Originally established in July 1995, the MCA and the Marine Corps Gazette renewed our stewardship of the Distinguished Authors Program in 2023 with formalized criteria, certificates for the recipients, and a commemorative “perpetual award” maintained in the Gazette’s offices.

The criteria to qualify for the certificate are to have published a minimum of ten articles in the Gazette and to have accomplished one of the following achievements: placing in one of the Gazette’s annual writing contests, having at least one article published in another professional military journal, or publishing a book as either the primary author or as a contributing author, or editor.

The program will be a fixture of the MCA’s Annual Meeting. The leadership of the MCA and the Gazette fully expect this program to grow, and we invite all frequent contributors to the Gazette who believe they meet the established criteria to contact the Gazette Editorial Offices. Our intent is that recognition in this exclusive group of authors serves as an incentive to continue the Corps’ tradition of professional discourse and to inspire future thought leaders in our Corps.

The following are members of the Distinguished Authors Program:

LtCol R. Scott Moore

LtGen Bernard E. “Mick” Trainor

Col Mark F. Cancian

Maj John F Schmitt

Col Jon T. Hoffman

Col Thomas X. “T.X.” Hammes

LtCol Frank G. Hoffman

Maj Paul L. Stokes

Col Eric L. Chase

Col Scott A. Cuomo

LtCol Brian A. Kerg.

LtCol Arun Shankar

Maj Michael A. Hanson

Capt Walker D. Mills

The 2024 inductees into the Distinguished Authors Program are as follows.

Col Thomas C. Greenwood (Retired)

Col Greenwood is currently a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses. He was an Infantry Officer who commanded the 15th MEU (Special Operations Capable), served as Director of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and completed multiple assignments in the Pentagon and on the National Security Council staff.

He has had eighteen articles published in the Gazette between 1980 and 2024. Highlights include his first published article “Improving Antiarmor Defense” from June 1980, and his most recent article “Technology and the Nature of War: Four vignettes” in the February 2024 edition of the Gazette.

Col Greenwood’s other Published works include: “The Elusive Quest for Victory in War” published by the United States Naval Institute’s Proceedings, October 2021.

Col Michael J. Jernigan (Retired)

Col Jernigan served as a Combat Engineer Officer. He has a total of nineteen articles published in the Gazette over the course of 24 years. Highlights include his first article published in 1997 “Marine Doom” and his most recent article from the November 2021 edition “Leadership Lessons from PFCs.” He has placed in multiple writing contests including three First Place awards and two Honorable Mentions in the annual LtGen Robert E. Hogaboom Leadership Essay Contest; First Place in the MajGen Harold W. Chase Prize Essay Contest, and Second Place as a co-author in the 2015 LtCol Earl “Pete” Ellis Essay Contest.

Col Jernigan has been published twelve time in other professional journals including the United States Naval Institute’s Proceeding (including 2nd place in the 2005 Marine Essay Contest), JFQ (formerly Joint Forces Quarterly), The Hawaii Marine newspaper, The C4SRI Journal, and the Chief of Staff Journal. He has also contributed chapters to Military Leadership:

In Pursuit of Excellence, 5th Edition (Taylor and Francis) and U. S. Marines in Afghanistan, 2010-2014 (History Division United States Marine Corps).

Col Maria S. McMillen

Col McMillen is a Logistics Officer and Operational Planner. She has had twelve articles published in the Gazette between 2008 and 2024. Her works have placed in several Writing Contests including “Seizing the Opportunity to Change” from Nov 2012: First Place in the annual MajGen Harold W. Chase Prize Essay Contest; “Army Generals, Expert Riflemen, Rogue Reporters, and Devil Dogs” from June 2018: Third Place in Belleau Wood 100th Anniversary Essay Contest. Other award-winning works include “Flicker Operations & Modular Teaming” Second Place in the 2021 LtCol Earl “Pete” Ellis Essay Contest, and “Preparing for War” Honorable Mention in the 2022 LtCol Earl “Pete” Ellis Essay Contest. Col McMillen was also published in Leatherneck Magazine of the Marines: “The Life of Lieutenant General Frank E, Petersen Jr.. The Marine Corps’ First Black Aviator” from February 2023.