Albert Nofi
Encyclopedia
Albert A. Nofi is an American military historian, defense analyst, and designer of board and computer wargaming
systems.
A native of Brooklyn
, he attended New York City public schools, graduating from the Boys' High School (now Boys and Girls High School
) http://www.flickr.com/h/?q=boys%20high&w=61123283%40N00 in 1961. Nofi attended Fordham University
, earning a bachelor's (1965) and a master's (1967), and then received a Ph.D. in Military History from the City University of New York
(1991).
From 1965 through 1995, Nofi was a teacher and later administrator in the New York City public schools. Working primariliy in alternative programs, such as the Harlem Preparatory School, Park East High School, and Unity High School at the Door, he retired as an assistant principal in 1995.
During this period he also built a parallel career as an independent historian, defense analyst, and wargame designer, working primarily with James F. Dunnigan, Redmond A. Simonsen
, and David C. Isby at Simulations Publications
(SPI). As research director for SPI and associate editor of the military historical simulations journal Strategy and Tactics for over a decade (1969–1982), he produced numerous articles and a number of wargames.
In addition to work for SPI, Nofi has authored, co-authored, or edited over 30 books on a wide variety of topics. Among his collaborators are Dunnigan, Bela Kiraly
, Richard L. DiNardo, Kathleen Broome Williams, and others.
In 1999 Nofi became a research analyst with the Center for Naval Analyses http://www.cna.org (CNA), in Alexandria, Virginia, where he worked with game theorist Peter P. Perla. Nofi was the CNA field representative to the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group
http://www.nwc.navy.mil/newportlinks/ssg/overview.aspx, in Newport, Rhode Is, from 2001 until mid-2005, before returning to CNA. While at CNA he wrote "Recent Trends in Thinking About Warfare" and several other analytical papers. He retired from CNA at the end of 2006.
Nofi has lectured at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, the Smithsonian Institution
, the Library and Archives Canada
, the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site, home of the National Museum of the Pacific War, the Air War College
, the Command and Staff College of the Marine Corps University
, a number of other colleges and universities, and numerous Civil War Round Tables and local historical societies.
For many years an Associate Fellow of the U.S. Civil War Center, a Director of the New York Military Affairs Symposium http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/ since its formation, a member of the Society for Military History
and a number of other military and historical societies, Nofi is also a founding member of the American Italian Historical Association http://www.aihaweb.org/.
Nofi contributes regular columns to North & South http://www.northandsouthmagazine.com/index.php magazine and StrategyPage http://www.strategypage.com/cic/docs/cic268a.asp.
In 2011 Nofi's book To Train the Fleet for War: The U.S. Navy's Fleet Problems, 1923-1940 (see review) was awarded the John Lyman Book Award in Navy History by the North American Society for Oceanic History and given "Honorable Mention" by The New York Chapter of the Navy League of the United States for its Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Prize in Naval History.
In Collaboration with Jim Dunnigan
:
Other collaborations
Wargaming
A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...
systems.
A native of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, he attended New York City public schools, graduating from the Boys' High School (now Boys and Girls High School
Boys and Girls High School
Boys and Girls High School, the oldest public high school in Brooklyn, is a comprehensive high school in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York...
) http://www.flickr.com/h/?q=boys%20high&w=61123283%40N00 in 1961. Nofi attended Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, earning a bachelor's (1965) and a master's (1967), and then received a Ph.D. in Military History from the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
(1991).
From 1965 through 1995, Nofi was a teacher and later administrator in the New York City public schools. Working primariliy in alternative programs, such as the Harlem Preparatory School, Park East High School, and Unity High School at the Door, he retired as an assistant principal in 1995.
During this period he also built a parallel career as an independent historian, defense analyst, and wargame designer, working primarily with James F. Dunnigan, Redmond A. Simonsen
Redmond A. Simonsen
Redmond Askel Simonsen was an American graphic artist and game designer best known for his work at the board wargame company Simulations Publications, Inc. in the 1970s and early 1980s...
, and David C. Isby at Simulations Publications
Simulations Publications
Simulations Publications, Inc. was an influential American publisher of board wargames and related magazines, particularly its flagship Strategy & Tactics, in the 1970s and early 1980s...
(SPI). As research director for SPI and associate editor of the military historical simulations journal Strategy and Tactics for over a decade (1969–1982), he produced numerous articles and a number of wargames.
In addition to work for SPI, Nofi has authored, co-authored, or edited over 30 books on a wide variety of topics. Among his collaborators are Dunnigan, Bela Kiraly
Béla Király
Dr. Béla Király was a Hungarian resistance fighter during World War II, as well as a military historian, author, and politician....
, Richard L. DiNardo, Kathleen Broome Williams, and others.
In 1999 Nofi became a research analyst with the Center for Naval Analyses http://www.cna.org (CNA), in Alexandria, Virginia, where he worked with game theorist Peter P. Perla. Nofi was the CNA field representative to the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group
Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group
The Chief of Naval 0perations Strategic Studies Group was established by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Thomas B. Hayward in 1981. The Group is co-located at the United States Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, but receives its direction and makes its reports only to the Chief of...
http://www.nwc.navy.mil/newportlinks/ssg/overview.aspx, in Newport, Rhode Is, from 2001 until mid-2005, before returning to CNA. While at CNA he wrote "Recent Trends in Thinking About Warfare" and several other analytical papers. He retired from CNA at the end of 2006.
