Education

With more than fifty years of combined experience with the U.S. Navy and academia, Professor Hattendorf is an applauded historian and educator affiliated with the U.S. Naval War College, located in Newport, R.I. Following eight years of uniformed service, the college appointed him a civilian assistant professor in 1977 and he eventually rose to full professor in 1983, and, in 1984, to the Ernest J. King Chair of Maritime History. After occupying that that professorship for 32 years, he was appointed to professor emeritus in 2016. In addition, Professor Hattendorf served as director, Advanced Research Department, 1988-2003; director, Naval War College Museum, and chairman, Maritime History Department, 2003-2016.

As a writer, lecturer, and a leader in his field, Professor Hattendorf has shared his expertise around the globe. He served as visiting professor of military and naval history at the National University of Singapore from 1981 to 1983, was visiting scholar at the German Armed Forces Military History Office, 1990-91, and a visiting scholar at Oxford University, 1986 and 2001-02. He additionally served as Director, Munson Institute of American Maritime Studies, 1996-2001; President, North American Society for Oceanic History, 2004- 2006; Vice President, Hakluyt Society, 1997-2002; founder and first President, American Friends of the Hakluyt Society, 1998-2006; member of council, Navy Records Society, 1995-98, 2003-05; and Vice-President, International Commission for Maritime History, 1995- 2000. Additionally, he provides volunteer national and community service by serving as the Historian-General, Naval Order of the United States, 2014-2019; Chairman, Publications Committee, Newport Historical Society, 1989- pres.; Historian, Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati, 2016- pres.; Historian, Rhode Island Sons of the Revolution, 2016- pres.; and Historian, Rhode Society of Colonial Wars, 2016-pres. Furthermore, he has been honored as a corresponding member of the Society of Nautical Research (UK), the Académie du Var (France); the Academia de Marinha (Portugal), and the Kunglia Örlogsmannasällskapet (Sweden).

Professor Hattendorf has been the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of nearly fifty books and numerous articles, including editor-in-chief of the multi-volume “Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History,” author of “The Evolution of the U.S Navy’s Maritime Strategy, 1977-1986” co-author of “America and the Sea: A Maritime History,” and co-editor of “The Limitations of Military Power: Essays Presented to Professor Norman Gibbs.” He has received many awards for his scholarship. In recognition of his exemplary service to the U.S. Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy, presented him the U.S. Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award in 2016.

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