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Naval War College receives Minister of the Federal Court of Accounts of the Brazilian Union, Augusto Nardes
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Naval War College receives Minister of the Federal Court of Accounts of the Brazilian Union, Augusto Nardes

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October 20, 2025
Naval War College receives Minister of the Federal Court of Accounts of the Brazilian Union, Augusto Nardes

by Claudia Cataldi, international correspondent

On October 3, the Naval War College (EGN) welcomed Minister Augusto Nardes, of the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), for an institutional visit that strengthened the integration between public governance and the strategic thinking of National Defense. The minister was received by the EGN Director, Rear Admiral Gustavo Leite Cypriano Neves, alongside officers from the three Armed Forces, faculty members, business leaders, and students of the School, in a meeting that highlighted the importance of cooperation among State institutions dedicated to sound management, transparency, innovation, defense, and security. On the occasion, the Minister delivered the lecture “Public Governance: Brazil’s Challenge,” in which he addressed advances, ongoing challenges, and the need for alignment among governance, ethics, and strategy to bolster national institutions.

Subsequently, the minister visited the facilities of EGN’s War Games Center, an indispensable tool for training officers of the Brazilian Navy, designed to develop military power capabilities in highly complex environments. The space combines applied research, a computerized simulation system, and planning at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels, through controlled interactions that contribute to improving interoperability among the Armed Forces and strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to crises, among other outcomes. Minister Nardes underscored the relevance of the institution and of the Brazilian Navy to the Brazilian State: “The Naval War College is an institution of unquestionable importance for maritime culture and national security. The work carried out at the War Games Center demonstrates how science, technology, innovation, responsibility, and public governance can move forward together in the search for solutions to the challenges facing the Nation.”

Rear Admiral Cypriano highlighted the opportunity to host the Minister on board and emphasized the role of EGN, particularly the War Games Center, as a teaching instrument for thinking through the preparation and employment of Brazilian naval power: “It is important for our faculty and students to absorb the knowledge and experience of Minister Nardes, who has served at the TCU since September 20, 2005, dealing with issues of external control and governance for the benefit of society and the growing prominence of Brazil on the world stage. Likewise, the visit allowed us to point out the importance that Navy bodies place on internal control, both in their administrative structure and in the training of their personnel—many holding master’s and doctoral degrees in the field—aimed at constant improvement and the strengthening of institutional ties with that Court. We also take pride in presenting a portion of the capabilities inherent to EGN’s War Games Center, a tool that can be widely applied in the preparation of military personnel and other State officials, in a variety of planning efforts for operations with entities inside and outside the Force.”

During the visit, Minister Nardes met Admiral of the Fleet (Marine Corps) Paulo Martino Zuccaro, President of the Navy’s Center for Political-Strategic Studies (CEPE-MB), a think tank with a recognized contribution to the formulation of maritime policy, and praised CEPE’s capacity to integrate future initiatives aimed at bringing Defense and Public Governance closer together, reinforcing the importance of continuing this dialogue. Admiral Zuccaro commented on the significance of the meeting: “The rapprochement between oversight institutions and the Armed Forces strengthens the Brazilian State, with a view to expanding its military capability so as to make it, as quickly as possible, compatible with the country’s geopolitical stature and the growing volatility of the international system. It is through the exchange of experiences and the construction of indicators and metrics based on current threats and those identifiable on the horizon of foreseeability that the true dimension of the challenge can be seen: to endow Brazil with the military power it is incumbent upon it to possess.”

Also present was Major General (Ret.) Ricardo Rodrigues Canhaci, CEO of the Brazilian War Material Industry (IMBEL), which recently signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement between IMBEL and the Rede Governança Brasil (RGB). He emphasized the importance of the integration between governance and defense: “IMBEL is committed to best governance practices, seeking to ensure the highest level of corporate integrity and ethics in its performance in the Defense and Security market. The closer relationship with the Rede Governança Brasil is a guarantee of sustainable growth and the strengthening of the Company’s credibility. Being at the Naval War College today, alongside Minister Nardes, is to witness the union of good governance with the national commitment to Defense—foundations that uphold national sovereignty,” he stated.

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The event also featured the presence of the Director of the Latin American Institute of Public Governance and Compliance (IGCP), Henrique Farinon, the institution that supports the Rede Governança Brasil (RGB). In his remarks, Farinon noted that IGCP’s participation at the Naval War College symbolizes the convergence between the civil and military spheres around a common purpose: strengthening the Brazilian State. “The presence of IGCP in this environment reinforces the value of interinstitutional cooperation and highlights the role of the Naval War College as a center of excellence, capable of uniting technical knowledge, a forward-looking vision, ethical commitment, and academic excellence.”

In a symbolic act marking the close of the visit, the minister signed the Naval War College’s Visitors’ Book, a register reserved for distinguished guests who have made significant contributions to strengthening the strategic thinking and institutional relations of the Brazilian Navy. The agenda was marked by high-level debates and demonstrations of the War Games Center’s capabilities, reaffirming the role of the Naval War College as an institution of excellence in the country and a reference in Latin America, standing out as a promoter of debate on issues relevant to Defense, the State, Society, and Public Governance.

Naval War College receives Minister of the Federal Court of Accounts of the Brazilian Union, Augusto Nardes

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