As I write my farewell as the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance (AMHP) after 14 remarkable years, I find myself reflecting on an incredible journey that has not only been professionally enriching but has also forged lifelong connections with friends from around the world. It has been an honor to serve at the helm of this esteemed journal and I want to express my deepest appreciation to the dedicated individuals who have been instrumental in its success. It is hard for me to believe that I have served as Editor for nearly 3,000 peer-reviewed manuscripts during my tenure. This significant body of work stands as a testament to our collective commitment to maintaining the high standards of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, that when I started was Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine.
Heartfelt thanks go to some former AMHP colleagues. Reflecting on the past, I am thankful for working with Dr. Sally Nunnely, my predecessor (9th EIC), whose legacy I always strove to uphold. Pam Day, former Managing Editor, was a great partner with unwavering commitment and expertise that was invaluable. Additionally, I extend my gratitude to Sarah Pierce-Rubio and Debra Sventek, former Assistants to the Editor, for their dedicated service and valuable contributions to the journal. You cannot imagine how valuable they have been to the AMHP.
I am grateful for the current AMHP support team. These include Rachel Trigg, Managing Editor, Sandy Kawano, Assistant to the Editor, and Stella Sanchez, Assistant to the Managing Editor. What an amazing job they do—and I will certainly miss working with them. Support also comes from the entire Editorial Board and so many volunteer reviewers. Most people, I think, cannot grasp how many people—and how much effort—it takes to produce a quality journal. I will miss my interactions with colleagues from around the world. Yes, it’s been a very good ride indeed.
The 11th EIC of AMHP will be Dr. David Newman. David has been a steadfast colleague throughout my tenure. From his role on the Editorial Board to his meticulous manuscript reviews and significant contributions as an author, David’s dedication has been commendable. I am confident that as he steps into the role of the 11th editor, the journal is in capable hands. I am absolutely thrilled that David will be taking up this important role. I can think of no one better.
To all those who have been part of this incredible journey, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and collaboration. The success of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance is a testament to our collective efforts and I am proud to have been part of such a dynamic and accomplished team.
David G. Newman, MBA, Ph.D., Editor-in-Chief
I am honored to be the 11th Editor-in-Chief of the Aerospace Medical Association’s scientific journal, Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance. I am very conscious of the great responsibility that comes with this position. I am no stranger to the “Blue Journal,” of course, having been a member of AsMA since 1991. The majority of my scientific research work has been published in our journal, with my first paper being published in January 1995, 29 years ago. I have been an active reviewer for a very long time and a member of the Editorial Board for over 20 years. I have worked closely during that time with two phenomenal Editors-In-Chief: Dr. Sally Nunneley and, more recently, Dr. Fred Bonato. In a way I feel that I have served an apprenticeship for this role that has lasted more than 20 years! I particularly want to thank Fred for his exceptional stewardship of the journal during his time as Editor-in-Chief. I have very much enjoyed working with Fred for the past 14 years, and I am very grateful for his friendship, support, and mentorship over that time. I wish him well for the future.
My intention is to build upon the great work of the Editors-in-Chief that have gone before me. I see my role as a custodian of the scientific integrity of our cherished Blue Journal, ensuring that the work published within it is of the highest possible scientific rigour and quality. There are challenges involved in this process. Timeliness, consistency, and quality of reviews, the appropriate use of statistical tools, manuscript clarity, scientific rigour, and identifying and managing conflicts of interest are perennial challenges. The increasing use of generative artificial intelligence tools is a more contemporary challenge that faces every journal. Fortunately, producing a peer-reviewed journal like Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance is not an individual task—it takes a team effort. Helping me in this endeavour are the dedicated members of the Editorial Board, as well as the Associate Editors and our significant body of reviewers. I look forward very much to continuing to work closely with them all as we work to produce the very best aerospace medicine journal possible every month.
By the time this editorial appears in print, I will have been working with Fred and the Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief, Sandy Kawano, for several months to make the transition as smooth and effortless as possible. My job as Editor-in-Chief will be made that much easier by the dedicated, talented, and hardworking journal team—Rachel Trigg, Sandy Kawano, and Stella Sanchez. As an Association we are very fortunate to have such excellent people helping with the production of Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance.
Finally, I encourage you all to consider contributing to the journal by submitting your research work as a manuscript or acting as a reviewer for articles. As Editor-in-Chief I am always happy to hear constructive suggestions from the AsMA community. The journal team and I will be at the Annual Meetings each year, so feel free to come and talk to us. We’d love to hear from you.
