RightInRI

NEWPORT, R.I. — U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is scheduled to visit Newport on Monday, November 9, to deliver an address to students, faculty and staff at the U.S. Naval War College. The visit was confirmed in a media advisory released by the Naval War College. The Navy has not disclosed the subject of Hegseth's remarks or the scheduled start time of his address. Hegseth was sworn in on Jan. 25, 2025, as the 29th secretary of defense before the department's name was changed on Sept. 5, 2025. A 2003 graduate of Princeton University, Hegseth was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. His military service included deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan, along with several National Guard staff assignments. His military decorations include two Bronze Star Medals, the Joint Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge. Established in 1884, the U.S. Naval War College is the nation's oldest naval war college and a leading center for professional military education. Located aboard Naval Station Newport, the institution educates military officers and national security professionals in strategy, leadership and the complexities of modern warfare. Monday's appearance will bring the nation's top defense official to one of the military's most prominent centers for strategic education. The event will be live-streamed on Department of War social media channels and on war.gov.