronger relationships," said NWC President Rear Adm. P. Gardner Howe III. "This is what we do on our Newport campus, and this is what we seek to achieve on our global campus with events such as these."

NWC regularly hosts regional alumni symposium in various regions around the world to allow alumni of the Newport, Rhode Island, school and others to continue their education, improve outreach and strengthen partnerships.

The meetings are not restricted to NWC alumni, according to Julia Gage, assistant professor and director of the Graduate Network for Lifelong Learning at the school.

"These symposiums are real opportunities to continue to work with naval leaders to ensure that issues are being addressed and relationships are established and maintained," she said. "In addition to our alumni, we also invite additional naval leaders to participate."

One of the attendees, Vice Adm. John Christenson, has a unique perspective on the event as he is currently the military representative to the NATO Military Committee and also former president of NWC.

"Countries are like families," said Christenson. "Events like these reaffirm our shared values and help relationships grow."

Topics for the various sessions of the symposium included Drivers of Conflict and Cooperation in the Arctic Ocean Region: Implications for Europe, The Black Sea and Beyond: A Global Maritime Fault Line, NATO's Northeastern Flank, and Irregular Warfare, A2/AD [Anti-Access/Area Denial] in a European Context.

The symposium also included keynote addresses by German Rear Adm. Karsten Schneider, the deputy commander, Fhrungsakademie der Bundeswehr; Vice Adm. James G. Foggo III, U.S. Navy, commander 6th Fleet, and Christenson.

Nations attending were Albania, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States.

NWC is a one-year resident program that graduates about 600 resident students and about 1,000 distance learning students each year. Its missions include educating and developing leaders, helping define the future of the Navy, supporting combat readiness, and strengthening maritime partnerships.

Students earn Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) credit and either a diploma or a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies or Defense and Strategic Studies. Established in 1884, U.S. Naval War College is the oldest institution of its kind in the world. More than 50,000 students have graduated since its first class of nine students in 1885 and about 300 of today's active duty admirals, generals and senior executive service leaders are alumni.

For more news from Naval War College, visit www.navy.mil/.