Leatherneck Magazine publisher/editor to retire June 30.

Now and Then: MCA&F Publisher and Leatherneck Editor Walt Ford in his pre-retirement photo (left) and as Regimental Commander, Col. Walter Ford, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division after his Marine retirement.

Leatherneck Publisher/Editor Walt Ford will retire June 30. Following active-duty service of more than 30 years as an artillery officer, which included combat service in Vietnam, he initially was hired as editor of Leatherneck magazine in August 1999 and added the responsibilities of MCA&F publisher in 2007. He faithfully pursued the mission of Leatherneck to tell the Marine Corps’ story, to preserve the history and traditions of the Corps, and to act as a connection to the Corps for veteran Marines, friends of Marines and the general public.

Since Col Ford became editor, Leatherneck authors have earned the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s prestigious Colonel Robert Debs Heinl Award for excellence in historical writing four times and the magazine has won a Printing Industries of Virginia printing excellence award.

Col Ford supported both the Combat Camera and Public Affairs military occupational specialties. For numerous years, he assisted in judging the Department of Defense’s annual Thomas Jefferson Awards that recognize excellence in the Public Affairs field and also has been a judge for the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s annual awards program.

Active in the United States Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association and a director of its foundation, he continues to support the organization’s photography and print and broadcast journalism awards program to recognize the superior achievements of Marines in those occupational fields. For all that he has contributed to the Public Affairs field and to the Marine Corps, Col Ford is the recipient of the USMCCCA’s 2013 Donald L. Dickson Memorial Award and the 2006 BGen Robert L. Denig Sr. Memorial Distinguished Performance Award.

He assisted the Women Marines Association with implementing a biennial essay contest to highlight the valuable contributions that women have made to our Corps over the years. To connect both active-duty Marines and veteran Marines with the leadership of the Corps, he initiated a “Senior Leaders of the Corps” insert annually in Leatherneck.

One of the significant efforts by the Corps to reach out to veteran Marines and Marine-affiliated organizations is the National Marine Corps Council. For almost a decade, Col Ford was the administrator of this important outreach vehicle for the Corps. In addition to accomplishing all the administrative functions required to conduct this semiannual meeting, he instituted a website that allowed member organizations to stay more closely connected as they sought to support Marines and the Marine Corps. He has served as the chairman of the council for the past two years.

Besides his service on the National Marine Corps Council, Col Ford was an active and invaluable member on both the Korean and Vietnam War Commemoration committees. He assisted in the outreach of these committees so that the veterans of those two wars would not be forgotten.

Furthermore, he, along with the Leatherneck art director, hosted a local Tiger Den of a Cub Scout Troop at the Leatherneck office the last five years, helping Scouts advance.

He has been more than a traditional editor in that he has kept the magazine relevant and timely during a time of flagging sales for printed media. Col Ford worked to keep the membership numbers stable and, with the magazine staffs, has assisted in bringing Leatherneck, and the Marine Corps Gazette—Professional Journal of the U.S. Marines, into the digital age of publishing with access to the magazines online, launching digital replica editions; shaping content for ease of access by laptop, tablet or smartphone; and expanding into social media and delivering fresh content via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube under the MCA&F umbrella.

Above all of these laudable accomplishments, Col Ford understood the purpose of a service organization. He will be remembered most for his support to both members and nonmembers; active-duty, retired and Marine veterans; Marine families; and friends of Marines. A call or an e-mail to Walt asking for help, whether or not dealing with his MCA&F duties, was sure to get a response. Col Ford’s 45 years of dedication to the Marine Corps earns our respect and admiration and serves as a benchmark for those who may follow.