Three former service and cabinet secretaries. Six four-star officers. A former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. A National Book Award winner. The former chairman and chief executive of Avon Products. Mike Krzyzewski.
Our clients tell you what it was like to work with us. This page is different (and it does not represent all our titles; it’s a sample).
These are people with no stake in the outcome — no invoice, no manuscript of their own in the balance — who read a finished book we published and agreed to put their name on it. Several of them have run the institutions our authors served in.
We did not solicit a single one of these for this page. They are printed in the books.
IF CONFIRMED: An Insider’s View of the National Security Confirmation Process
Major General Arnold L. Punaro, USMC (Ret.)
Endorsed by General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., General James N. Mattis, General David H. Petraeus, General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.), Dr. Mark T. Esper, and Jeh Charles Johnson — among more:
“The selection and preparation of nominees for top positions at DOD is a mixture of science and art. It is also a mysterious process, even for Beltway insiders—until now. Arnold Punaro always tackles topics in military affairs that are under-examined. In this case, he covers subjects that literally no one in the world knows more about: the processes of nominating, confirming, and appointing top brass at the Pentagon. These are important topics, considering that every American has an intrinsic interest in leadership selection outcomes at the nation’s largest, most complicated, and by many measures, most important agency.” —Dr. Matthew Auer, Dean and Arch Professor of Public and International Affairs, School of Public and International Affairs, University of Georgia.
“With If Confirmed, General Punaro masterfully distills the wisdom and insights accumulated from a career intimately involved in the confirmation of thousands of civilian and military leaders. I have seen General Punaro’s candor save-the-day repeatedly over the years. Whether for nominees, policy enthusiasts, or public servants, this book is an essential primer on the history and inner workings of a critical component of American governance.” —The Honorable Barbara Barrett, Former Secretary of the Air Force; Former Ambassador to Finland.
“There is literally no one alive better able to comment on the nomination and confirmation process in both the Executive and Legislative Branches for military and civilian nominees who must pass through the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate floor. I also served as the staff director of the Armed Services Committee, and I relied on Arnold’s expertise and advice to help me navigate the complicated and, at times, very difficult process of guiding or stopping nominees from confirmation. He is simply the master. None better, in my opinion. Arnold has a command of the history, back door deals, trials, and process rules that no one else can claim. This is a must-read book for those wishing to be confirmed and those trying to help them achieve that goal.” —John Bonsell, Former Staff Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“The Senate’s confirmation power is found in a brief clause of the Constitution’s Article One. In today’s Washington, the process now requires a complex legal and political navigation for even the most qualified candidates nominated to serve. No guide is more experienced or knowledgeable than Arnold Punaro, and If Confirmed is must reading for citizens and candidates wanting to understand what exactly is ‘advise and consent.’” —The Honorable Rudy De Leon, Senior Fellow of National Security & International Policy, Center for American Progress; Former Deputy Secretary of Defense; Former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; Former Under Secretary of the Air Force; Former Staff Director of the House Armed Services Committee.
“There is no one who has a better understanding of the Senate confirmation process than Arnold Punaro. He has assisted countless senior officials in navigating the process. I was fortunate to be one of the individuals he coached, mentored, and prepared for Senate confirmation hearings. I found his counsel to be “pure gold.” Those interested in the process will find this book informative. For those willing to serve in a confirmed position and preparing for a hearing, this book demystifies the process and provides invaluable insight. It reflects Arnold’s decades of experience, his deep understanding of the process and the Senate, and his gift for clarity.” —General Joe Dunford, USMC (Ret); Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Former Commandant of the Marine Corps.
“Leave it to Washington’s most trusted expert to identify a significant gap in knowledge and so masterfully provide vital insight for those seeking to lead federal agencies at the commander-in-chief’s request. There is no better or more respected practitioner with such unparalleled views deep from the policy foxholes of Washington, D.C., on the intricacies of the Senate confirmation process than the intrepid Arnold Punaro. A trusted colleague to all, Arnold’s shared wisdom built on a 40-year proficiency of intimately shepherding novices through the good, bad, and the ugly of the confirmation process is the key that will unlock the doors to many futures in the next generation.”—Mackenzie Eaglen, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute.
