Passing the Baton

Abstract

On October 1, 2013, Professor H. Ronald Riggs of the University of Hawaii became the new Editor of ASCE’s Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering. My service as Editor for the past eight years has been one of the most satisfying aspects of my professional life. There were certainly many difficulties and frustrations during that time, including one caused by Mother Nature, when Hurricane Ike rendered my office out-of-order for several months in 2008. Others included complex situations between associate editors, reviewers, and authors. Yet, all this work was satisfying because many difficult situations were resolved with little rancor or animosity, and I had the good fortune to interact mostly with people who are extremely responsible, professional, and talented. I thank past and present members of the editorial board, authors, reviewers, ASCE staff (Kelly Anderson in particular), and COPRI staff (notably Tom Chase and Billy Edge) for their cooperation. It has been a privilege working with them. It is also gratifying to see the Journal’s progression, and see it take an important role in emerging issues, even publishing a focus issue on the engineering aspects of sea level rise. Our previous editor, Dr. Zeki Demirbilek, left big shoes to fill, and Ron Riggs and I are pleased that we continued the progress he began. We transitioned from paper files to the electronic submission system, Editorial Manager, in 2009–2010. The number of papers submitted to the Journal has more than doubled since 2005, and our review standards remain perhaps the most rigorous in the field. Yet, our submission-to-acceptance time frame has improved and is comparable to that of other journals in related disciplines, and the size of the Journal is increasing. Each published paper is well written and of high quality. The Journal can boast that members of the National Academy of Engineers and faculty of some of the world’s top institutions, including chaired professors, are among its list of authors. In other words, any author can be assured that he or she is in good company at the Journal. In my travels around the world, I have been pleased to learn that the Journal of Waterway, Port, Coastal, and Ocean Engineering occupies a position of pride and honor among present and prospective authors, and my colleagues on the editorial board have helped maintain that preeminent status. I owe Ron Riggs a special debt of gratitude. No one could have been a better Assistant Editor and, unbeknownst tomost, he has fully taken over editorial responsibilities onmany occasions, when extenuating circumstances prevented me from conducting my duties. He brings a great deal of experience and talent to his new role as Editor. As I transition to the role of Emeritus Editor, I wish him the very best.