The N. G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy[a] is the main staff college and postgraduate institution for the Russian Navy and is located in Saint Petersburg.

In 1827 Admiral Ivan Kruzenshtern initiated an Officers' Class at the Naval Cadet Corps.

However, only 68 years later, in 1826, did the famous admiral and seafarer Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern propose the establishment of the earliest organizational precursor to today's Naval Academy - the "Advanced Officers' Class" (Вышие офицерский класс) of the Russian Navy which were opened on 25 April 1827 under the Naval Corps.

[2] By the 7 August 1862 order of the Naval Minister, the Officers' Class was transformed into the newly established Academic Course of Maritime Sciences having a two-year period of study and divided into three departments: hydrographic, shipbuilding, and mechanical.

The graduates of the course provided the navy with scientific officers for the fleets and instructors for the Naval Cadet Corps.

In 1946 the Courses transitioned to a peacetime work regime and received the name they carry today - Navy Advanced Special Officers' Classes (Вышие спецальные офицерские классы ВМФ).

The basic aspect of training is that it covers what is directly and practically required now and in the immediate future by the fleet.