“Arnold Punaro’s nearly 50 years of experience and expertise in this arena is unmatched. Navigating the Senate confirmation process can be daunting without the right support. Thanks to Arnold and his team, I was well prepared for my own hearings to become secretary of the Army and secretary of defense. More importantly, Arnold has always worked in a bipartisan fashion with senior military and civilian nominees alike to do what’s best for our country. I can think of no better person to write this much-needed book.” —The Honorable Dr. Mark Esper, Former Secretary of Defense; Former Secretary of the Army.
“The confirmation process has become torturous. Arnold Punaro has participated in this from every possible direction. If Confirmed is valuable, either for surviving the current process or as a guide to improve it going forward.” —The Honorable John J. Hamre, Ph.D., President, CEO and Langone Chair in American Leadership of Center for Strategic and International Studies; Former Deputy Secretary of Defense; Former Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller.
“If you are interested in understanding, guiding others in navigating, or are participating yourself as a nominee in the oft-bewildering, sometimes maddening, but absolutely critical Senate confirmation process for defense officials, there is absolutely no individual with more experience, knowledge, insights, or field craft regarding every part of the process than Arnold Punaro. You want him in your foxhole and this fine book puts him there with you. Arnold helped me in my own nomination process and then in successfully winning confirmation of countless nominees to Department of Defense positions thereafter, including no shortage of politically fraught and procedurally challenging instances. He is a master.” —The Honorable Stephen Hedger, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs; Former Special Assistant to the President for Senate Affairs.
“I can’t think of anyone better than Washington insider Arnold Punaro to outline the do’s, the don’t’s as well as the good, bad and ugly of the confirmation process. From his time in the Senate to his time in the military to his time as an advisor helping thousands of nominees, Punaro knows the process from the inside out. If Confirmed offers a must-read history and playbook for anyone wishing to serve at the highest levels of government.” —The Honorable Debbie Lee James, Former Secretary of the Air Force; Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; Former President of Technical and Engineering Sector, SAIC.
“If Confirmed is an unprecedented, one-of-a-kind guide to navigate the Senate confirmation process, written by a genuine master of that process. I have been through three Senate confirmations, and there is no better coach than General Arnold Punaro. Arnold knows the issues, the process, the personalities who run the process, and the minefields to avoid. When necessary, Arnold is not afraid to cut a presidential nominee down to size in preparation for cross-examination by a United States senator. I have been ‘murdered’ by Arnold more than once and lived to talk about the experience. Above all, Arnold is the consummate Washington insider, who, year after year, knows everything and everybody in the close-knit national security community.” —The Honorable Jeh Johnson, Former Secretary of Homeland Security; Former Department of Defense General Counsel; Former General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force.
“I have known and served with the author since 1979 and know of no one who has so willingly and consistently given freely of his time and effort to making our national security organizations better. His first two books are “must read and retain” efforts, and this one is no different. In fact, because it touches on the thousands of candidates for public office who require Senate confirmation, this book is, at once, an expert education of one of the most important rites of passage to government positions, and it also reveals the intensely personal pressures and results of the confirmation process itself. There have been those who turned down the opportunity for a trial run by the author and his committee of experts. Most have lived to regret that decision. The overwhelming majority of those who subjected themselves to this advanced course of confirmation preparation, sometimes more than once, were successful in being confirmed. Put this book on your bookshelf for future use, either for yourself or perhaps for someone you know who has been nominated to an office that requires U.S. Senate confirmation.” —General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret); Former U.S. National Security Advisor; 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps; Former Commander, U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
“Arnold Punaro’s experience in the layered world of Senate confirmations is singular, spanning multiple administrations. A trusted advisor to generations of Department of Defense leaders, he has helped countless officials navigate the unpredictable politics and sometimes difficult process of getting through the U.S. Senate. This is the book that Arnold had to write, as there is no equal to the experience, perspective, and insight that he brings to this issue.” —Louis Lauter, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs.
“In If Confirmed, Arnold Punaro gives an informed insider’s account of the history of the Senate confirmation process for nominees in the national security world, as well as providing a guide for current nominees and suggestions on how to make the system work more effectively. We need our most dedicated and talented people to serve in these important Senate-confirmed positions, and if our confirmation system continues to become more sclerotic and less productive, it will harm our ability to attract and retain the right people for these demanding jobs. If Confirmed is a comprehensive look at a topic that is as important as it is complex.” —The Honorable General James N. Mattis, USMC (Ret); Former Secretary of Defense; Former Commander of U.S. Central Command.
