CAPTAIN MICHAEL A. LILLY, USN (Ret.) had a distinguished career as Hawaii's Attorney General and as a trial attorney. He is a founding director emeritus of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, which operates the Missouri as a memorial and tourist attraction. He authored Nimitz at Ease, relating how his grandparents helped Nimitz cope with the stresses of command and win the Pacific war. He has published over 100 articles on the military and history. A Vietnam War combat veteran, his personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and three Meritorious Service Medals. He retired as a surface warfare captain after 30 years of service, active and reserve. He and his wife Cindy have four children and reside in Kula, Maui.
HOMEPORT: Hawaii
AREA OF EXPERTISE: Military History, WWII in the Pacific, Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii during WWII
NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS:
Nimitz at Ease Stairway Press, 2019
“Hawaii Prepares for War with Japan” December 2025, Naval History Magazine
“Japan’s Doomed Plans to Invade and Occupy Hawaii” December 2024, Naval History Magazine
“How Nimitz Coped” February 2022, Naval History Magazine
“Luck o’ the Wasp” August 2023, Naval History Magazine
“Nimitz at Guam: How he Relaxed from War” August 2023, Naval History Magazine
“How Clare and Henry Luce Helped Save England from Hitler” December 2022, Naval History Magazine
“Iraq and the War Against Terrorism” December 2003, Fore ‘n Aft Magazine
“Why Kosovo?” June 1999, Fore ‘n Aft Magazine
“53 Years of Peace and Prosperity” October 1998, Fore ‘n Aft Magazine
“The Next War: Will we be Ready?” August 1997, Fore ‘n Aft Magazine
“The Lessons of Boorda’s Life” August 1996, Fore ‘n Aft Magazine
POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS:
“Nimitz at Ease”
“Who Was the First European to Discover Hawaii?”
“More Frightening than a Kamikaze”
“How Nimitz Coped”