As the Annual Meeting approaches, it is time to recognize people who have given their time and service to the Naval Institute.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the following Board of Directors Members who have completed their terms. Service on the Board is voluntary and not-compensated, and all these professionals were vigorously engaged and immensely productive in helping further the Naval Institute’s mission over the past six years—some of the most successful years in this organization’s long history!
We thank and say farewell to:
We acknowledge the service of RDML Fred Kacher, USN, who left the Board of Directors upon his well-deserved promotion to flag rank in mid-2017. Fred, both a Press and Proceedings author, informally has led a “young leaders” group that has helped enliven the forum with contributions by active-duty hard-chargers.
We hail our newly elected Board Members who will take office effective 2 May:
The Naval Institute Foundation, led by retired Marine General Peter Pace, is strengthened by the recent wonderful addition of Ms. Marti Rodamaker as the organization’s newest trustee.
There are farewells and hails on our all-important Editorial Board, which is the heart of the Naval Institute’s open forum. We farewell the following: LtCol Amy M. McGrath, USMC; SgtMaj David L. Maddux Jr., USMC; CDR Brian Smicklas, USCG; and LCDR Jeffrey J. McLean, USN—who all made invaluable contributions.
We welcome the following new Editorial Board Members:
People often ask what I like best about serving at the Naval Institute. Without question, it is the opportunity to continue to work with excellent people in the Sea Services who believe in the mission of the Naval Institute. The individuals above represent some of the very finest who serve on active duty and continue to serve the profession through engagement with the Naval Institute. We thank them all!
Writing Defines the Institute
The Naval Institute cosponsors or sponsors at least 15 essay contests and writing awards. Because the winning essays of the General Prize Essay Contest are published in this Naval Review and are an important part of the content of this issue, I have asked that this contest be addressed in the “Editor’s Page.” Still, I would be remiss not to point out that this wonderful 138-year competition is endowed by a very generous gift from Andrew and Barbara Taylor.
With the Marine Expeditionary School (EWS), we present a writing award—in the past called the General James Mattis Award; now renamed the Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune Award—to recognize excellent writing and thinking in each EWS class. The winner this year is Captain Andrew Mirsch, USMC, for “Man the Boats: An Argument for Reviving the Small Boat Company.”
The Naval Institute also has worked with the Naval Academy Class of 1945 to recognize midshipmen in each of the main warfare communities. This year’s winners are:
Finally, we announce the winner in the contest that we cosponsor with the Naval Postgraduate School. This year’s winner is Major Anthony Pollman, USMC (Ret.), for “Framing Marine Corps Culture.”