Although I’ve spent most of my career as a professional military historian, my passion is as a storyteller, seeking to unfold history’s human core.

Edward G. Lengel

Edward G. Lengel is an award-winning historian and educator. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where he directed the Washington Papers Project for many years, and subsequently worked in senior positions in the public history field.

Also a professional author, speaker, and battlefield tour guide, Lengel has written fifteen books on American history and other subjects. These include the official history of Colonial Williamsburg; General George Washington: A Military Life; To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918; and Never in Finer Company: The Men of the Great War’s Lost Battalion.

Lengel is a co-recipient of the National Humanities Medal and has won two writing awards from the Army Historical Foundation. He makes frequent television and radio appearances.

Edward G. Lengel

    • University of Virginia, Ph.D., History (1998)

    • University of Virginia, M.A. in History (1993)

    • George Mason University, B.A., History (1991)

    • Vice President for Museum Experience (previously Chief Historian), National Medal of Honor Museum (October 2020-December 2023)

    • Senior Director of Programs, The National WWII Museum (2019-2020)

    • Chief Historian, White House Historical Association (2016-2018)

    • Director and Editor-in-Chief, Washington Papers Project, University of Virginia (2010-2016)

    • Assistant to Full Professor, and Assistant Editor to Editor-in-Chief, University of Virginia (1998-2016) [Assistant, 1998-2004; Associate, 2004-2009; Full, 2009-2016]

    • Historical Advisor, United States World War One Centennial Commission (2015-2020)

    • Revolutionary in Residence, Colonial Williamsburg (2018)

    • Special Advisor and Board Member, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Foundation, Staunton, Virginia (2011-2018)

    • Distinguished Writing Award, Army Historical Foundation, for The West Point History of the American Revolution (2018)

    • Alumnus Exemplar (top 50 all-time alumni), George Mason University Alumni Association (2018)

    • Outstanding Book Award for Thunder and Flames, Army Historical Foundation (2015)

    • Master Corporal Jan Stanislaw Jakobczak Memorial Book Award, U.S. Military History Group for Thunder and Flames (2015)

    • Outstanding Professor Award, University of Virginia Inter-Sorority Council (2015)

    • George Washington Masonic Memorial Award for scholarship on George Washington (2014)

    • Outstanding Alumnus Award, George Mason University History Department (2015)

    • Norman B. Tomlinson, Jr., book prize for To Conquer Hell: The Meuse-Argonne, 1918; The Western Front Association (2008)

    • National Humanities Medal, co-recipient with Washington Papers Project (2005)

    • General and Mrs. Matthew B. Ridgway Military History Research Grant, U.S. Army Military History Institute (2003)

    • Rawlings Prize, Albemarle County Historical Society (1999 and 2001)

    • Governor’s Fellowship, University of Virginia (1995-1996)

    • Dumas Malone Traveling Fellowship, University of Virginia (1994-1995)

Edward G.Lengel speaking on General George Washington for Foreign Policy Research Institute's Great Captains in American history series