2025 Current Strategy Forum - Lt. Gen. Benjamin T. Watson Keynote

This keynote address took place on June 10, 2025. The views presented by the faculty or other guest speakers do not reflect official positions of the Naval War College, DON or DOD.

The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) hosted the 74th iteration of the Secretary of the Navy’s Current Strategy Forum (CSF), focusing on strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China and emerging technologies, onboard Naval Station Newport, June 9-10.

This year’s CSF, titled “The Future of Sea Power, Maritime Strategy and Naval Warfare,” brought senior military leaders, national security scholars and researchers, foreign and defense policy practitioners and NWC students and faculty together to examine the international balance of power and the role of sea power in strategic competition moving forward.

Speaker bio:
Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson, U.S. Marine Corps, is the Commanding General of Training and Education Command. A 1991 Cornell graduate, he was commissioned via NROTC and began his career with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines. His operational commands include 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines; 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines; Task Force Southwest in Afghanistan;
and most recently, the 1st Marine Division (2022–2024). He has deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Resolute Support, and multiple MEU(SOC) missions. His non-operational assignments include instructor tours at The Basic School and Expeditionary Warfare School, senior roles in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and command of Marine Barracks Washington. He also served as CG of Marine Corps Installations East and the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory. LtGen Watson holds master’s degrees from the School of Advanced Warfighting and National War College. His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (2), Bronze Star with “V,” and Combat Action Ribbon (2).