John F. Ross is an American historian and author. He is the recipient of the 2011 Fort Ticonderoga Award for Contributions to American History.

Career

The author of over 200 articles, Ross' works have appeared in '' Smithsonian'', ''

The Atlantic ''The Atlantic'' is an American magazine and multi-platform publisher based in Washington, D.C. It features articles on politics, foreign affairs, business and the economy, culture and the arts, technology, and science. It was founded in 185 ...

'', ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', ''

The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...

'', ''

Outside Outside or Outsides may refer to: * Wilderness Books and magazines * ''Outside'', a book by Marguerite Duras * ''Outside'' (magazine), an outdoors magazine Film, theatre and TV * Outside TV (formerly RSN Television), a television network * '' ...

'', and ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

''. He has reported from Greenland, Siberia, Galapagos, Panama, Thailand, and Mexico. In addition to his written work, Ross has been featured on more than fifty radio and television programs, including PBS's American Experience, NPR's On Point, Science Friday, C-SPAN, the Discovery Channel, the John Batchelor Show, and the Pritzker Military Presents. He has spoken at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum, NASA, the Explorers Club, and Cosmos Club. Ross was the former Executive Editor of American Heritage and has served on the Board of Editors at Smithsonian Magazine.

Promise of the Grand Canyon

Ross' fifth book, ''The Promise of the Grand Canyon: John Wesley Powell's Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West'' (Viking, July 2018), is the account of

John Wesley Powell John Wesley Powell (March 24, 1834 – September 23, 1902) was an American geologist, U.S. Army soldier, explorer of the American West, professor at Illinois Wesleyan University, and director of major scientific and cultural institutions. He ...

who, as an explorer, dared to lead the first successful expedition down the Colorado through the Grand Canyon, and, as a visionary, waged a bitterly contested campaign for environmental sustainability. The ''Washington Post'' says "Ross tells Powell's story powerfully, sprinkled with quotes from the explorer-geologist's diary and a feeling of dramatic suspense—will he survive?—even though we know the outcome." ''TIME'' interviewed Ross on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the

Grand Canyon National Park Grand Canyon National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States located in northwestern Arizona, the 15th site to have been named as a national park. The park's central feature is the Grand Canyo ...

on February 26, 2019. And, ''The National'' featured a story about Ross' research trip down the

Colorado River The Colorado River () is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The river, the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), 5th longest in the United St ...

with his family.

Enduring Courage

His book ''Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickebacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed'' (St. Martin's Press, 2014) tells the true story of

Eddie Rickenbacker Edward Vernon Rickenbacker (born Edward Rickenbacher, October 8, 1890 – July 23, 1973) was an American fighter pilot in World War I and a Medal of Honor recipient.World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Ross details how Rickenbacker overcame class hostility and a lack of formal education, pushing redefining the nature of speed in American society to become one of America's greatest race car drivers and pilots. In an interview about ''Enduring Courage,'' Ross explains his fascination with Rickenbacker:

I was hooked at age 10 or 12 when I read his first autobiography, ''Fighting the Flying Circus.'' I was just stunned by the incredible stories of aerial dogfights in rickety biplanes over France in World War I, and how Eddie Rickenbacker was the hero at the center of it. As I got older I began to wonder: Who was this guy? How did he stay alive and what drove him? What was his nature and how did he look at life? Where did his courage come from?

The

Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' (''WSJ''), also referred to simply as the ''Journal,'' is an American newspaper based in New York City. The newspaper provides extensive coverage of news, especially business and finance. It operates on a subscriptio ...

has praised Ross for skill in depicting the reality of World War I air combat and how pilots' dangerous experiences differed from the more romantic ideas surrounding flight at the time. The ''Wall Street Journal'' similarly hailed Ross' earlier book, ''War on the Run: The Epic Story of Robert Rogers and the Conquest of America's First Frontier,'' as a "lively, evocative and at times moving biography" of the man who is the godfather of

Special Operations Special operations or special ops are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment." Special operations ma ...

Published works

* ''Living Dangerously: Navigating the Risks of Everyday Life'' (Perseus, 1999) It was also published under the title ''The Polar Bear Strategy''. * ''War on the Run: The Epic Story of Robert Rogers and the Conquest of America's First Frontier'' (Random House, 2009) * ''Enduring Courage: Ace Pilot Eddie Rickenbacker and the Dawn of the Age of Speed'' (St. Martin's Press, 2014) * ''The Promise of the Grand Canyon: John Wesley Powell's Perilous Journey and His Vision for the American West'' (Viking, 2018)

Awards

* 2011 Fort Ticonderoga Award for Contributions to American History * 2009 Harryman Dorsey Periodical Article Award from the Society of Colonial Wars for "Battle of Carillon" in ''American Heritage,'' Spring/Summer 2008

References

External links

*PBS's ''American Experience'' http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/great-war/ * *"Scuba Diving in Thailand: A Balancing Act" (''The New York Times'') https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/21/travel/thailand-scuba-diving.html *"Colonial America's Final Battle" (''Wall Street Journal'') https://www.wsj.com/articles/colonial-americas-final-battle-1499638797 *"Battle for Ticonderoga" (''American Heritage Magazine'') https://www.americanheritage.com/index.php/content/battle-ticonderoga *"Top Dogs: The Greenland Polar Inuit's bond with the sled dog" (''Smithsonian Magazine'') https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/top-dogs-107100124/ *"People of the Reindeer: The Khanty reindeer herders of northwestern Siberia" (''Smithsonian Magazine'') https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/people-of-the-reindeer-69838025/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Ross, John F. 20th-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American historians Living people Year of birth missing (living people) 20th-century American male writers American male non-fiction writers 21st-century American male writers