Vice Admiral Benedict J. Semmes, Jr., came to the presidency of the College with thirteen years as a flag officer and many years in top-level Navy Department administration, having served as Chief of the Bureau of Naval Personnel and Commander, Second Fleet. He was no stranger to Newport, having served as commander of the Cruiser-Destroyer force, Atlantic, 1963-1964, and during that time he lectured on more than one occasion at the Naval War College. During his tour as the College's thirty-sixth president, the College shifted its emphasis away from foreign and international affairs to management concepts in keeping with the prevailing notions in Washington.
