With the December 2016 issues of Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, B, and E, I end my Principal Editorship of the journals. I published my first paper in Met. Trans. in 1974 (with my Ph.D. advisor, John W. Cahn). I became a Key Reader in 1977 and Associate Editor in 1982. It was in 1987 that I took over as the Editor (the position we now call Principal Editor). Needless to say, this has been a long journey but I must say an enjoyable one. In particular it has been great to work with so many dedicated folk. This includes the authors (well, most of them!), Key Readers, Associate Editors, Joint Commission members, and the TMS and ASM Joint Managers. It is no mere courtesy to say that I could not have been in the position of Editor so long without their help! Thank you to all.

But it has been especially enjoyable to work with Dora Moscatello, the former Production Editor of the journals for well over three decades, until her retirement in 2015. Her absolute dedication to serving the needs of the authors, Key Readers, and Editors is legendary. To her especially, I owe my longevity with the journal.

I am sure that the journals will continue to serve our Metallurgical and Materials community. Incoming Principal Editor Tresa Pollock has plans to take the journal in some new directions, and I am sure things will go well for many years to come.