The Naval Review has a 54-year history. It started in 1962 as an annual hardback publication that looked very much like a book. Frank Uhlig, Jr., was the editor of the first edition and the next 18. The thinking at the Naval Review’s beginning was:
. . . the world’s largest navy deserved and needed a dignified, annual publication. Through such a publication, an attempt could be made to realize two aims: to summarize for the World the Navy’s achievements each year; and to analyze critically the year’s work.
In 1970, the Naval Review became the May issue of Proceedings, but its content and look remained much like the earlier editions until 1982 when Frank left the Naval Institute to become the editor-in-chief of the Naval War College Review, and Paul Stillwell became the Naval Review’s editor. Under Paul’s editorship the Naval Review retained some reporting of the past year’s naval operations and developments and valuable reference information and delivered standard Proceedings content. In 1988, when Paul became the Naval Institute’s oral historian, the Naval Review truly returned as the May Proceedings, produced by the magazine’s staff.
This year’s edition seeks to inform, challenge, and advance discussions of issues critical to the naval profession. As promised in the April issue, we want you readers and members to get to know better some of the people who are the secret strength behind Proceedings content.
Commander Guy (Bus) Snodgrass, U.S. Navy, is the author of this year’s “U.S. Naval Aviation and Weapons Development in Review.” Bus is the commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 195. He also is the magazine’s “Professional Notes” editor. Bus is helping identify authors and issues to make Proceedings as relevant to the naval profession as it can be.
Captain Kevin Eyer, U.S. Navy (Retired), who commanded three Navy cruisers and wrote many edgy Proceedings articles over the years, now has the monthly column “Charting a Course.” Kevin is charged to take on issues to assist naval professionals and their profession to advance and develop future leaders. Kevin also gives voice to some who, because of their current positions, may feel constrained to write for Proceedings or just do not feel comfortable writing.
In this issue we have a contribution by a stalwart author and a longtime adviser to Proceedings, retired Marine Reserve Lieutenant Colonel/Doctor Frank Hoffman. Frank’s lead article won second prize in the Innovation & Risk Essay Contest sponsored with Engility. He has authored some of the best articles Proceedings has published and has the rare ability to identify an issue important to the naval profession, give that issue context, and advance the discussion while at the same time challenging others to engage.
Finally, Tom Cutler in his “Lest We Forget” column features retired Navy Vice Admiral Robert F. Dunn. Admiral Dunn has written for Proceedings and Naval History (recognized at the Annual Meeting as its Author of the Year). He now has written a book that will be published by the Naval Institute Press in spring 2017. On active duty, Admiral Dunn was one of the Naval Institute’s best Editorial Board Chairmen. He led by action and deed.
Fred H. Rainbow
Editor-in-Chief
Life Member since 1976