“Every nominee, and potential nominee, needs to read and heed Arnold Punaro’s sage advice. His deep and diverse career of service at the very highest levels of the Senate and the Pentagon brings him unparalleled insight and an unmatched understanding of the often uncertain and politically charged confirmation journey. Arnold’s prudent counsel has singularly ensured countless nominees successfully navigated their Senate confirmation with ease—ensuring needed continuity of key national security posts across administrations and party lines.” —Laura McAleer, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Senate Affairs; Former National Security Advisor at the U.S. Senate; Associate Vice President, Federal & Washington Relations at the University of Notre Dame.
“Arnold Punaro is unparalleled in his knowledge of the Senate confirmation process and his ability to prepare a political or uniformed nominee to testify in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.” —The Honorable Ryan D. McCarthy, Former Secretary of the Army; Former Under Secretary of the Army.
“If Confirmed provides a rare glimpse behind the curtain into a process with far-reaching national security implications. Any prospective nominee would be well-served by examining Arnold Punaro’s lessons learned and strategies for navigating Senate confirmations. Demystifying pathways into government service, especially with respect to the Senate confirmation process, will help ensure that our nation has qualified candidates prepared to serve at the highest levels.” —Jamie Jones Miller, CEO and Dean, Northeastern University Arlington Campus; former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs.
“A few times in your life, you find the expert in an area where only a very few exist. Arnold Punaro spent a greater part of his career helping others, including myself, get confirmed by the United States Senate for all matters regarding our national security. Beforehand, he was the lead in determining who would “be anointed” by the Senate Armed Services Committee for literally every Senate-confirmed position in the Department of Defense. Arnold is a culmination of experience and knowledge in this daunting process. His work to bring in the very best to serve our country continues today. Anyone going through it, either as a nominee or one who works to get highly qualified people into these critical government positions, will serve themselves well to read this book.” —The Honorable Jim Morhard, Former Deputy NASA Administrator; Former Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate; Former Staff Director, Senate Appropriations Committee.
“I am one of the many who benefited from Arnold Punaro’s preparation for a confirmation hearing. In my case, to be secretary of Veterans Affairs. His long history with and deep knowledge of the process was evident. This book, If Confirmed, is a wonderful contribution to those who are called upon to serve our country. It is valuable in context, expectation setting, and for framing one’s thoughts in responding to the many stakeholders in the nomination and confirmation process. Arnold Punaro is singularly qualified to bring all aspects of the process together, which he does in this readable and eminently useful book. It is a “must read” for any embarking on the journey of service in the Executive Branch.” —The Honorable James B. Peake, M.D. Lieutenant General, USA (Ret.); Senior Vice President, CGI Federal; former Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
“The ultimate guide on the confirmation process from the ultimate guide through it! Arnold Punaro brings unmatched experience, expertise, and insights to this subject. I benefited from his wisdom and guidance in preparing for four Senate confirmations (as well as several high-stakes hearings), and this book will be invaluable to any nominee for high office or any individual helping a nominee navigate the confirmation process.” —The Honorable General David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.); former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, U.S. Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan; Former Director of the CIA; Co-author (with Andrew Roberts) of Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine.
“Arnold Punaro has amassed a lifetime of wisdom in the process of Senate confirmation. With well over a half-century of service to our nation, he shares that wisdom in If Confirmed. This book is indispensable for anyone set to embark on that process or interested in this critical function of the American government.” —The Honorable Patrick Shanahan, Former Deputy Secretary of Defense.
“The Senate confirmation process has become more contentious over time, and yet, we need capable leaders who can enter public service and take on the challenging roles facing our nation. There is no more qualified servant to the nation than Arnold Punaro in preparing leaders for this grueling process. Punaro has the experience, expertise, and reputation for developing nominees to engage this process with legitimacy and a focus on the benefits they will contribute to the country. Punaro’s book will become THE source for preparing and fulfilling the responsibilities of this important and increasingly difficult process.” —Dr. David M. Van Slyke, Dean and Louis A. Bantle Chair in Business-Government Policy, The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University.
