Savvas "Sam" Koktzoglou is a retired mechanical engineer. He received his engineering degrees from Villanova University and the University of Pennsylvania and has worked in senior level engineering positions in both the private and government sectors in the United States and internationally. He has been active in various capacities in a number of Chicago area nonprofit organizations. Prior to his engineering career, he served as a second lieutenant in the special forces of the Greek Army reserves.

Dr. Robert Shenk retired in Spring, 2019 as a professor of English at the University of New Orleans. As author or co-author he has published nine books, including the Naval Institute Guide to Naval Writing; Authors at Sea (a History Book Club selection); and a naval history published in 2012, America's Black Sea Fleet. Dr. Shenk is also a retired captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve, having seen duty on a destroyer and on river patrol boats in Vietnam, and as an instructor of English on voluntary recall to active duty at both the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy.