Marines


Expeditionary Warfare School

Marine Corps University Logo
Marine Corps University
Quantico, Virginia
Expeditionary Warfare School

 

Mission Statement

Expeditionary Warfare School educates and trains company grade officers in order to prepare them mentally, morally, and physically for billets of increased leadership responsibility across the Fleet Marine Force and the Joint Force, with emphasis on the warfighting capabilities of a Marine Air Ground Task Force operating within a complex and distributed Naval expeditionary environment.

 

Course Description

The Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) is a 41-week resident school that provides career-level, professional military education and training to company grade Marine officers and selected officers from other services and countries. Upon graduation, students are mentally, morally, and physically prepared to lead in billets of increased responsibility within the complex and distributed Naval expeditionary environment, capable of:

(1) LEAD with the Marine Corps' Core Values and ethical standards expected of commissioned officers.

(2) FIGHT with a Maneuver Warfare Mindset.

(3) EMPLOY a MAGTF in a naval expeditionary environment.

(4) DEMONSTRATE MOS credibility.

 

Admission Policy

The EWS Admissions Policy supports the mission and purpose of EWS and reflects the needs of the U.S. Marine Corps and the educational criteria of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s Officer Professional Military Education Policy appropriate for company grade officers. Invitation, nomination, and admission to the school vary by student. U.S. military officers are admitted through their services’ selection/assignment processes and international officers are admitted through an invitational nomination/approval process. For Marines, information about the Commandant’s Education Board can be found on the MMOA-3 Plans & Programs website.

History and Educational Philosophy

The Expeditionary Warfare School was originally established at Quantico as the Company Grade Officers Course in 1921, renamed the Amphibious Warfare School Junior Course in the 1930s, and in 1964 renamed as Amphibious Warfare School.  For Academic Year 2003 the school was reorganized by merging Amphibious Warfare School and the Command and Control Systems Course and redesignated Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS).  EWS challenges students to think critically as MAGTF officers by providing them with a firm doctrinal foundation, augmented with the exchange of practical experiences, and reinforced with extensive practical application and numerous planning exercises.  The majority of learning occurs in the conference group, which consists of approximately 16 captains of various military occupational specialties (MOS), military services, and nationalities.  Each conference group is mentored by a seasoned major, who acts as the Faculty Advisor (FACAD).  Throughout the academic year, the FACAD models tactical, technical, and professional MAGTF officer skills, mentors and guides students, facilitates conference group discussions, and assesses student performance.

Curriculum

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

Leadership

Director                                                                                                  Col Christopher Steele,       USMC

Deputy Director                                                                                     LtCol Steven Valenti,           USMC

Operations Officer                                                                                Mr. Matthew Erickson,        USMC (Ret.)

Dean of Academics                                                                               Dr. Kirklin Bateman,            USA (Ret.)

Chief Instructor                                                                                     LtCol Benjamin O'Donnell,  USMC

Director of Curriculum Development (CDEV)                                    MAJ Michael Conforti,         USA

 


 

Curriculum Development (CDEV)

CDEV                                                                                                        Maj David Grant,                  USMC

CDEV                                                                                                        Maj Alexander Ponce,          USMC

CDEV                                                                                                        Maj Joshua Winters,             USMC

CDEV                                                                                                        Maj Marc Mundy,                  USMC

CDEV                                                                                                        Maj Russell Cox,                  USMC

CDEV                                                                                                        Maj Grant Hertzog,               USMC

CDEV                                                                                                        LT Teresa Anderson,             USN

CDEV                                                                                                        LT Matthew Esper,                USN

 


 

Faculty Advisers (FACAD)

FACAD Conference Group 1                                                                   Maj Seth Holland,                   USMC

FACAD Conference Group 2                                                                   Maj Zachary Apperson,          USMC

FACAD Conference Group 3                                                                   Maj Jessica Aich,                   USMC

FACAD Conference Group 4                                                                   Maj Micah Moore,                  USMC

FACAD Conference Group 5                                                                   Maj David Perez,                   USMC

FACAD Conference Group 6                                                                   Maj Patrick Healy,                  USMC

FACAD Conference Group 7                                                                   Maj Christopher Cracchiolo,  USMC  

FACAD Conference Group 8                                                                   Maj Bradley Shell,                 USMC

FACAD Conference Group 9                                                                   Maj Jay Snelling,                   USMC

FACAD Conference Group 10                                                                 Maj Jess Hessock,                USMC

FACAD Conference Group 11                                                                 Maj Travis Horner,                 USMC

FACAD Conference Group 12                                                                 Maj Andrew Cruz,                  USMC

FACAD Conference Group 13                                                                 Maj Ryan Roop,                    USMC

FACAD Conference Group 14                                                                 Maj Nathan Berg,                  USMC

FACAD Conference Group 15                                                                 Maj Tyler Simmons,              USMC

FACAD Conference Group 16                                                                 Maj Kyle Wilmouth,               USMC

Faculty Applicants

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) Faculty, please follow these steps:

  1. Contact your monitor to express your interest.

  2. Reach out to either of the following EWS representatives for further information and assistance:

Contact Staff

Per​​sonnel and Administration (703) 784-1864, DSN 278-1864​​

Operations (703) 432-0161, DSN 378-0161

Logistics (703) 784-0032, DSN 278-0032

Professional Communications  (703) 432-0139/0111, DSN 378-0139/0111

Web Content Manager/Copyright Manager  (703) 432-0144, DSN 378-0144

Chief Academic Officer  (703) 784-2537, DSN 278-2537

Chief Instructor  (703) 432-0132, DSN 378-0132

Director of Curriculum Development  (703) 432-0130, DSN 378-0130

Curriculum Development  (703) 432-0750/0751, DSN 378-0750/0751

Deputy Director   (703) 784-1843, DSN 278-1843

​​​Director  (703) 784-1864, DSN 278-1864

Welcome aboard Expeditionary Warfare School! 
 
Updates will be provided this winter for EWS Class of Academic Year 2026.