Western Naval History Association Symposium

Professors Craig Symonds and Mark Fiorey participated in the inaugural Western Naval History Association Symposium, “Expanding Naval History” held at the Veterans Museum at Balboa Park, San Diego, California on February 15-16, 2019.

The purpose of the symposium was to gather naval historians, academic and popular authors and naval scholars to discuss their discipline and to share ideas, energy and information.

Professor Sam Tangerdi facilitated the “Authors Round Table” to discuss views on writing naval history and the process of getting published. Following the sharing of ideas, Tangredi led the panel in a question and answer session.

Craig Symonds, the Ernest J. King professor of maritime history at the U.S. Naval War College (NWC) presented a paper titled “The Importance of Operational Naval History.” Symonds also participated in the author’s roundtable to discuss views on writing naval history and the process of getting published. Following the sharing of ideas, the roundtable finished with a question and answer session.

Professor Mark Fiorey presented a paper on the former West Coast Naval War College that was located in San Diego in 1921 and on U.S. Navy Capt. Dudley W. Knox and the fight for education during the period 1919-1922. Additionally, Fiorey gave a brief on the current status and future vision of the NWC Hattendorf Historical Center to include the maritime history certificate program.

Other scholars in attendance included: Retired Rear Adm. James Goldrick, Vincent P. O’Hara, retired Navy Capt. and professor Bernard Cole, Thomas J. Cutler, retired Navy Capt. and professor Sam Tangredi, professor Cynthia Watson, Michael Whitby and Trent Hone.