Born on March 3, 1948, Bruce H. “Doc” Norton, USMC (Ret.) grew up in the rural township of North Scituate, Rhode Island. He served on active duty from 1968 to 1992. A combat veteran and a career Marine infantry and reconnaissance officer, he is a nationally recognized historian, playwright, and author of 15 books on the United States Marine Corps and other military subjects. Enlisting as a U.S. Navy Corpsman in 1968, he served with distinction in both 3rd Force Reconnaissance and 1st Force Reconnaissance Companies during the Vietnam War, participating in more than 20 long-range reconnaissance missions in 1969-1970. Both “Jump” (parachute) and Scuba qualified, he was the only Navy corpsman designated a Force Recon team leader during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat “V” Device, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, with Combat “V” Device, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Valorous Unit Award. Major Norton is the recipient of five San Diego Author’s Awards and the General Robert L. Denig Memorial Distinguished Service Award, presented to him by the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Correspondence Association. He was the 2022 recipient of the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust and Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg Heritage Award for distinguished service as an educator and military historian. Along with Dr. Harry J. Kantrovich, he has co-written the script for the play Voices from Vietnam, which premiered in Virginia in 2024, and has now co-written the script for a new play based on this book, Saving Lives: The Stories of Medics, Corpsmen, Nurses, Doctors, and Dustoff Pilots Who Served in the Vietnam War. This play will premiere in May 2026 at the Castaways Theatre in Woodbridge, Virgina.

Dr. Harry J. Kantrovich retired from the Navy after 23 years of service as a Command Master Chief. Harry is an award-winning actor, director and playwright who has been involved with theatre for over 50 years, working in college, community, and professional theatres throughout the United States and Europe. Harry’s first two original plays SHOAH (in cooperation with the Claude Lanzmann family and his estate) and The Greatest Generation Speaks (in collaboration with renowned journalist Tom Brokaw) have been nationally and internationally acclaimed. His third play, co-written by Major Bruce “Doc” Norton, USMC (Ret), Voices From Vietnam, had its world premiere in November 2024, and a companion book was released simultaneously. Saving Lives will again be released simultaneously with the play of the same name’s world premiere.

James Maxlow was born in Middlesbrough, England, in May 1949. His passion for geology was no doubt inherited from a family history of “ironstone workers” who supplied iron ore mined from the Eston Ironstone Mine to the foundries and steel rolling mills of Middlesbrough, England, during the early 1800s to mid-1900s. James immigrated to Australia with his parents in 1953 and grew up in Melbourne. He studied Civil Engineering at what was then Swinburne College but soon became disillusioned with engineering and redirected himself to geology at the then Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, graduating in 1971. During his research years, James met and communicated with many wonderful scientists from around the world, including Professor Samuel Warren Carey from Tasmania, the father of modern Earth Expansion, Jan Koziar from Poland, the first scientist to measure and calculate an ancient Earth radius using modern seafloor mapping, and the late Klaus Vogel from Germany, the father of modern small Earth modelling studies. It was during James’s studies that Professor Carey recognized the potential of his research into tectonics. Carey then kindly “passed on his baton” to James in order to further his ongoing research into tectonics. James received his Master of Science in geology in 1995, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy in 2002, from Curtin University of Technology, in Perth, with a letter of commendation from the university chancellor for his original and thought-provoking research.

Khadija Muhammad Hussain Marvi is an M.Phil. graduate of the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, Pakistan. She has authored multiple articles on education and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. She earned a master’s degree from Hamdard University and her bachelor’s degree from Rana Liaquat Ali Khan Government College of Home Economics. Khadija Marvi’s work has been featured in the American Journal of Education and Practice, Creative Education, the International Journal of Social Science Bulletin, and Nurture Publishing Group. She has also taught as a science teacher and worked as an academic coordinator.

Ambassador Michael Gfoeller is a distinguished American diplomat, scholar, and innovative thinker with a 26-year Foreign Service career (1984–2010). Serving in Warsaw at the Cold War’s end, as well as in Moscow, Riyadh, Manama, and as Deputy Chief of Mission in Saudi Arabia (2004–2008), he navigated complex political dynamics in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. As Senior Political Advisor to General David Petraeus at U.S. Central Command (2008–2010), Gfoeller shaped Middle East and Central Asia strategies. After his retirement from government service, Gfoeller advised ExxonMobil, consulted for Henry Kissinger, and lectured at Georgetown University. An accomplished scholar, he has authored books on the traditional architecture and antiquities of Armenia, where he has established an archeological foundation and museum. His recent books of mathematical philosophy include Consciousness is Curvature (2025), which models human and artificial intelligence as dynamic geometric curvature in informational spaces, inspired by relativity and quantum theory. He has also authored Faster Than Light (2025), which explores how recent advances in theoretical physics can enable feasible interstellar travel, inaugurating a new Age of Exploration that may never end.

