Class of 1957

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HERITAGE CHAIR CURRENT EVENTS

2012-2013 Academic Year Occupant - James C. Bradford


EDUCATION:

Michigan State University, B.A., 1967; M.A., 1968 University of Virginia, Ph.D., 1976

FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION: Naval & Maritime History; American Revolution and
Early National Eras

EMPLOYMENT:
1981-Present Texas A&M University, Associate Professor: Teach Maritime History and Sea Power, American Sea Power, Age of Jefferson, Colonial America, World War II, and U.S. to 1877

1995-1997 Air War College, Visiting Professor: Taught Strategy, Doctrine and Air Power, World War II, and U.S. Naval History

1973-1981 United States Naval Academy, Assistant Professor: Taught Naval History: Ancient to the Modern World, Colonial America, U.S. 1763-1840, Western Civilization.

CURRENT RESEARCH/PROJECTS:

John Paul Jones: A Biography

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

BOOKS:

A Companion to American Military History, ed. Blackwell, forthcoming, 2009.

International Encyclopedia of Military History, 2 vols., ed. Routledge, 2006.

Atlas of American Military History, ed. Oxford University Press, 2003.

Quarterdeck and Bridge: Two Centuries of American Naval Leaders, ed.

Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1997.

Conflict Between Cultures: The Military Dimension, ed. Texas A&M University

Press, 1997.

Crucible of Empire: The Spanish-American War & Its Aftermath, ed .Naval

Institute Press, 1993.

Admirals of the New Steel Navy: Makers of the American Naval Tradition,

1880-1930, ed. Naval Institute Press, 1990. Chinese language ed., 1998.

Captains of the Old Steam Navy: Makers of the American Naval Tradition,

1840-1880, ed. Naval Institute Press, 1986.

2012-2013 Academic Year Fellowship in Naval History - Mr. Jon Hendrickson

Mr. Hendrickson submitted the below report on his year as our Research Fellow in Naval History to our Class Prez. It is publish here in order that all might have a better idea as to what our Class Gift is producing.

Report
Class of 1957 Postdoctoral Fellow In Naval History
Jon Hendrickson, 2012-13

My year as the Class of 1957 Postdoctoral Fellow was a great success on many levels. In the area of research, I prepared my dissertation, "'We are Now a Mediterranean Power': Naval Competition and Great Power Competition in the Mediterranean, 1905-1914," for publication, and it has just been accepted by the Naval Institute. They plan to publish it in the Spring of 2014, bringing that project to a close a hundred years after the events it described came to an end. The contacts I've made at the Naval Academy, in particular, the Class of 1957 Chair, James Bradford, have been instrumental in the success of this project. I have also conducted research on a pair of events that I encountered while writing my dissertation. The first, the court martial of Admiral Ernest Troubridge, forms the focal point of an article that I am currently in the process of rewriting. The basis of this rewrite came after the terrifically constructive criticism I received from the Department's Works in Progress forum. The help I received there set me on a very productive path. I also used the time granted by the fellowship to get my ducks in a row on another article -- that is, reviewing documents, looking into secondary literature, and other work -- on the role the Mediterranean played in the policies laid down by Theophile Delcasse, a French statesman that served as both the Foreign Minister and Naval Minister in the early 20th Century. And, most recently, James Bradford asked me to contribute a chapter to "America, Sea Power and the World," detailing how the US Navy reacted to the European naval races of the early 20th Century.
I also had the opportunity to teach two new classes. In the fall, I taught a group of fresh plebes the History of the US Navy, which was a terrific experience. In addition to the challenge of teaching a new class, which is always a challenge I enjoy, I got to watch a class of young people adapting to their new environment and learn how to fit themselves into the world of the Academy. It was an entertaining class, and I hope the plebes learned as much as I did. In the spring, I taught an upper division class on the First World War, which focused mostly on military history. In this class, I had the opportunity to, for the first time, teach history majors. This was another great experience for me, especially when one considers that the majority of my students were First Class Midshipmen, wrapping up their time at the Academy and preparing to enter the Fleet or the Marines. I was surprised by the lack of "senioritis," the disease that usually affects people in the last term of their college career. The class was pretty lively and interested in the subject, and any slowness was a result of my inexperience. I took the opportunity to try a new method of teaching a course, turning over a great deal of the class to students and allowing them and their research to drive the class, rather than writing a series of lectures. I learned a great deal from the class, and, if I have the opportunity to teach it again, those students will benefit from the hard work and lessons I learned from the Mids in that class.
Overall, my experience here at the Academy this year is not one I would trade for any other. Professionally, my research and teaching have improved dramatically since my arrival. Personally, I had a great time and made new friends in the faculty, and I look forward to seeing how the careers of the Mids I taught unfold. I had the opportunity to take in several sporting events -- particularly football games, but some boxing and basketball, too -- and see a little of life outside the classroom and Bancroft for Midshipmen. While only time will tell if I'll do the Class of 1957 proud by being the first Class Fellow in Naval History, I can safely say that I'll never forget the time their suppor