ECW Honors Neil Chatelain with 2026 Emory Upton Award

Emerging Civil War is pleased to announce Neil Chatelain as the recipient of ECW’s 2026 Emory Upton Award. The Upton Award is presented to a member of the Emerging Civil War community in recognition of outstanding service to ECW.

Chatelain joined ECW in July 2017. His area of expertise concentrates on Civil War naval operations along the Mississippi River, although he writes frequently about broader Civil War naval history. Chatelain is a veteran of the U.S. Navy—a perspective that often informs his scholarship.

“Neil’s tenure as chair of editorial board has reaffirmed our commitment to helping ‘emerging voices,’ not only cultivating new talent but nurturing our current stable of writers,” explains ECW’s Chris Mackowski, former editor-in-chief. “As I began thinking about transitioning out of my role as president, Neil seemed the natural choice to take over. He has been the rock-steady right hand for me since. It might be a scary thing to turn my ‘baby’ over to someone else, but I’m completely confident in Neil’s steady hand and cool head. ECW is where it is because of his work.”

Jon Tracey served as editorial board chair when Chatelain first began submitting guests almost a decade ago. “It has been so impressive watching him begin as a guest author, move on to the review board himself, and then take a place in leadership all while still producing posts and other scholarship,” Tracey remembers. “He helped drag the ECW average a bit away from Virginia and writes stories that take us out onto the water, always reminding us there’s more to the war than we might think. Can’t wait to see where ECW goes with him at the helm.”

Chatelain is associate professor of history at Lone Star College-North Harris who specializes in researching naval activity of the U.S. Civil War.

Having spent nine years in the US Navy, Neil deployed around the world, earning a surface warfare officer designation. He has also earned a MA in history from the University of Louisiana-Monroe, a MEd in history and social studies curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston, and a BA in history and political science from the University of New Orleans.

Neil authored the books This Great Contest Afloat: The Civil War on the Seas, Coastline, Rivers, and Oceans, Treasure and Empire in the Civil War: The Panama Route, the West and the Campaigns to Control America’s Mineral Wealth, Defending the Arteries of Rebellion: Confederate Naval Operations in the Mississippi River Valley, 1861-1865, and Fought Like Devils: The Confederate Gunboat McRae. He has also written for numerous peer-reviewed journals and popular magazines, and has spoken at history conferences, history organizations, and Civil War round tables.

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Neil and his wife Brittany live in Humble, Texas. They enjoy travelling across the United States and around the world. More information about Neil’s research interests and publications can be found at his website: www.neilpchatelain.com.

The Upton Award is named for Brig. Gen. Emory Upton, a member of the West Point Class of 1861 who earned a reputation in the U.S. Army as an innovator. Previous recipients of the award include Patrick Kelly-Fischer and Brian Swartz; Tim Talbott; Chris Heisey; Dan Welch; Paige Gibbons Backus; Rob Orrison; Sarah Kay Bierle; Kristopher D. White; Jennifer Mackowski; and Chris Mackowski.