The Naval Institute's fall seminar season is in full swing. Forum 2003, our second full-day program in Washington, D.C., hosted with the Marine Corps Association, will focus on: "How Do We Overhaul the Nation's Defense to Win the Next War?" Last year, we sold out, filling 500 seats. This year, on 4 September, we expect more than 650 attendees, including the entire faculty and student body from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico, Virginia.
We owe thanks to our sponsors, who are helping make Forum 2003 possible:
- Executive Sponsors: Northrop Grumman, Raytheon
- Corporate Sponsors: BAE Systems North America, Battelle, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Tex-Shield
- Patron Sponsors: Bell Helicopter, General Dynamics, United Defense LP
- Reception Sponsor: EDS
On 8–9 October, plan to attend the Naval Institute's Eighth Annual Warfare Exposition and Symposium in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where speakers—featuring Chief of Naval Operations Vern Clark—and panelists will discuss "Lessons from the Desert Wars."
Also mark 3–5 February 2004 on your calendars for West 2004 in San Diego, California.
Clearly the Naval Institute's seminar program brings together military professionals and industry experts to discuss and solve the key questions and issues concerning the nation's defense. In a new initiative, Battelle goes one step further by teaming with the Naval Institute to foster writing on technology and innovation issues in Proceedings. Battelle will underwrite additional pages for the magazine and award the Battelle Prize for Writing on Technology and Innovation for the best article on these topics published in Proceedings in 2003. The prize will be awarded at West 2004.
Naval Institute-sponsored symposia and seminars also offer opportunities for organizers of other meetings, such as ship and squadron reunions, to add extra energy to their events and possibly reduce costs. Reunions and meetings scheduled to coincide or overlap with our events give veterans the chance to keep abreast of new developments and current thinking while retaining all the benefits of renewing old friendships. Sometimes combining efforts can generate cost savings. Consider linking up with Naval Institute events and use our online reunions service to post reunion notices, search for reunions and shipmates, and sign up as an attendee.
Against this backdrop of activity, the Search Committee is fully engaged in its task to find the right Chief Executive Officer/Publisher to lead the Naval Institute. The 29 July Wall Street Journal published a short feature and commissioned original art highlighting our opening, and more than 140 candidates have applied. The word is out that this is a great opportunity and an important position that contributes significantly to the health of the profession of arms.