Nofi has lectured at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, the Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
, the Admiral Nimitz State Historic Site, home of the National Museum of the Pacific War, the Air War College
Air War College
The Air War College is a part of the United States Air Force's Air University, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Air University's higher headquarters is Air Education and Training Command headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The Air War...
, the Command and Staff College of the Marine Corps University
Marine Corps University
The Marine Corps University reports to the United States Marine Corps Training And Education Command. It was established on August 1, 1989 by General Alfred M...
, a number of other colleges and universities, and numerous Civil War Round Tables and local historical societies.
For many years an Associate Fellow of the U.S. Civil War Center, a Director of the New York Military Affairs Symposium http://libraryautomation.com/nymas/ since its formation, a member of the Society for Military History
Society for Military History
The Society for Military History is an United States-based international organization of scholars who research, write and teach military history of all time periods and places. It includes Naval history, air power history and studies of technology, ideas, and homefronts. It publishes the...
and a number of other military and historical societies, Nofi is also a founding member of the American Italian Historical Association http://www.aihaweb.org/.
Nofi contributes regular columns to North & South http://www.northandsouthmagazine.com/index.php magazine and StrategyPage http://www.strategypage.com/cic/docs/cic268a.asp.
In 2011 Nofi's book To Train the Fleet for War: The U.S. Navy's Fleet Problems, 1923-1940 (see review) was awarded the John Lyman Book Award in Navy History by the North American Society for Oceanic History and given "Honorable Mention" by The New York Chapter of the Navy League of the United States for its Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Prize in Naval History.
Select bibliography
- (1992), The Alamo and the Texas War of Independence, September 30, 1835 to April 21, 1836: Heroes, Myths, and History, Conshohocken, PA: Combined Books, Inc., ISBN 0-938289-10-1
- (1992) The Civil War Notebook, Perseus Books Group.
- (1993) The Waterloo Campaign: June 1815. USA: De Capo Press. ISBN 0-938289-98-5
- (1994) Gettysburg Campaign June–July 1863, Perseus Books Group.
- (1995) A Civil War Treasury, Perseus Books Group.
- (1995) The War Against Hitler, Perseus Books Group.
- (1996) The Spanish-American War. Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Combined Books Inc., 1996. ISBN 0-938289-57-8.
- (1997) Marine Corps Book Of Lists, Perseus Books Group.
- (2010) "To Train the Fleet for War": The U.S. Navy Fleet Problems, 1923-1940, Newport, RI: Naval War College Press. http://www.usnwc.edu/Publications/Naval-War-College-Press/To-Train-the-Fleet-for-War--The-U-S--Navy-Fleet-Pr.aspx
In Collaboration with Jim Dunnigan
Jim Dunnigan
James F. Dunnigan is an author, military-political analyst, Defense and State Department consultant, and wargame designer currently living in New York City, notable for his matter-of-fact approach to military analysis.-Career:...
:
- (1991) Shooting Blanks: War Making That Doesn't Work, ISBN 0-688-08947-X.
- (1994) Medieval Life and the Hundred Years War, available online http://www.hyw.com/Books/History/1_Help_C.htm
- (1994) Dirty Little Secrets of World War II: Military Information No One Told You About the Greatest, Most Terrible War in History, William Morrow & Company. ISBN 0-688-12235-3.
- (1995) Victory at Sea: World War II in the Pacific, William Morrow & Company, 1995. ISBN 0-688-14947-2.
- (1998) The Pacific War Encyclopedia, Facts on File, 1998. ISBN 0-8160-3439-7.
- (1999) Dirty Little Secrets: American Military Information You're Not Supposed to Know, St. Martins Press, ISBN 0-312-19857-4.
- (2001) Victory and Deceit: Deception and Trickery at War, 2nd edition, Writers Club Press, ISBN 0-595-18405-7.
- (2001) Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War: Military Information You're Not Supposed to Know, St. Martins Griffin, ISBN 0-312-25282-X.
Other collaborations
- (1986) War and Society in East Central Europe in the Era of World War I, edited with Béla KirályBéla KirályDr. Béla Király was a Hungarian resistance fighter during World War II, as well as a military historian, author, and politician....
and Nandor Dreisziger. Atlantic Research and Publications/Columbia University Press. - (1988) East Central European War Leaders, Civil and Military, 1740-1920, edited with Bela K. Kiraly. Atlantic Research and Publications/Columbia University Press.
- (1993) The Civil War Book of Lists, edited with John Cannon, Ken Gallagher, and David G. Martin. Combined Publishing.
- (1998) James Longstreet, the Man, the Soldier, the Controversy, edited with Richard L. DiNardo. Combined Publishing.
Gameography
- Victory at Sea, with James F. Dunnigan. 360-Pacific, 1994.
- The Hundred Years' War, http://www.hyw.com/ with James F. Dunnigan. StrategyWorld, 1992.
- Man-at-Arms, with James F. Dunnigan. Cambria, Ca: 3W Inc, 1990.
- Imperium Romanum II. New York: West End Games, 1985.
- Sicily: Operation Husky. New York: Rand Games, 1981.
- Knights & Knaves: the Game of Medieval Skullduggery. New York: Nimrod Games, 1979.
- Imperium Romanum. New York: West End Games, 1979.
- The Great War. New York: West End Games, 1978.
- Salerno. New York: West End Games, 1978.
- Caporetto. New York: Simulations Publications, 1978.
- Wellington in the Peninsula. New York: Rand Games, 1975.
- Vicksburg: The War for the West. New York: Rand Games, 1975.
- Centurion. New York: Simulations Publications, 1971.
- Renaissance of Infantry. New York: Simulations Publications, 1970.