Peter H. Daly VADM, USN (Ret.)
Life Member and Member since 1978Annual Meeting & Member Reception Were Terrific
At our Annual Meeting held on 11 May in Washington, D.C., we reported the Naval Institute’s key 2016 results:
• We increased membership for the fifth year in a row—finishing 2016 with more than 51,000 members.
• We finished in the black for the fourth year in a row.
• We are making tremendous progress on our 2016–2018 Strategic Plan.
We were honored that Acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley gave the keynote remarks. He reminded us that the Naval Institute’s mission of providing an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write remains crucial to the profession and the advancement of ideas. Current events both at home and abroad demonstrate that U.S. sea power is as critical today as it has been at any time in our history. This is an important time to have a strong Naval Institute.
The Annual Meeting provided the opportunity to recognize publicly the Honorable Gordon England for the previously announced chair named in his honor. The Gordon England Chair of Professional Naval Literature directs the professional naval books program of the Naval Institute Press. The chair furthers the organization’s strategic initiative to become the preeminent source of information for professional advancement in the naval services. The chair also oversees the revision of many of the classic professional books while developing new titles to address the evolving duties of the nation’s Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen. We are all delighted that Lieutenant Commander Tom Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired), longtime Naval Institute Press editor and author, is the chair’s first incumbent.
We also announced the naming of the The James Stavridis Proceedings Chair. This chair will ensure we continue to identify issues important to the naval services and increase the dare factor for everything published in Proceedings. Admiral James Stavridis, U.S. Navy (Retired), our current serving Chair of the Naval Institute’s Board of Directors, truly embodies the organization’s mission, vision, and values. He dared to write for Proceedings at every commissioned rank. He has published more than 40 contributions in the magazine and authored six books published by the Naval Institute Press.
I am pleased to report that Fred Rainbow will be the first incumbent of the new Stavridis Chair. (With the April 2016 Proceedings, Fred returned as Editor-in-Chief of Proceedings.) Fred brings his intelligence, energy, and passion back to the magazine and leads a new editorial team. This past year was his 21st year as Editor-In-Chief! In 1975, Midshipman Stavridis asked a young Proceedings assistant editor for advice on the midshipman’s humor magazine The Log. That editor, Fred Rainbow, fresh from the fleet—cut a deal with Midshipman Stavridis: the editor would help the midshipman if the midshipman would help the editor make Proceedings better. Fred helped with The Log for maybe a year; more than 40 years later, Admiral Stavridis continues to make Proceedings better. It is fitting to honor Admiral Stavridis with the named Proceedings Chair and have Fred be the first person to hold the chair.
Perhaps most important, we recognized our award winners in several categories.
Press Author of the Year—Colonel William Reeder Jr., USA (Retired)
Naval History Author of the Year—Commander Alan D. Zimm, USN (Retired)
Proceedings Author of the Year—Lieutenant Colonel Frank G. Hoffman, USMCR (Retired)
General Prize Essay Contest Awards
Third Prize—Commander Benjamin “B. J.” Armstrong, USN
Second Prize—Captain Dale C. Rielage, USN
First Prize—Lieutenant (junior grade) Daniel Stefanus, USN
The Annual Meeting was followed by a wonderful reception where members and guests enjoyed one other’s company. The meeting and member reception were made possible by the generous sponsorships of USAA and Leonardo DRS.
To view any part of the Annual Meeting, go to www.usni.org/annualmeeting.
Dues Will Increase on 1 August
The Board of Directors voted on 3 November to raise dues for the first time in four years, to $65.00 a year for members receiving the hard copy of Proceedings. All other dues remain as before.
Please go to www.usni.org/membership to renew your membership for one or three years at the current rates.
Marine Corps Essay Contest Is Back
One of the key objectives of our Strategic Plan is to “advance naval professionals and their profession and develop future leaders.” I am pleased to report we are bringing back the Marine Corps Essay Contest. We are announcing it in this issue, and winners will be published in the November Proceedings. See the ad on the opposite page.
This essay contest is made possible through the support of three retired Marine officers: General Peter Pace, General John Allen, and Lieutenant General Wallace C. “Chip” Gregson. Our open, independent forum will serve an important role in fostering discussion of Marine Corps issues across all the Sea Services – and beyond.
Naval History Advisory Board Launches
We established a Naval Institute Naval History Advisory Board of distinguished historians to help us execute our Strategic Plan objective to “keep alive the lessons of naval history to benefit current and future generations.” The initiatives under this objective include: “capture more primary-source naval history and bring it to a broader audience”; “encourage and publish more naval historians”; and develop “partnerships with like-minded organizations.”
The Naval History Advisory Board met for the first time on 11 May. The members are:
• Dr. John B. Hattendorf, Ernest J. King Professor Emeritus of Maritime History, U.S. Naval War College
• James D. Hornfischer, author of many naval histories, including Neptune’s Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, The Story of the USS Houston, Fleet at Flood Tide, and The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
• Dr. Nicholas A. Lambert, visiting professor at the U.S. Naval Academy
• Dr. Scott Mobley, Class of 1957 Postdoctoral Research Fellow for History in Naval History, 2016–2017, at the U.S. Naval Academy, and author of Progressive in Navy Blue: Maritime Strategy, American Empire, and Transformation of U.S. Naval Identity, 1873–1898, to be published soon by the Naval Institute Press
• Dr. Craig Lee Symonds, retired professor and chairman of the U.S. Naval Academy’s History Department, a distinguished historian of the American Civil War and maritime history, and author of Lincoln and His Admirals, which received the Lincoln Prize
In addition, retired Navy Rear Admiral Samuel Cox, director, Naval History and Heritage Command, and Curator of the Navy, serves as a liaison to the board.
The first meeting provided thoughtful insights. The board members and members of the Institute’s senior staff exchanged information, perceptions, and suggestions/recommendations to make the Naval Institute’s service to the naval profession and members stronger.
Sponsor Memberships for Future Leaders
Five years ago, a handful of dedicated members came together to support an idea to ensure our future Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers are exposed to the incredible resources – intellectual, deliberative, and historical – of the Naval Institute. By introducing the rising generation to the Naval Institute and Proceedings magazine early in their naval careers and encouraging them to dare to read, think, speak, and write, the Naval Institute prepares future officers to advance as leaders of their profession. The Proceedings archive, oral histories, and professional books give these young men and women a competitive edge and introduce them to critical thinking about the profession they will put to use over many years.
As the new academic year approaches, now is the time to consider sponsoring the students in your Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit, Naval Academy company, or Coast Guard company. Contact Heather Lancaster at [email protected] for additional information.
Sign Up Now for Three-Year Membership and Save
On 1 August, the U.S. Naval Institute will raise annual dues for regular membership to $65 per year/$166 for three years. Sign up now to extend your membership at the current rate—$148.