Craig Lee Symonds (1946- ) attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. Going on to graduate work, he obtained his M.A. in history at the University of Florida.Symonds joined the United States Naval Reserve in 1971, serving for three years and rising to the grade of Lieutenant. While in the Navy, he served on the staff and faculty of the Naval War College. On his release from active duty, he returned to his graduate studies in history at the University of Florida, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1976 following which the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland appointed him assistant professor of history. He was subsequently promoted to associate professor and then professor of history in 1985. He served as chairman of the history department 1988-1992 and was appointed professor emeritus on his retirement in 2005. He was also a visiting lecturer at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England. He is a distinguished historian of the American Civil War.