His Next Strategic Move: Expanding Military History at Fordham

History implores us to look at the past to recognize behaviors and patterns that guide our present day and future. Albert “Al” Nofi, USE ’65 GSAS ’67, knows well that lasting change comes with a strong ideology and the resources needed to implement it. Having received his Ph.D. in military history from the City University of New York, Al has published over 30 books in this area. After working as a teacher and then an administrator in New York public schools for 30 years, Al decided to follow his heart and pursue a full-time career in military history—a move that would bring invaluable contributions to the field.

Al’s journey began as associate director of the world’s longest running military historical conflict simulations magazine, Strategy and Tactics. He then worked as a research analyst with the Center for Naval Analyses, where he wrote a variety of analytical papers on war-related topics. Al has also designed and produced several wargames; for those unfamiliar with the term, ‘wargames’ are, as defined by the policy research nonprofit RAND, “analytic games that simulate aspects of warfare at the tactical, operational, or strategic level.” Over the course of his career, Al has lectured at a number of prestigious institutions including the University of Paris-Sorbonne, the Smithsonian, and the Air War College. A former Associate Fellow of the U.S. Civil War Center, Al was a founding member of the New York Military Affairs Symposium (NYMAS) in 1982 and remains on the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Society for Military History, along with many other military and historical societies. Al’s most recent books are the award-winning To Train the Fleet for War: The U.S. Navy Fleet Problems, 1923-1940 and The Blue and Gray Almanac.

Looking to inspire students to pursue an education in military history, Al made two gifts to Fordham’s History Department—a bequest to endow the Albert A. Nofi, Ph.D. Endowed Fund in History as well as an outright gift. Made in memory of Al’s late wife and daughter, Mary Griner Spencer Nofi and Marilyn J. Spencer, these gifts will support both military history programming and research as well as the History Department at large. In addition, a portion of these funds will be used to provide professional development opportunities to faculty and students interested in military history, such as NYMAS and other key academic conferences.

Please consider joining Al in the 1841 Society by including Fordham in your estate plan. We would be happy to work with you to create a blended gift like Al’s, providing both current and long-term support to an initiative of your choice.