In Memoriam: Craig Symonds

Putting it plainly, Craig Symonds was a giant in the naval history community, and a one of the most well-respected scholars in the Civil War community. He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, spent decades teaching at the U.S. Naval Academy, and then retired from that role to then also teach at the U.S. Naval War College. In the classroom, he helped mold the minds of our nation’s prospective and serving officers, helping them contextualize our nation’s past to help them better serve it in the present.

His research was also the standard that we all seek to follow. Craig wrote or edited over a score of books that included naval histories, biographies, atlases, and edited primary documents. His work on the Civil War covered most of his published material, but Craig also devoted significant time recently to World War II. His many works won a host of awards including the prestigious Lincoln Prize. You can still hear him describe the battle of Gettysburg in the film’s director’s commentary and he served as an advisor for Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford in other films.

Emerging Civil War had the great pleasure to host Craig and his wife Marylou for our 2026 ECW Symposium. Craig served as a co-keynote speaker alongside his close friend Harold Holzer. Between each session, the crowd flocked Craig to speak with him, ask for an autograph, or to offer a kind word. One of the great honors I had at this year’s symposium was when I had the pleasure to introduce Craig before he gave his presentation comparing Admirals David Farragut and Franklin Buchanan.

I was shocked to learn of Craig’s passing on October 13, 2026, the day the Navy celebrates as its birthday. The naval history community is a close one, and news spread quickly as we all reached out to comfort one another and reminisce together. Over the years I had the pleasure of seeing Craig several times, most often at the U.S. Naval Academy’s McMullen Naval History Symposium. The first time I spoke at that conference, he sat in on my panel. I was personally thrilled he agreed to speak at our symposium and will now treasure the moments we got to spend together this past August.

From one old sailor to another, rest easy shipmate. Fair winds and following seas. From one historian to another, thank you for everything you have done to promote the historical field and the voices of emerging scholars.

– Neil P. Chatelain, Editor-in-Chief

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Several Emerging Civil War members have interacted with or worked alongside Craig over the years, and I am happy to share their reflections as well.

Joseph Ricci: I’ve seen a lot of online tributes for Craig Symonds since his passing. Universally, they mention his seventeen books, multiple awards, and accomplishments in the field. He was certainly a “titan” as so many have said, but I would like to submit a remembrance of a kind man who was generous with his time and passed along a great cocktail.

During the last season my podcast, Home Brew History, we ran a special series on the WWII Battle of Midway. I sent out emails to a dozen potential guests, all with their own accolades and prestige. “Craig Symonds, he’d never come on,” I told my co-host. I emphasized that it’d be huge if he even responded. I’d read several of his books and knew just how important and respected he was. We had spoken a handful of times before and needless to say I was somewhat starstruck.

Well, with crickets from the dozens of other guests I was shocked when he not only responded, but agreed to appear on the show! For almost two interrupted hours, he spoke about Chester Nimitz, carrier warfare, and command decisions at sea. It was an episode which the host joins along with the audience in total awe of a brilliant guest. In our signature “What’s in your Cup?” Segment, he shared Admiral Nimitz’s “CINCPAC Special” recipe. We laughed and probably talked for another hour. I logged off that night grateful for his time, kindness, and willingness to talk with students and enthusiasts about his life’s work.

He will certainly be missed but tonight I’ll raise a CINCPAC Special, thumb through Midway, and wish him fair winds and following seas.

 

Chris Kolakowski: There is a line from a movie about the true measure of a life being a man’s effect on the hearts and minds of those around him. Craig epitomizes that, as his loss touches so many in the history community.

Craig wrote excellent books about the Civil War. His WWII scholarship was just as good, and really added to some well known stories. He was an insightful storyteller.

His service at Annapolis and Newport helped stamp generations of naval leaders. He served his country with distinction.

Lastly, he was a true gentleman and scholar. I cherish my memories of sharing symposium podiums with him. He was outstanding and always approachable.

 

Evan Portman: I had the opportunity to spend some time with Craig and his wife Marylou at our annual symposium this August. They were both incredibly gracious and welcoming to a young historian like me. Not only did Craig indulge my questions about his time spent with actors Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford, he also talked to me about my interests, my life, and my future. For someone that has written a dozen books (and one of the real-life inspirations of Jack Ryan), I was impressed with how humble he was. I regret that our paths will not cross again, but I’ll be forever grateful for the short time I got to spend with him.

 

Dave Powell: I first met Craig when I helped lead a tour of Chickamauga for the Penn State Alumni group in 2007. He was a professor and published author, while I had not yet published a thing at the time. I was honored to meet him, because I was already a fan of his work. He will be sorely missed.

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At every ECW symposium, we also leave feedback forms on tables for guests to complete and we thought it was also appropriate to include what ECWs symposium guests thought about Craig. Here are some of the anonymous comments about Craig left by guests at the 2026 ECW Symposium for his presentation “Admirals in Blue and Gray: Farragut and Buchanan”:

• “If Craig Symonds is on the program, the speaker lineup is Craig and a bunch of dudes.”
• “Dynamic and always captivating. His level of expertise is unmatched.”
• “Obviously, the talk was fantastic”
• “A true professional.”
• “Terrific Talk. Super Speaker.”
• “Very entertaining and informative”
• “Educational, informative, and highly entertaining speaker”
• “Great speech. You could tell he taught for 30 years.”
• “Sets the standard for all presenters.”
• “Really enjoyed his sense of humor and the way that he involved the audience.”
• “Dynamite speaker.”
• “Dr. Symonds is wonderful.”