Navy Historical Research, Writing Academic Awards

Admiral Sims & group, January 16, 2024 (original)

The Navy Historical Research, Writing Academic Award Winners were announced last week. The people were selected as winners.

The Rear Adm. John D. Hayes Pre-doctoral Fellowship in U.S. Navy History, named in honor of the Hayes for his enthusiastic encouragement of naval scholars and his own significant contributions to the field, was awarded to Alan M. Anderson, a doctoral candidate at King's College, London. Anderson received the fellowship for a study analyzing the impact of laws of war on naval strategy in Great Britain and the United States, 1899-1909. His dissertation shows a deeper understanding of interrelationships between new technologies and the laws of war, particularly regarding autonomous attack systems. NHHC will provide Anderson $10,000 aid for dissertation research and writing.

The Rear Adm. Ernest M. Eller Graduate Research Grant, named in honor of a former Director of Naval History, for his contributions to U.S. naval history, was awarded to Steven T. Wills, doctoral student, Ohio University. Wills proposes to study of the effects of the 1980's naval grand strategy on the Reagan Administration. The NHHC committee was impressed by the quality of Mr. Wills' select list of key individuals he will interview. NHHC awarded Wills a stipend in an amount up to $2,500.

Vice Adm. Edwin B. Hooper Research Grant, named in honor of a former Director of Naval History, for his great contributions to U. S. naval history, was awarded to William F. Althoff, for a history of lighter-than-air aircraft in the U.S. Navy during the early Cold War (1945-1962). Althoff's study proposes to examine the research and development of the aircraft in the nuclear age, as well as the challenges of operation and command experienced by Navy personnel. An understanding of why the Navy abandoned this technology during the Cold War could be useful to Navy planners considering its future potential. Althoff will be paid up to $2,500 by NHHC after commencement of research.

The Samuel Eliot Morison Supplemental Scholarship, named after Rear Adm. Samuel Eliot Morison, USNR, an eminent naval and maritime historian and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, was awarded to Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin F. Armstrong, USN. Armstrong will receive the scholarship to support research on his doctoral dissertation, examining in tactical detail case studies of irregular warfare by the U.S. Navy in the age of sail. With the increase in the proportion of littoral combat ships and other small combatants in the fleet -- portending greater responsibility at lower levels of command -- irregular warfare is likely to retain its relevance. Armstrong's study looks to give junior officers knowledge of the Navy's heritage in the types of operations for which they will have responsibility, and help contextualize the Navy's experience in recent small wars. Armstrong was awarded the scholarship by NHHC up to $5,000.

Two things were noting.

First, I was pleasantly surprised to see the Rear Adm. Ernest M. Eller Graduate Research Grant awarded to Steven T. Wills. I was unaware of his selection for this award until after Steven joined the team here at Information Dissemination as a regular contributor - Lazarus.

Second, The Samuel Eliot Morison Supplemental Scholarship was awarded to Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin F. Armstrong, USN, who has contributed to Information Dissemination in the past. I intend to do a review of his latest book 21st Century Mahan: Sound Military Conclusions for the Modern Era later this week.

Congratulations to both of you!

Actually, all of you.