“General Punaro has shepherded my confirmations from assistant secretary to the cabinet. In my first tour at the Pentagon, I put the nomination of Robert Gates in his safe hands. No one knows the history and traditions of the Senate nor has better relationships on both sides of the aisle than Arnold Punaro. He is a patriot and a Washington institution. The trust he has from conservatives and liberals harkens back to a better, more civil time in the nation’s capital. Wish there were more like him.” —The Honorable Robert Wilkie, Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Arnold since the early 1970s and sat with him on the ‘murder board’ process. In addition to a unique commitment to wanting to make the DOD and government work better, what sets Arnold apart in my mind are his remarkable instincts to understand relevant issues and shape them to reach better outcomes. When he brings these talents to help the extremely capable people nominated for senior positions in the government improve their prospects for confirmation in the contentious atmosphere, such nominations are too often considered, and the country benefits.” —The Honorable Kim Wincup, Former Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition; Former Staff Director of the House Armed Services Committee.
Ever Vigilant: Leadership and Legacy
Dr. J. Phillip “Jack” London, Former Executive Chairman, CACI International Inc. (NYSE)
“Fresh out of the US Navy as a naval aviator, Jack London joins a small IT firm as one of 35 employees. In short order, he is CEO and spends 50 years growing one of America’s most dynamic, innovative, and successful Fortune 500 companies. EVER VIGILANT is quintessential London, written in the clear, direct, often blunt, always honest way that he spoke. This memoir, not surprisingly, is so much more than a life well led but a prescription on how to live a good life! Jack’s journey is the story of adventure, daring, extraordinary moral courage, love of country, family and faith, an everyday example of character-driven leadership.” —General Jack Keane, USA (Ret.), National Security Analyst, Chairman, Institute for the Study of War
“This superlative book is a compelling narrative about winning and achieving. In reading this book, you will see how Jack London, a patriot and former military officer, became a legend in the United States government contracting industry. Through his unique vision and leadership, he steadily grew CACI International over fifty years into a multinational information technology company to support some of America’s most important and critical work. As his friend and fellow Naval Academy alumnus, we shared many similar ideas about leading and growing organizations, from surrounding ourselves with the best people to knowing when to take risks to win big.” —Roger Staubach, Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys quarterback, U.S. Naval Academy ‘65
“In this book, Dr. London describes his journey as an entrepreneurial leader, as he built CACI from a modest start into a Fortune 500 company. This book is essential for those who want to think big and achieve big accomplishments in their lives. Dr. London shows how vision, persistence, and determination lead to success. His inspirational leadership is why I joined the CACI Board of Directors. As a director, I watched Dr. London shape the future of CACI in a highly competitive industry, all the while building wealth for shareholders. Above all, Jack London was a patriotic American who shows in this book how American business initiative and leadership are good for America. This book is a must-read for aspiring leaders and builders.” —Ambassador James S. Gilmore III, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)(2019 – 2021)
“I just finished reading the draft of Jack’s memoirs, and I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to reread it. I believe it will be an inspiration to anyone who aspires to success in the business world, the military, or in their life pursuits. The transitions from pure biographical events to lessons learned in building a business make the book quite readable and educational. Jack has blended together a biography, a history of CACI, a philosophy, and a love story that reads like a novel. I think this book will be of terrific value to its readers and perhaps even spawn another Jack London in the future.” —Admiral Robert H. Shumaker, USN (Ret.), Former Vietnam Prisoner of War
Decisions, Discord, and Diplomacy: From Cairo to Kabul
Admiral William J. Fallon, USN (Ret.)
FOREWORD by John F. Lehman — former Secretary of the U.S. Navy
The United States’ long historical involvement in the Middle East has deep roots, going back to the first Barbary War in 1801. Its modern history began with President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s meeting with King Abdulaziz, the founder of Saudi Arabia, on the deck of the cruiser USS QUINCY in the Great Bitter Lake of the Suez Canal in February 1945. Another Navy warship, the destroyer USS MURPHY, facilitated the Saudi monarch’s movement to the meeting as well. From these nautical beginnings, the U.S. relationships with Middle Eastern states evolved through the Cold War confrontations with the Soviet Navy, the Arab-Israeli wars, and ultimately, to the 1980s, with U.S. naval forces often serving as the primary interlocutors for U.S. interests. Real U.S. combat involvement in the region began in the 1980s, coinciding with my service as Secretary of the Navy, and again, naval forces were in the vanguard of those operations.
