| How to Address a Retired Officer Who Is A Professor?
Dear Mr. Hickey:
Would you by any chance know the proper form of address for a USN Captain who is now a university professor with a PhD? I read the note on your website regarding context (Captain when he's my commanding officer, Doctor when he's bandaging my foot, or something to that effect), but I wonder what would be suitable with an academic doctor, and in a more formal usage. I've encountered "Captain Doctor [name]" once or twice on the Internet, but it seems a bit of a mouthful.
--- P. L. Scott
Dear Mr. Scott:
In the United States:
1) We only use just one honorific at a time. So he would be "Captain (name)," "Dr. (name)," or "Professor (name)."
2) If he's a retired Captain he probably prefers to be orally addressed as Captain (name). In writing use Captain (full name), USN, Retired, Professor of Mathematics
3) Military ranks are never used with academic degrees, so he'd never be "Captain (full name), PhD" . I cover this on page 99 in my book
4) He's probably never "Dr. (name)."
All this said, it's never inconsiderate to ask what he prefers! Ultimately it is his preference in which you are most interested.
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Retired Officer Who is A Dean?
Hi Robert,
How would I address an envelope to a captain retired from the US Navy, who now is the dean of a college?
--- O.S.
Dear O.S.:
It depends on what he likes to be called. If you find he likes to be addressed as "Captain (name)" at the college ... then address him (see page 217 in my book) as:
Captain (full name), USN, Retired
Dean of (name of school, college, etc.)
(Name of College/University)
(Address)
If you find he prefers to be addressed as "Dr. (name)" at the college ... then in writing I would address him as:
(Full name), (Post-nominal abbreviation for his degree)
Dean of (name of school, college, etc.)
(Name of College/University)
(Address)
"Dean (full name)" is a more informal form of address -- use it to address him orally. Call him "Dean (name)" in interactions with him as a dean. Both Captain (name) or (Name), (degrees) are more formal forms to use in writing.
The final determination in every form of address is "what is the preference of the bearer" so in this case: What is the preference of this particular dean? In a conversation with a British protocol expert familiar with all the titles and honors you encounter in London, he said people are never offended if you acknowledge too many of their honors -- but may be if you acknowledge too few!
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Retired Officer Who Has a Doctorate?
How does one, in written form, address a retired BGen (USAF) who has his PhD? He goes by “Dr. Taylor” now that he is retired, but management also wants to acknowledge his service as well as his degree.
BGen Henry Taylor, PhD, USAF (Ret)?
BGen Henry Taylor, USAF (Ret), PhD?
Dr. Henry Taylor, BGen, USAF (Ret)?
Thank you,
--- Bill Montgomery
Dear Mr. Montgomery:
Three part answer:
You say he 'goes by Dr. Taylor now. When retired officers represent private companies to the armed services ... they frequently skip using their rank when dealing with active-duty officers. So in spite of management's desire to bring his former rank into the picture, I'd get back to management that the best course is to follow his preference, but it would be appropriate introduce him as "May I introduce Dr. Henry Taylor. Dr. Taylor is a retired United States Air Force Brigadier General."
Now on to the details:
#1 There is an American tradition that we only give a person one title at time.
** If he prefers to be continued to be addressed as a Brigadier General
then use the form I have on Brigadier General
** if he prefers now to be addressed as a Doctor
use the form I have on Doctorate
I say "American tradition" because the "British tradition" is to give a person EVERYTHING they would ever get ... so you see names like The Right Honourable Reverend Lieutenant Colonel Dr. Lord William Ramsey, MP, VC .... But in the US we address a person with the one "honorific" or "courtesy title" that's appropriate to the situation .... who they are to us at the moment.
#2 Regarding you use of abbreviations: "BGen" is the DOD service-specific abbreviation used by Marine Brigadier Generals. The DOD service-specific abbreviation for USAF Brigadier Generals is "Brig Gen"
#3 You see "Retired" noted many ways ... but use EITHER of the following ... to (Ret)
Brig Gen Henry Taylor, USAF, Ret.
Brig Gen Henry Taylor, USAF, Retired
For future use of abbreviations, my books has all that. It answers your questions on page 94 (use of retired with retired officers) and page 97 (DOD USAF abbreviations).
-- Robert Hickey
How to Address a Former Judge Who Is Now a Corporate Executive?
My partner and I are meeting with the head of a major philanthropic and public service organization. Prior to taking on this new post the organization's head was a New York State Supreme Court Judge in the Family Court System. His new secretary answers his phone "Mr. (his last name)'s Office". We're preparing a briefing document for him and I'm unsure if he should be addressed as "Mr." or "Judge" or "the Hon." Any idea?
-- Laurane M. in New York
Dear LMINY:
A retired judge is addressed in writing as "The Honorable (full name)", The rule is "once an Honorable, always an Honorable."
Typically retired judges are addressed in conversation as Judge (surname). Like ambassadors, generals, and senators, they often use their former professional title in every situation for the rest of their lives.
BUT If his own secretary says Mr. (his last name)'s office then I would think that it is his preferred form of address. He may think he is most appropriately addressed at his current job to reflect his current job. If you are still concerned, a call to his office will resolve the confusion and avoid a mistake.
-- Robert Hickey
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