Dr. Bernard Cole

Bernard D. Cole served from 1965-1995 as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy, including tours as Commanding Officer of USS RATHBURNE (FF1057) and Commander, Destroyer Squadron 35. He served as an NGLO with the Third Marine Division in Vietnam in 1967-1968, including serving at Khe Sanh during the Tet Offensive.

He has written many articles and book chapters, and eight books about Asian security and energy issues, most recently China’s Quest for Great Power: Ships, Oil, and Foreign Policy, published in November 2016. Cole was named U.S. Naval Institute Press “Author of the Year” for 2014. His first novel, Red Shark at Sea: A Novel About the Chinese Navy, was published in March 2023.

Cole served as a Professor of Maritime Strategy at the National War College from 1995 to 2015, He also led many student and faculty delegations to China.

Cole then taught for two years at Georgetown University and currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Center for Naval Analyses. He has lectured widely throughout the United States and internationally.

Cole earned an A.B. in History (University of North Carolina), M.P.A. in National Security Affairs (University of Washington), and Ph.D. in History (Auburn University).