The Naval War College Foundation is set to honor retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. with the 2025 Sentinel of the Sea Award, an accolade recognizing individuals whose efforts mirror the values of the U.S. Naval War College, as reported by Ohio State News. The award ceremony will take place on Nov. 6 at the New York Yacht Club in New York City, where distinguished guests and supporters will gather to celebrate Carter's national defense and educational endeavors.
Having served 38 years in the U.S. Navy, Carter not only accumulated over 6,300 flight hours but also became the record holder for carrier-arrested landings, his career encompassed a series of significant roles including his tenure as the 54th president of the U.S. Naval War College and the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy where he was honored with the Distinguished Graduate Award, his accomplishments and attributed to his longstanding commitment to service and education within the naval forces; he also contributed to Navy-wide leadership and ethics training, the result of which was reflected in his influential white paper "Ethics in the Navy."
“I’m deeply humbled and grateful to the Naval War College Foundation for this extraordinary honor,” Carter expressed in a statement obtained by Ohio State News. He emphasized his lifelong commitment to serving the country through avenues of naval strategy and leadership and shared his reverence for past recipients of the award which includes notable figures such as retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis and Medal of Honor recipients like Woody Williams and David G. Bellavia.
Since his departure from active military service, Carter's journey led him to high-profile academic leadership positions—first as the president of the University of Nebraska System where he championed research innovation and expanded the medical education statewide and, since January 2024, as Ohio State's 17th president, during which Nebraska ranked among the world's top 100 institutions for research patents, he further has served on several esteemed boards including the American Council on Education and the U.S. Council on Competitiveness, these roles substantiate his continued dedication to fostering leadership and progress both in military and civilian spheres.
The upcoming gala hosted by the NWCF is expected to draw attention to not just Carter's individual achievements but the larger tradition of service exemplified by those in naval leadership. Retired U.S. Navy Capt. George E. Lang, Jr., the current president and CEO of the NWCF, who has had the privilege of serving with Carter, lauded his strong character and ability to cultivate future leaders, which Lang believes makes him an ideal fit for the Sentinel of the Sea Award, according to his remarks in the Ohio State News interview.
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