Dennis E. Showalter Research Fellowship
Recognizing academic excellence in military history.
The Dennis E. Showalter Research Fellowship at the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies recognizes Professor Dennis Showalter’s contributions to the field of military history, to junior scholars, and especially to our Master of Arts in Military History (MMH) program. The fellowship, an endowed fund of Norwich University, was named in his memory as one of the founding faculty members for the Norwich master’s in military history program, a renowned author, engaging lecturer and professor, and wise mentor over a 50-year career until his passing in 2019.
The fellowship supports the research efforts and recognizes the academic excellence of one or more students in the MMH program at Norwich. Selected students will have the opportunity to highlight their scholarly contributions, such as a completed capstone or thesis, if topically appropriate, during a presentation at the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies Residency. Recipients will receive a cash award for research and travel expenses to attend the annual Norwich University Writers' Symposium to present their graduate research.
Most of us who write and teach knew a great gentleman historian with the booming voice. The late Dr. Dennis Showalter left his mark on each of us. Now is the time to respond in support of a research fellowship at Norwich University in his honor. I urge each of you to give what you can to this worthy memorial.
John F. Votaw Sr., who holds a doctorate from Temple University (1991)
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Your Gift to the Dennis E. Showalter Research Fellowship at the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies will continue to support graduate level research for future students.
Dennis E. Showalter Research Fellows
Oliver Groom, Master of Arts Military History
Born in Scotland in 1997 of English and Scots parents, I moved with them to Lyons, New York, where I grew up. I developed an interest in history at a young age, and my final research project in my senior year of high school was the modern history of total war from the American Civil War into the twenty-first century. From 2015 to 2018, as an undergraduate student at Rogers State University in Claremore, Oklahoma, my passion for military history continued, and I was fortunate enough to study with Norwich’s own Dr. John Broom and Dr. David Ulbrich, among others. My current research focuses on Britain’s historical experience of total war, particularly during the life and times of Winston Churchill. For my M.A. Thesis, which I completed in February 2025, I wrote about Churchill’s understanding of total war from his Victorian childhood to the end of the First World War and its significant impact on his eventual rise to power in May 1940 as Britain’s Prime Minister and Minister of Defense during the Second World War. I plan to continue my higher education as a Ph.D. candidate, potentially in the United Kingdom.
William Bain, Master of Arts Military History
I enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1985 and retired in 2012. During my twenty-seven years of service, I was a nuclear-trained submarine electrician on four submarines. I accomplished strategic deterrent patrols on a Trident submarine and Special Project Missions on a modified attack submarine. On my last submarine, I was selected for the Limited Duty Officer program and spent the next twelve years serving on “targets” (surface ships), including three Nimitz class carriers. I retired as a Lieutenant Commander. I received many personal and unit awards during my service, including a Presidential Unit Citation. Following retirement, I worked for Kimberly-Clark in Paris, Texas, as the platform engineer for Huggies Little Swimmers, Pull-ups, and Good-Nites.