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NHF Looking to Hire Development Director

The Naval Historical Foundation (NHF) seeks a full-time Development Director who will support the Navy's premier non-profit historical organization by being responsible for fundraising (outright and planned gifts) and membership growth. The Development Director will be responsible for strategy and implementation of programs related to the NHF's fundraising initiatives. This position is based in Washington, D.C., at the Washington Navy Yard. The Development Director reports directly to the Executive Director of the Naval Historical Foundation.

 

The successful candidate will have three to five (3-5) years' experience in fundraising activities related to the tasks defined above with relevant training and recognition by established professional organizations.  A bachelor's degree is required. The Development Director should be mature, poised, and articulate with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, especially the ability to listen effectively, write clearly, and speak to groups. He/she must be well organized, attentive to detail, able to work independently, and meet deadlines. The successful candidate should have or demonstrate an ability to build a working knowledge of the U.S. Navy's organization, history, culture and values as well as be proficient in computer-based and online search and database tools.

 

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume with three confidential references to Executive Director Captain Charles T. Creekman, USN (Ret.) at ccreekman@navyhistory.org.

 

Deadline for submissions is 15 July 2012.

NHF Donates War of 1812 Navy Pistol to NHHC
 

The Naval History and Heritage Command at the Washington Navy Yard has an extensive collection of historic arms. It includes weapons from the early 18th century all the way through today. But it was recently determined that the collection had a significant gap from one of our Navy's earliest conflicts: the War of 1812.

 

With this year's War of 1812 Bicentennial Commemoration picking up steam under US Navy direction, the Naval Historical Foundation decided to look for an opportunity to acquire an appropriate firearm from that period for the Navy's collection, for study and for possible future display. Receiving word of a U.S. Navy model flintlock pistol being made available through the Rock Island Auction Company, the Foundation contacted the auction house and got involved in the bidding. This pistol was made by John Shuler as a result of a contract from the U.S. Navy in 1814/15, where he used parts from his 1808 Army contract and parts furnished by Schuylkill Arsenal to assemble the Navy contract flintlock pistols. Some parts were made in Great Britain with British proof marks evident. The pistol was inspected by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Edward Trenchard, and his inspector "ET" initials are on the left stock flat.  Fortunately, NHF was the successful bidder for the pistol.

 

On 18 May, the pistol was gifted to the Navy by NHF Chairman, Admiral Bruce DeMars, USN (Ret). Accepting on behalf of the Navy was NHHC Director, Captain Jerry Hendrix, and Frank Thompson, Head of the NHHC Curator Branch. The pistol will be accessioned and prepared for storage in the recently re-organized NHHC Weapons Armory.

 

Attendees of the NHF Annual Meeting this Saturday 23 June will have a special opportunity to view the pistol on display. 

USNA Class of 1951 Raises $51,000 for Cold War Gallery
 

The Cold War enveloped the Naval Academy Class of 1951. As they entered upon their four years of education and training in Annapolis the words of Winston Churchill's Iron Curtain speech still echoed in Bancroft Hall. After four years they graduated and were commissioned as ensigns and second lieutenants in the Navy, Marines and Air Force just in time to join in the Korean War. Through numerous confrontations and crises afterwards the class stood in the forefront of American resolve to meet and parry Soviet inspired crises around the world including Lebanon, Cuba the Tachens, Lebanon and in the Mediterranean and more. In the Vietnam War the class led as ship and squadron commanding officers and Marine battalion commanders. Meanwhile Class of '51 submariners shadowed Soviet attack submarines and SSBNs. In short, they formed a centerpiece of American efforts in confrontation with the Soviets and their allies.

 

To memorialize those efforts and their classmates who lost their lives, the Naval Academy Class of 1951 has raised and contributed $51,000 to the building of the Navy's Cold War Gallery annex to the National Museum of the United States Navy in the Washington Navy Yard. For their generosity, all unsolicited, the Naval Historical Foundation extends heartfelt thanks and challenges other Cold War veterans groups to do likewise.