The 1980s marked the beginning of nearly 40 years of continuous U.S. direct military involvement in the region. A few U.S. military or naval officers engaged in those operations over the entirety of their careers, which makes Admiral William “Fox” Fallon’s new book Decisions, Discord, and Diplomacy, From Cairo to Kabul essential reading for those seeking to understand the long-term effects of that engagement. Fallon actively served in U.S. naval aviation combat units from the time of the Iran Hostage rescue mission of 1979 through the 1991 Gulf War. He was one of the first of the most elite aviators to command an air wing as the “Super CAG,” commanding Carrier Air Wing Eight from USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT during 1991 strikes on Iraq and later, having been promoted to Rear Admiral, led the ROOSEVELT Carrier Strike Group during operations in the former Yugoslavia in 1995 and 1996.
His shore-based assignments are no less informative. He spent time on the ground in Saudi Arabia as a liaison officer serving in the OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT Joint Task Force. He also worked with the Kurds in the wake of DESERT STORM. He was the Navy Vice Chief of Naval Operations during the 9/11 attacks on New York and the Pentagon. He later commanded the Atlantic Fleet and Fleet Forces during OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Service as Pacific Commander (PACOM) followed, and his career concluded as Commander of Central Command (CENTCOM) from 2007 to 2008. Few officers have commanded at so many levels in the Middle East as Fox Fallon had before assuming the role of CENTCOM, and he has a story to tell on that service that unfolds in his book.
That story begins with the decision to invade and conduct regime change in Iraq, a choice Fallon says had been decided long before evidence was in place to support that move and in the absence of any concept of what would happen after the Saddam Hussein regime was toppled. He details his arguments with the Bush Administration on how to address the CENTCOM region of responsibility, as opposed to just focusing on the problem within Iraq.
Fallon had broad discretion to function as the Pacific (PACOM) Commander, but he rapidly found himself under scrutiny in CENTCOM, with the Bush Administration intensely focused on his command choices and decisions. In true naval officer fashion, Fallon set out to view the region in a strategic sense but ran afoul of a presidential administration and the Army command in Baghdad, which wanted to run an Iraq campaign at a very discrete theater level. As Fallon relates, local Army staff response to a fact-finding mission, the Admiral dispatched to Iraq:
“Believe me, he (Fallon) knows nothing about this AOR,” and “Tell your boss get out of MNF-I business.” Further, “we need to concentrate now on today’s fight, get the ‘now’ done, then in mid-January or so we can evaluate where we are. We don’t see any real reductions (force levels) until the end of 2008 at the earliest.”
Fallon found similar problems in Afghanistan, with too many disparate strategies at work in Kabul that were often at cross purposes to one another. Combating the international opium trade, creating literate Afghan soldiers, and trying to fight the Taliban all at once frequently did not work and never satisfied government leadership in Washington. He had to focus on the wider region, which often involved Byzantine processes, from Islamabad to Cairo.
Fallon looked for a broader solution to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars than just the troop surge in Iraq and being at cross purposes with the Bush Administration’s support for a continuation of the surge, he had no choice but to resign.
Fox Fallon’s account of his service in the Middle East, from squadron commander in the 1980s to Central Command leader 30 years later, in many ways well describes the United States’ detached and unfocused policies of the post-Cold War era. Fallon discusses the Cold War Navy Maritime Strategy as a highly successful means of focusing globally, not just locally, on a strategic opponent. However, this global focus was lost with the end of the Cold War. Likewise, the United States’ national strategy, writ large, lost focus geopolitically with the demise of the Soviet Union and engaged in many short-term tactical fights in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the wider Middle East without regard for the possible, adverse strategic outcomes from the decision to seek short-term military success.
As was the case with the Vietnam War, the nation continued to pour blood and treasure into a fight with the tactical hope that victory lay just past the next troop surge. Despite the false promise of the Goldwater-Nichols legislation that regionally deployed commanders could lead their own campaigns, Fox Fallon and others found that, like Vietnam, civilian presidential advisors were constantly issuing additional ‘stick and rudder’ orders that muddled the strategic situation and made ultimate success less possible with each new round of intervention.
