NHF Historian to Receive Recognition

By Wendy Paggiotta

It gives us great pleasure to share with you that retired Navy commander Dr. David F. Winkler, the Naval Historical Foundation’s historian for the past quarter century, will be honored with a Distinguished Service Award at the 11th annual National Maritime Awards Dinner on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at the historic National Press Club in Washington, DC. Vice Adm. Sean Buck, USN, Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy, has been invited to present the award. The dinner is sponsored by the National Maritime Historical Society (NMHS). NMHS has been the voice of America’s maritime heritage for almost 60 years.

The Society will also recognize the contributions made to our maritime heritage by honoring Lonnie G. Bunch III, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and Kristen L. Greenaway, president and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Dr. Winkler is a leader in the naval and maritime heritage communities. He served as the 2020–2021 Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Charles Lindbergh Fellow in Aerospace History following a year as the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1957 Chair of Naval Heritage. He continues to serve as the NHF’s staff historian and is an adjunct professor with the Naval War College’s College of Distance Education. Winkler holds a Ph.D. from American University, an M.A. from Washington University, and a B.A. from Penn State. A retired Surface Warfare Officer, having served a total of 28 years on active duty and in the reserves, Dr. Winkler has authored several significant books and has lectured internationally. For over two decades, his “Historical Perspective” column has been a popular feature in the Navy League’s Sea Power magazine, and he has published in numerous other journals including Sea History. He has served as the program chair for three Maritime Heritage Conferences, encouraging maritime professionals who work in every discipline in the field to join together to learn from and inspire each other. He has also performed committee work with the North American Society for Oceanic History, Naval Order of the United States, and “I’m deeply humbled by this Surface Navy Association and is past president of Oral History recognition and proud of the Mid-Atlantic Region (OHMAR). Naval Historical Foundation’s long-standing partnerships with Gary Jobson, America’s Cup winner and America’s “Ambassador of Sailing,” will organizations such as the National be the master of ceremonies. Maritime Historical Society, the U.S. Naval Institute, the U.S. Navy NMHS vice chairman Richardo Lopes and Voyage Digital Media will provide the video Memorial Foundation, Navy League introductions. Please join Rear of the U.S., Historic Naval Ships Association and other maritime Adm. Edward Sonny Masso, USN (Ret.), Executive Director of NHF, along with dinner heritage organizations. Together we co-chairs Amy Lent and Samuel all work to raise public awareness of the seas vital importance to the Byers, in this gala in celebration of Dr. Winkler’s remarkable contributions. To register please nation’s commence and security. I visit www.seahistory.org/ hope to see you on April 27th. “ washington2022 or contact me at vicepresident@seahistory.org for Dr. David Winkler more information.