CNO and Symonds Talks Highlight 2012 Midway Dinner
 

On 2 June at the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia, some 200 guests gathered to salute seven veterans in attendance, and the memories of  thousands more, who fought in one of the greatest battles in naval history - the Battle of Midway.

 

This year's Commemoration Committee consisted of the Naval Historical Foundation, the Navy League of the United States, the United States Navy Memorial Foundation, the Naval Order of the United States, the Surface Navy Association, the Tailhook Association, the Association of the United States Navy, and the Association of Naval Aviation. 

 

At the dinner, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert and noted naval historian  Dr. Craig Symonds linked the 70^th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Midway with the 200^th anniversary commemoration of the War of 1812 (read the full text of Dr. Symonds' speech here, or watch the video here).  Both noted the significance of these struggles in American and world history, with many scholars arguing that the War of 1812 was the second war for American independence and that World War II propelled the United States into the world leadership role it fulfills today.

 

Both men highlighted the audacity of the Americans in the two conflicts in their willingness to take on an enemy against overwhelming odds. In his remarks, the CNO stressed the importance of superior equipment, training, readiness and leadership as hallmarks of both the War of 1812 and Midway that remain germane for today's Navy.  

 

During the dinner, seven Midway veterans were presented with special 70^th anniversary commemorative coins that the Dinner Committee commissioned especially for this year's events.  

2012 Beach Naval History Award: Midshipman Zach Schwartz
 
Continuing a 10-year tradition, the Naval Historical Foundation on 24 May 2012 presented the Captain Edward L. Beach, Jr. Naval History Award to Midshipman First Class Zachary D. Schwartz, for his contributions to the study of naval and military history during his four years at the U.S. Naval Academy. Assisting NHF Executive Director with the presentation was Mrs. Ingrid Beach, widow of Capt. Beach for whom the award is named. Ned Beach was a highly decorated World War II submariner; noted author of "Run Silent, Run Deep" and many other Navy-related fiction and non-fiction works; commanding officer of USS Triton during her 1960 circumnavigation of the earth while submerged; and long-time NHF director. Capt Creekman and Mrs. Beach were joined by Tom Cutler of the U.S. Naval Institute, recognizing the long association between USNI and Captains Beach senior and junior-manifested in the naming of the Naval Institute's headquarters building at Annapolis, "Beach Hall."

Award winner Midshipman Zach Schwartz hails from Olney, Maryland and was commissioned as a Marine Corps Second Lieutenant on 29 May with the Class of 2012. He will report to Marine Corps Basic School at Quantico, VA in July to begin his career as an infantry officer. Schwartz, a marathon runner, spent his final semester at USN working on an independent study project with Dr. Craig Symonds on Civil War naval officer William B. Cushing, noted for his daring attack on Confederate Navy ironclad CSS Albemarle in October 1864. Lieutenant Cushing's innovative raid presaged the special operations approach to warfare that would develop 100 years later. In addition to an engraved plaque, Schwartz will receive lifetime membership in the Naval Historical Foundation and a selection of books from the Foundation and the Naval Institute - including one authored by Beach himself.

U.S. Navy Commemorates War of 1812 in Baltimore 

 

Monday was the 200th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of war against Britain, and the start of the War of 1812. The U.S. Navy marked the day with commemorations around the country. The city of Baltimore hosted a "Star Spangled Sailabration" to remember the role it played during the war. Over the weekend, the U.S. Navy put on quite a show on the water and in the skies above Baltimore. The Blue Angels performed two separate shows, and Naval Special Warfare Command (Navy SEALs) performed multiple demonstrations on the waters around Fort McHenry. The U.S. Navy Band performed for huge crowds, and fireworks shows lit up the night skies over Baltimore. Additionally, sailing tall ships and modern grey hull warships have been on display and open for public tours since last week, and begin departing Tuesday.

 

The Naval Historical Foundation is an official partner of Star Spangled 200, the Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission. We have been fortunate enough to attend several of the events over the past few days, and we wanted to share some photos of the great performances this weekend by Navy and Marines Corps aviators, and Special Warfare operators. You can see some of the photos on our blog, and we have lots more on our Facebook page, check them out and enjoy!

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