Who was the strategic thinker and Naval War College professor?

The strategic thinker and Naval War College professor you're referring to is likely Alfred Thayer Mahan. He was a U.S. naval officer and historian whose ideas on naval strategy and the importance of sea power greatly influenced military strategy and international relations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His seminal work, "The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1660–1783," emphasized the critical role of naval dominance in achieving national greatness. Mahan's theories remain influential in maritime strategy and military education today.