Ambassador Michael Gfoeller is a distinguished American diplomat, scholar, and innovative thinker with a 26-year Foreign Service career (1984–2010). Serving in Warsaw during the Cold War’s end, as well as in Moscow, Riyadh, Manama, and as Deputy Chief of Mission in Saudi Arabia (2004–2008), he navigated complex political dynamics in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. As Senior Political Advisor to General David Petraeus at U.S. Central Command (2008–2010), he shaped Middle East and Central Asia strategies, including tribal negotiations in post-invasion Iraq. After retirement, Gfoeller advised ExxonMobil, consulted for Henry Kissinger, and lectured at Georgetown University. An accomplished scholar, he authored books on the traditional architecture and antiquities of Armenia, where he established an archeological foundation and museum. His recent book Consciousness is Curvature (2025) models human and artificial intelligence as dynamic geometric curvature in informational spaces, inspired by relativity and quantum theory. His latest book, Faster Than Light, explores how recent advances in theoretical physics can enable feasible interstellar travel, inaugurating a new Age of Exploration that may never end.

Arthur L. Lazarus, MD, MBA, is a healthcare consultant, certified physician executive, and nationally recognized author, speaker, and champion of physician leadership and wellness. He has broad experience in clinical practice and the health insurance industry, having led programs at Cigna and Humana. At Humana, Lazarus was vice president and corporate medical director of behavioral health operations in Louisville, Kentucky, and subsequently a population health medical director in the state of Florida. Lazarus has also held leadership positions in several pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer and AstraZeneca, conducting clinical trials, and reviewing promotional materials for medical accuracy and FDA compliance. He has published more than 400 articles and essays and written or edited 11 books, including 7 related to the field of narrative medicine. Lazarus attended Boston University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with distinction. He received his medical degree with honors from Temple University School of Medicine, followed by a psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital, where he was chief resident. After residency, Lazarus joined the faculty of Temple faculty, where he currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry. He also holds non-faculty appointments as Executive-in-Residence at Temple University’s Fox School of Business and Management, where he received his MBA degree, and Senior Fellow at Jefferson College of Population Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lazarus is a past president of the American Association for Psychiatric Administration and Leadership, a former member of the board of directors of the American Association for Physician Leadership (AAPL), and a current member of the AAPL editorial review board. In 2010, the American Psychiatric Association honored Lazarus with the Administrative Psychiatry Award for his effectiveness as an administrator of major mental health programs and expanding the body of knowledge of management science in mental health services delivery systems. Lazarus is among a select group of physicians in the United States who have been inducted into both the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society and the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society of collegiate schools of business. Lazarus enjoys walking, biking, playing piano, and listening to music. He has been happily married to his wife, Cheryl, for over 40 years. They are the proud parents of four adult children and have five grandchildren.

