Military Minute

Ward Carroll is the editor of Military.com and contributor of WAVY.com's "Military Minute."

During his 20-year Navy career Ward served in four different F-14 squadrons based at NAS Oceana and was the operations officer for Carrier Air Wing One. His last tour on active duty was on the faculty of the U.S. Naval Academy for four years, teaching English, leadership, and ethics. He was editor of Approach magazine and is currently a contributing editor for Naval Aviation News. Immediately following his retirement from the Navy, Ward spent three years in the civil service ranks, working as the public affairs officer for the V-22 Osprey program at the Naval Air Systems Command. Ward is also a popular novelist; his three books about a Tomcat pilot — Punk's War, Punk's Wing, and Punk's Fight — have been widely praised for their realistic portrayals of a Naval Aviator's life. He earned the Naval Institute Press "Author of the Year" honors in 2001. His latest novel, The Aide, was recently published by Signet.

Ward is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and retired at the rank of commander. His military decorations include the Strike Flight Air Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards). He is married with two teenaged sons.