The need, as Fallon says, to fight rear-guard actions in Washington, D.C., consumed more time and effort than fighting two wars in the theater, even with a staff one-third larger than his PACOM staff. It calls to mind something that the civilian head of counterinsurgency in Vietnam, Bob Komer, said of the Vietnam War: “The U.S. grossly misjudged what it could actually accomplish with the huge effort it eventually made, and thus became more and more wound up in a war it couldn’t ‘win,’ the way it fought it.”
Admiral Fox Fallon offers an intriguing insider’s perspective into operations at the height of the Iraq and Afghan wars, and his views implicitly foresaw the catastrophic, chaotic, and shameful American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. A tactical focus on the immediate fight may not always address broader strategic challenges.
His insightful narrative not only recounts the internal tensions and difficult choices of high-level military command but also is a stark reminder that strategic clarity is essential when committing lives and resources to prolonged conflict. As readers explore the experiences and hard-earned wisdom Fallon shares in the pages ahead, they will better understand the complexities of war, diplomacy, and the crucial need to balance immediate battlefield decisions with a coherent long-term vision. Lessons that resonate profoundly in today’s uncertain geopolitical landscape.
—John Lehman, 65th Secretary of the Navy
Porcelain on Steel: Women of West Point’s Long Gray Line
Donna McAleer, U.S. Military Academy Class of 1987; former U.S. Army officer
“Donna McAleer’s Porcelain on Steel is a powerful and inspirational portrait of the women who serve — not just our country, but their families, their communities, and their own commitment to a purposeful and meaningful life.” — Andrea Jung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Avon Products
“They have reached the pinnacles of leadership and faced the depths of pain and loss, both in their journey through the hallowed halls of West Point and on the distant fields of battle. They have been forged into strong, inspiring and worthy leaders.” — Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University Men’s Basketball
“The record of women who graduated from West Point is superb, and they have served with distinction on our nation’s battlefields and across a myriad of milieus. Indeed, in every conflict over the past 30 years, the women of West Point have demonstrated the exceptional traits our nation expects of a West Pointer — selfless service, courage under fire, and commitment to country and duty.” — General Barry R. McCaffrey, U.S. Army (Ret.)
“Porcelain on Steel by Donna McAleer begins to change that, and brings alive the quality, character and contributions of women of courage, integrity and honor. These women are the type of inspiring models that our young people deserve and require.” — Frances Hesselbein, President and Chief Executive Officer, Leader to Leader Institute; former Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of the USA
“Ms. McAleer’s crisply-written, loaded-with-details work narrates the career and life stories of two dozen West Point grads who have redefined what it means to be a woman in today’s world. Thank you, Donna McAleer, for shining a light on these women who have lived out and been true to, often in the face of bitter and small-minded opposition, their own highest selves.” — Steven Pressfield, author of Gates of Fire, The Afghan Campaign, and The Legend of Bagger Vance
Daughters of the Dream
Tamara Lucas Copeland, past President, Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers
“Rarely does a personal account so intimately speak to the journey faced by many African-Americans in this country. Daughters of the Dream is one such story, to which even I recalled fond familial memories of our resilient heritage. In telling her own story, Ms. Copeland has captured the pure essence of a people and of a nation striving to achieve a more perfect union.” — Lonnie G. Bunch III, Founding Director, National Museum of African-American History & Culture
“Daughters of the Dream chronicles the ordinary lives and friendship of eight African-American girls from their school days after the Brown v. Board of Education decision to their maturation as women in the present. This book is real life storytelling at its very best, of eight women relentlessly moving together towards racial justice.” — Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award–winning author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
“I read with pleasure Tamara Lucas Copeland’s weaving of Richmond’s racial history with her story of a decades-long friendship. When we share the rich stories of the African-American experience, we fill a void in our understanding of America. This is a must-read for many, but definitely for anyone with roots in Richmond.” — Rev. Dwight C. Jones, former Mayor, Richmond, Virginia
“Daughters of the Dream is a quiet book, no drama, no suspense, simply a straightforward story of the ongoing quest for racial justice. It resonates with me as a daughter of the South myself, someone who devoted the recent past in my professional life to the value of reading and as someone who fully understands the power of public policy. This is an important new lens on America’s story.” — Carol Hampton Rasco, Chief Executive Officer, Reading is Fundamental (2001–2016); Domestic Policy Advisor to President William Jefferson Clinton (1993–1996)
