Chair Update - December 2025

Holiday Greetings NIP colleagues and friends! 

I hope this newsletter finds you and yours happy and healthy, and that you’re finding opportunities to spend time with loved ones as we transition from fall to winter. I know from personal experience that life can be busy, especially this time of the year. I also know that the moments we share with shipmates, friends, and family are precious and priceless. Please make it a personal priority. For those spending this holiday season deployed, standing the watch, and physically separated from immediate family, we thank and salute you—and your families. Simply put, you’re what makes our nation great!

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. This year, in the northern hemisphere, it occurs on December 21st. It comes at a time of year when we’ve taken time to give thanks, we gather to celebrate holidays with loved ones, and we’re busily preparing to usher in a new year. It’s a great time to reflect on accomplishments throughout the year and to dream a bit about what lies over the horizon.

2025 was a spectacular year for NIP. In addition to the events highlighted in this newsletter, I encourage you to scroll back through the year as captured in previous newsletters, our two READBOOKs and the news items posted on our website. A small sampling of some of the significant accomplishments that stand out in my own mind include:

• We continue to progress in making ourselves truly “naval” with solid Marine Corps participation on our board and increased contributions in some of our main professional development and community building efforts. Still miles to go before we sleep.
• We hit a major milestone in our partnership with the USS Midway Museum holding a special grand opening of the carrier intelligence spaces (CVIC). This new experiential exhibit will help us tell our story for decades to come and will be a place of import and pride to generations of naval intelligence professionals—past, present and future.
• We celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Intelligence Specialist rating. Although not directly related, I thought it was very fitting that one of the recipients of the Navy Memorial’s prestigious Lone Sailor Award was no other thanChuck Sams, who started his decades of service to our nation as a young Intelligence Specialist assigned to VA-155 embarked aboard the USS Ranger during Desert Storm. Getting to see Chuck and a half dozen or so of the other Intelligence Specialists I’d sailed with during that formative experience was food for my soul and easily ranks in my personal top moments of 2025. 
• Although the government’s funding had lapsed and all non-essential functions were shutdown, we still partnered together with our active and reserve leaders to come together for a special salute to 250 years—a great kickoff to what became multiple celebrations in October and November of the 250th anniversary of the creation of our Navy and Marine Corps, respectively.
• Our Naval Intelligence History Program (formerly known as Project 2032) is really starting to take shape and gain momentum. If you haven’t been keeping track of the progress to date, it’s worth your time to visit (ensure you log in as a member to access the full details).

As we look ahead to 2026, I’m personally very excited about our future together. The newsletter includes some events and dates for you to be aware of: WEST 2026, Navy IW Industry Day, and the spring Red Tie Luncheon. Please consider joining as you can. Three areas I’d like us to emphasize this year are:

• Growing our total force membership, representation and participation. You’ll note in the newsletter that we’re expanding our board committees so that they are no longer committees of one. This will not only allow us to ensure we have additional assistance in accomplishing our goals but also help us gain perspectives and priorities from across our force on how—Navy and Marine Corps; officer and enlisted; government civilians; contractors; active duty, reserve, and retirees.
• Strengthening and expanding partnerships. As discussed during our fall membership meeting, we’ve changed the Mentorship Committee into the Partnerships Committee. During 2026 we’ll start exploring how we expand our relationships to help achieve NIP goals.
• Increasing awareness and appreciation of the value the nation derives from naval intelligence. In addition to keeping ourselves connected and informed, we will continue to explore opportunities to help educate others about our profession. This will be a major consideration as we determine how best to strengthen and expand partnerships. 

If you’d like to get involved in helping us chart the course, reach out and let us know. Remember…it’s our time to lead!

Once again, thank you all for who you are and what you do. Wishing everyone a 2026 filled with laughter, joy, and adventure!

Best, Bob
NIP Chair