Annual 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 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.