Editor's Page

With profound sadness, I have resigned as a member of the Naval Institute's professional staff and as the editor of this fine publication with this issue of Proceedings. I have had the opportunity and the pleasure to contribute in a series of positions that matched well with my sense of the Naval Institute's duty and service to the profession of arms. It has been a wonderful run, and I depart with fond memories of some significant accomplishments and many small ones, and with few regrets.

The single greatest reward for me has been to work closely with so many fine, dedicated people. I have the greatest respect for all of those authors and seminar participants who have dared to think, read, speak, and write to make the profession better. To write for publication and speak in public are daunting endeavors—especially for a serving military professional. It is much easier and safer to remain silent and hope someone else will address the issues in need of attention. I have worked with individuals who have stood for principles and to make things better.

It is a dangerous venture to name individuals when attempting to recognize special contributions because inevitably one misses important, deserving people. To those special people I fail to mention here, please know I wrote this column under the stress of a deadline working on my last Proceedings after 360 issues of this great monthly and 100 issues of Naval History. As anyone who knows me can testify, I sweat every issue's deadline, but this one has been the most difficult one of all. I have elected to create five categories of contributors. While many individuals belong in more than one single group, I have listed no one more than once.

Of the approximately 14,500 Proceedings contributors and 3,000 Naval History writers we have published while I have been with these magazines, the following made special contributions: Dave Adams, Joe Alexander, Randy Bowdish, Lawson Brigham, John Byron, Dave Carlson, Ralph Chatham, Steve Cohen, Roger Crossland, Jack Cushman, Peter Deutermann, Larry DiRita, Dave Evans, Steve Flynn, Norman Friedman, Bruce Fleming, George Galdorisi, Neil Golightly, James Goldrick, Eric Grove, Ken Hagan, John Hattendorf, Jerry Holland, Tom Hone, Chris Johnson, Jim Kelly, Bill Luti, Jerry Miller, Dan Moore, Chuck Myers, Bob Mumford, Hays Parks, Kevin Peppe, Norman Polmar, Gerry Roncolato, Art Van Saun, Paul Schratz, Chuck Spinney, Bruce Stubbs, B. W. Stone, Jan van Tol, Bill Toti, Scott Truver, Milan Vego, Ty Wooldridge, and Bud Zumwalt.

On the seminar front, the following individuals helped bring Proceedings issues alive in public events around the country: Walt Boomer, Herb Browne, Mike Carns, Art Cebrowski, Vern Clark, Richard Danzig, Gordon England, Joe Galloway, Hank Giffin, Al Gray, David Hartman, John Hillen, Frank Hoffman, Jim Hull, Frank Kelso, Al Krekich, John Lehman, Jim Loy, Tom Lynch, Jim Mattis, Carl Mundy, Bob Natter, Ron O'Rourke, Bill Owens, Ralph Peters, Charlie Plumb, Colin Powell, Tom Ricks, Bob Scales, Terry Scott, Snuffy Smith, Harry Summers, Peter Swartz, Bob Timberg, Mick Trainor, Paul Van Riper, Jim Webb, Bob Woodward, Herman Wouk, Paul Yost, Dov Zakheim, and Tony Zinni.

Obviously I had less to do with the fine efforts of the Naval Institute Press. Still, the following book authors made signature contributions: Dave Baker, Ned Beach, Ward Carroll, Tom Clancy, Stephen Coonts, Tom Cutler, Andrew Jampoler, Yogi Kaufman, Ed Miller, Barrett Tillman, Jack Sweetman, and Eric Wertheim.

I also had the opportunity to work closely with those dedicated professionals who have gone the extra distance to serve on the Naval Institute's Board of Directors, Editorial Board, and Board of Trustees. Members' service on these Boards has been critical to making the Naval Institute the unique internationally recognized independent professional organization it is. Many members of these Boards, at great risk to themselves and their careers, have stood tall and defended the organization's editorial independence when it has been challenged. These individuals deserve a special place in the Naval Institute's and the profession's hall of honor. Those individuals who served on these Boards who most impressed me with their devotion to the profession and by their integrity include: Fred Ames, Stan Arthur, Chuck Beers, Dan Bowler, Mark Brilakis, Matt Caulfield, Pete Daly, Bob Dunn, Phil Dur, Dennis Fargo, Bill Hamblet, Al Konetzni, John Lockard, Bill Mack, Proton McLaughlin, Jim Stavridis, Howie Thorsen, Carlisle Trost, Tom Wilkerson, and Sid Wallace.

There is another category of quality people who have contributed in unique ways that do not fit neatly in the groupings above, but their roles have had either profound impact on Proceedings, this editor, or both. They include: Peter Abbott, Diana Bailey, Peter Braestrup, Tom Brooks, Dave Burgess, Lawrence Clark, Walt Davis, Joe DiRenzo, John Dubia, Tom Freeman, Gene Fidell, John T. Hayward, Jim Hessman, John Greenwood, John Gresham, Bob Knapp, Bob Lawson, Stu Landersman, Fred Lewis, Joe Metcalf, Wes McDonald, Jim McIngvale, Chris Michel, Steve Millikin, John Morgan, Becky Nolan, Dave Parsons, Gordy Peterson, Earle Rogers, Sandra Schaffer, Eric Smith, R. G. Smith, William Smith, Paul Tobin, Joe Taussig, Alex Watt, Tommy Wilson, Jim Wise, and Greg Zingler.

Finally, there is the professional staff. Over the years members of this staff have served with the same commitment and drive exhibited by the best on active duty defending this nation. Many members of the professional staff, from varied backgrounds and experiences, come to embrace the Naval Institute's mission and work as hard as they can to execute that mission in support of the Naval Institute's members and all those in the profession of arms. Among the fine staff members who took the extra time to mentor me and help keep the team focused on the key issues are the following: Jim Barber, Clay Barrow, Bud Bowler, Barbara Broadhurst, Jim Burke, Kim Couranz, Jaci Day, Liese Doherty, Jean Ellinger, Karen Eskew, Mark Gatlin, Abby Grebasch, Mac Greeley, Betsy Judge, Gordy Keiser, Patty Maddocks, Carol Mason, Dr. Mason, Kirk McAlexander, Mary Kay Meilunas, John Miller, Rae Morgan, Julie Olver, Dick Seamon, Fred Schultz, Jerry Sears, Laurie Stearns, Faith Stewart, Paul Stillwell, Jean Tullier, Frank Uhlig, Jen Wallace, Kristine Wilcox, and Tim Wooldridge.

As one who has spent a career working with those advocating changes of some sort—because few who are motivated to write want to maintain the status quo—I appreciate the need for change. In my experience, effective and successful change is achieved when the process and communication related to it are open and engage all vested potential participants. Such an approach ensures that fundamental changes receive the very best thinking and consideration possible. It offers the opportunity to build a consensus for action. I encourage the Naval Institute's members, Board, and professional staff to keep the lines of communication open and responsive to the profession of arms.

As my final word it is an honor to announce my relief as editor-in-chief of Proceedings is Robert Timberg. Bob is a superior professional and wonderful person. A graduate of the Naval Academy, he served on active duty in the Marine Corps. A reporter, writer, and editor, Bob most recently was the Washington deputy bureau chief for The Baltimore Sun. He has written three books—including The Nightingale's Song and State of Grace: A Memoir of Twilight Time (reviewed in the February Proceedings). I know Bob will serve the Proceedings forum well.