The United States Naval Institute (USNI) is a private non-profit military association that offers independent, nonpartisan forums for debate of national security issues.

Established in 1873, the Naval Institute claimed "almost 50,000 members" in 2020,[2] mostly active and retired personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Naval Academy's Department of Physics and Chemistry building in Annapolis to discuss, among other topics, the implications of a smaller post-Civil War Navy.

[3] In 1874, the Naval Institute began to accept papers and publish the proceedings of its discussions, which were distributed to the organization's members.

[4] The press eventually expanded to publish more general-interest titles in history, biography, and current affairs.

Naval Institute opened a conference center with a 406-seat auditorium, reception spaces, an indoor/outdoor rooftop terrace, five meeting rooms, and a broadcast studio.

It is named for Jack C. Taylor, a decorated World War II U.S. Navy fighter pilot who founded Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Issues include articles from military professionals and civilian experts, historical essays, book reviews, full-color photography, and reader commentary.

Naval Institute holds more than 450,000 images of people, ships and aircraft from all branches of the armed forces.

Naval Institute's oral history program preserves the reminiscences of numerous American military figures, including USAAF General Jimmy Doolittle, Admirals Arleigh Burke and Chester W. Nimitz.