Ambassador Michael Gfoeller (ret.), born in 1957, is a seasoned diplomat, scholar, and independent consultant renowned for his expertise in international politics, security, and economics. With a career spanning over four decades, he has navigated complex geopolitical landscapes, advised global leaders, and contributed significantly to academic and cultural initiatives, particularly in the Middle East and Armenia. Gfoeller’s diplomatic career with the U.S. Foreign Service (1984–2010) saw him rise to the rank of Ambassador and Minister Counselor, serving in some of the world’s most critical regions. His postings included two stints in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires (2004–2008), managing U.S.-Saudi relations during a pivotal period of counterterrorism cooperation. He also served in Manama, Bahrain, fostering ties with Gulf allies; Baghdad, Iraq, during the height of the Iraq War; Moscow, Russia, across two tours amid Cold War and post-Soviet tensions; Yerevan, Armenia, supporting post-Soviet transition; Chisinau, Moldova, navigating Eastern European geopolitics; Warsaw, Poland, strengthening NATO partnerships; and Brussels, Belgium, engaging with transatlantic institutions. From 2008 to 2010, Gfoeller served as Senior Political Advisor to General David Petraeus at U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, crafting political strategies for U.S. military operations across 19 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. His work bridged diplomacy and defense, earning him recognition for navigating complex tribal and political dynamics.
Upon retiring from the State Department, Gfoeller transitioned to the private sector, bringing his geopolitical acumen to global corporations. From 2010 to 2012, he led Middle East and North African affairs at ExxonMobil’s International Government Relations Department, advising on energy security and regional stability. He later consulted for prominent firms, including DynCorp, Alcoa, Kissinger Associates, KKR, and Cerberus Capital Management, providing strategic insights into government contracts and international markets. As an independent consultant, Gfoeller continues to advise on global risks and opportunities, with a focus on the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and energy markets. An accomplished scholar, Gfoeller holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University. His academic journey included intensive Arabic studies at the American University in Cairo (1979–1981), equipping him for his Middle East postings. Fluent in Arabic, Russian, German, French, Polish, Romanian, Latin, and Greek, he is a polyglot whose linguistic skills enhanced his diplomatic and scholarly work. Gfoeller taught at Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (2000–2001), where he mentored future diplomats. His publications reflect his diverse interests, including United by the Caspian, a study of Caucasian and Central Asian geopolitics, and works on archaeology and architecture, such as A New Golden Age of Archeology: Recent Discoveries in Armenia (Academica Press, 2022). These books explore international cultural heritage, blending historical analysis with beautiful photography.
Gfoeller’s commitment to cultural preservation led him in 2001 to establish the Gfoeller Renaissance Foundation, which funds archaeological and scientific research in Armenia. The foundation supports excavations and studies illuminating Armenia’s role in human evolution and civilization, reflecting Gfoeller’s passion for history and heritage. He remains an active voice in public discourse, speaking at forums like the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations on topics such as Saudi Arabia’s evolving role in global energy markets, U.S.-Iran tensions, and Middle Eastern security dynamics. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Ben Franklin Fellowship, the Cosmos Club, and the Union League Club of New York, Gfoeller is deeply engaged in intellectual and policy circles. He is married to Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller-Volkoff, a distinguished U.S. diplomat and novelist whose career included senior roles in the State Department and postings in Europe and the Middle East. The couple, who met during their university studies, have one son, Major Emmanuel Gfoeller, an Army Ranger serving in the U.S. military. Residing primarily in Miami, Florida, Gfoeller balances his consulting work with writing and philanthropy, continuing to shape global conversations on diplomacy and culture.

Throughout his life, J. J. Penniman has immersed himself in humanist education. As an amateur Classics scholar, he has sung Homer in the original Greek to both public and scholarly audiences, lectured at the Classical Association of New England Summer Institute, and published an original translation of an anciently debated passage in Plato’s Timaeus for The Classical Journal. As a psychoanalyst, now in his 46th year of practice, he has published in the International Journal of Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalytic Quarterly, and the Journal of Clinical Psychoanalysis. He trained psychology interns and psychiatric residents in psychoanalytic therapy for thirty years. In a lighter vein, the author, as a middling bridge player, produced a feuilleton for The Daily Bulletin, the newspaper of the American Contract Bridge League Championships. He also devotes two hours weekly to math. Penniman and his wife live in the shadows of New Hampshire’s Presidential Range.

John Staddon is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology, and Professor of Biology Emeritus, at Duke University. He obtained his BSc at University College, London, and Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology at Harvard University, while also doing research at the MIT Systems Lab. He has done research at Oxford University (UK), the University of São Paulo at Riberão Preto, the University of Mexico, Ruhr Universität, Universität Konstanz, and the University of Western Australia. He is a fellow of several scientific organizations and holds an honorary doctorate from the Université Charles de Gaulle, Lille 3, France. He is a past editor of the journals Behavioural Processes and Behavior & Philosophy. His experimental and theoretical research is on the evolution and mechanisms of learning in humans and animals; he has also written on the history and philosophy of psychology, economics, and biology. Staddon frequently engages with such public policy issues as education, evolution, traffic control, IQ, the science, law, and politics of smoking, and the effects of social and psychobiological processes on financial markets. In 2021, the Wall Street Journal profiled him as a leading commentator on the current problems of science.

Seymour W. Itzkoff is Professor Emeritus of Education at Smith College. His professional career began as a cellist in the Hartford Symphony while studying at the University of Hartford. The Korean War found him playing as a cellist in the U.S. Army Piano Trio in Washington D.C for President Harry S Truman at the White House and for General George Marshall at the Pentagon. Itzkoff’s developing interest in philosophy led him to enroll in doctoral studies at Columbia University. During this period, he taught at several public schools in New York and at Hunter and Lehman Colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). He then joined the faculty of Smith College, where he taught for 35 years. His publications include 32 books in various academic fields with a major interest in human evolution and intelligence.