Editor's Page

The Coast Guard Essay Contest is back—and you can see for yourself the value of this effort by reading the three prize-winning essays in this issue. In all cases, the authors take on critical issues, lay out the challenges, and offer solutions. As with all essay contests sponsored by the Naval Institute, the Coast Guard Essay Contest is judged by the Editorial Board. The authors’ names are not known to the Board or to the editorial professional staff until the judging is complete. All the winners this year are Coast Guard professionals: Captain Bruce Stubbs, Captain Steven Vanderplas, and Ensigns Greg Lynch and Neal Corbin.

For 13 years, the Naval Institute sponsored the Coast Guard Essay Contest independently, but because of increasing publishing and administrative costs, a few years ago we began to seek cosponsors for our whole series of contests. We are pleased that Integrated Coast Guard Systems, LLC, has stepped forward to join us in encouraging writing that advances the discussion of issues important to the Coast Guard, homeland security, and national defense. The deadline for next year’s contest is 1 May 2005.

In a unique teaming enterprise, the Naval Institute, Johns Hopkins University, and the Royal Uniformed Services Institute are sponsoring a three-pronged effort—a seminar series, essay contest (see page 24), and book—to examine the principles of war. The seminar series kicked off with an opening challenge by the Director of Transformation for the Department of Defense, retired Vice Admiral Art Cebrowski; an operator’s perspective delivered by former Fifth Fleet Commander Admiral Tim Keating; and an address by retired Army Major General Bob Scales, coauthor of The Iraq War: A Military History. The prizes for the Principles of War Essay Contest are significant and are funded by individual donations to the Naval Institute Foundation. The book resulting from this intellectual churn will be published by the Naval Institute Press next fall.

All this good news is tempered by the departures of three important members of the Naval Institute’s team: Kirk McAlexander, Naval Institute Foundation Executive Director, Betsy Judge, Public Relations Director, and Rebecca Hinds, Naval Institute Press Production Editor. Under Kirk’s five years of leadership, the Foundation transformed from minor player to a mainstream contributor, raising almost $2 million in gifts, including some $800,000 in direct support to Naval Institute operations. Betsy redefined public relations for the Naval Institute and set a standard of professionalism, energy, and effort to which we all hope to aspire. Rebecca was instrumental in keeping nearly 90 book titles running through the production pipeline each year to members and other book buyers. These professionals and friends will be missed.

Recently joining our staff are four impressive professionals: Linda O’Doughda, Naval Institute Press’s new Managing Editor; Jon Youngdahl, Public Relations Director; Deborah Oxnam, Naval Institute Deputy Foundation Director; and Dewitt Roseborough, Photo Archivist.

Finally, please plan to join us for our next two symposia: Forum 2004, 7 September in Arlington, Virginia (see page 63); and Warfare 2004, 29-30 September in Virginia Beach (see page 73). In addition to the three service chiefs, confirmed participants include Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, Dov Zakheim, Admiral James Loy, Harlan Ullman, Lieutenant General Bernard Trainor, and Major General Robert Scales.