Journey to the Jones Act: U.S. Merchant Marine Policy 1776–1920
Charlie Papavizas, Partner and Chair, Maritime Practice, Winston & Strawn LLP
“While many freely toss around the term “Jones Act,” and cite it as the catalyst for decline of the U.S. Merchant Marine, few understand the true origins and evolution of our Nation’s domestic Maritime policy – culminating in the 100+ year-old Merchant Marine Act of 1920. Charlie Papavizas takes us back to decisions that our Founding Fathers made concerning maritime trade and skillfully walks us through every change of course as our young nation burst upon the international scene in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Rich with detail, Papavizas has produced a book that tells the story of America’s emergence as a maritime power and the reasons why we have so vigorously maintained control over our domestic trade. Your understanding of U.S. Maritime policy is incomplete until you read this superb volume.” –Hon. Mark H. ‘Buz’ Buzby, RADM, USN (Ret), Former Administrator, U.S. Maritime Administration
“A crucial read for anyone looking to demystify a law woven into the fabric of American life. It unravels the complexities of the Jones Act, making its history and impact accessible to all. This book brilliantly captures how the Act resonates beyond legal circles into the heart of American commerce and defense, influencing the very currents of trade, industry, and daily life in the United States. As an offshore wind sector advocate, I found this book to be an insightful journey through the intricacies of the Jones Act, shedding light on its historical significance and its modern-day applications. It is a must-read for anyone who seeks to grasp how deeply maritime policy is anchored in our nation’s past and present, and how it continues to shape the flow of goods, services, and economic opportunities.” –Liz Burdock, President and CEO, Oceantic Network
“Meticulously researched and eminently readable, Journey to the Jones Act is a fascinating history of American maritime policy and the people, politics, and events that shaped it over two and a half centuries. Charlie Papavizas’s mastery of his subject matter is on full display… not only readers new to the “Jones Act,” but longtime students and practitioners of maritime policy will find themselves saying, “I didn’t know that!” again and again throughout this informative and entertaining read.” –Jennifer Carpenter, President & CEO, The American Waterways Operators, President, American Maritime Partnership
Challenges
Major General Harry W. Jenkins, USMC (Ret.)
“CHALLENGES is a book by one of the foremost experts on life as a Marine officer in peace and war, on Capitol Hill, and finally working through Washington’s complex defense sector industry. Harry Jenkins remains one of the sought-after voices of advice for those navigating all three sectors. This book is a ‘must-read’ for everyone, but especially Field Grade officers and above.” —General James L. Jones USMC (Ret), 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, former Commander US European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and the US National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama.
“People read because they enjoy a good story or seek one to inform, learn, and educate themselves in areas in which they may not be familiar. CHALLENGES serves that interest and need. In it, Harry Jenkins shares his journey—the thoughts and thinking that shaped it—from the decision to join the service, through marriage and starting a family while pursuing a career in the Marine Corps, his rise to Major General and into the private sector and defense industry as a senior executive. Many of the accounts and experiences occur in times of significant events in our nation’s history and offer a personal perspective that gives the reader context. Stories matter and Harry Jenkins has given us a good one about how challenges can strengthen, direct, shape, and teach us.” —General Richard ‘Butch’ Neal USMC (Ret), former Assistant Commandant of The Marine Corps, author of What Now Lieutenant? Leadership Forged from Events in Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Beyond. [Added to the USMC Commandant’s Reading List in 2019]
“An entertaining and enlightening story of service to nation, family, and those in need. Readers will learn that overcoming challenges and leading in extremis builds the resilience and wisdom fundamental to success in all walks of life. Maj. Gen. Harry Jenkins tells his story that sheds light on some of the most important events and experiences in the past sixty years. But this is a story that inspires as well as informs. CHALLENGES is certain to encourage future generations to lead, overcome hardships, and reap the intangible rewards of service.” —H.R. McMaster, author of Dereliction of Duty and Battlegrounds: The Fight to Defend the Free World.
Closing
None of these endorsements is about us. Every one of them is about a book, written by its author, that we developed, edited, produced, and published.
That is the only recommendation we would rather have than a client’s.
Some of our clients and authors: Who We Publish — the senior client roster.