As I announced to senior staff this morning, I am resigning from ARRL effective today. But I wanted to thank all of you for your help and support over the past two years. This was a difficult decision for me: last October I told the Executive Committee that I was troubled by the evolving climate. Over Christmas, I made my decision, and I advised President Roderick on return of that decision. The nicest thing about working with all of you has been just that--working with all of you. So, I thank you all for your friendship, thank many of you for your leadership, and wish somehow that I had known the rest of you better and longer. When I left Manhattan, and came to Newington on a cold February day, I explained to my family that life is a great adventure. And so it is. But I am reminded by Nelson DeMille that the ultimate journey is never a direct route; it is, in fact, always circuitous, and somewhere along the way, we discover that the journey is more significant than the destination, and that the people we meet along the way will always be the traveling companions of our memories forever. Good luck to all of you, and I will remain available until March 2. Tom Gallagher Below is the text of the ARRL press release related to my staff announcement: Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, to Retire as ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, who has been the chief executive officer of ARRL, the national association of Amateur Radio, for the past two years, announced his retirement from that position prior the ARRL's Board of Directors meeting on Thursday, Jan. 18. Gallagher, who had advised ARRL President Rick Roderick, K5UR, of his intention to resign, expressed his gratitude to Roderick and the ARRL Board of Directors for having given him the opportunity to help guide the organization. "It has been my great privilege to serve in this capacity for two years, and I am deeply grateful to the board and President Rick Roderick, K5UR, for their support and encouragement." Gallagher said. "The ARRL is in a transition to a new generation for Amateur Radio. Change doesn't come easy. Tom helped us in taking that step forward and for that we are very grateful for his service to the League and to Amateur Radio," said Roderick. Gallagher, 69, cited recent changes included in the new federal tax law that made it unattractive for him to continue working in Connecticut, where ARRL is headquartered The Board will evaluate and determine the steps to take in a search for his replacement. Among Gallagher's chief accomplishments during his tenure as CEO of ARRL were creating an enhanced level of professionalism and efficiency in the organization that represents more than 150,000 amateur radio operators across the United States. Gallagher also oversaw a significant turnaround in the organization's financial performance during his tenure. Licensed in Pennsylvania in 1966 as WA3GRF (and later N4GRF in North Carolina), Gallagher is a member of the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Group. He has described himself as "an incurable HF DXer and inveterate tinkerer" and credits his first visit to the Franklin Institute's Amateur Radio station W3TKQ in 1963 for inspiring his interest in ham radio. Amateur Radio led to an early career in broadcasting. He was a cameraman and technician with WGBH-TV in Boston, the CBS Television Network, and Metromedia's WIP Radio in Philadelphia. He joined ARRL following three decades as an international investment banker and financial services executive. His career has included senior leadership positions with JP Morgan Chase & Co and CIBC Oppenheimer & Co in New York, and with Wachovia Capital Markets in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also served as an adjunct professor at the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and as CEO of the Secondary School Admission Test Board in Princeton, New Jersey. Gallagher has served on boards, both public and non-profit, including two NYSE companies, the NPR affiliate in Charlotte, the Executive Board of The PENN Fund at the University of Pennsylvania, and The International Center of Photography. He will continue to reside in West Palm Beach, FL. Tom Gallagher - NY2RF Chief Executive Officer ARRL Headquarters ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio(tm) 860 594 0404 cell 704 907 7158 tgallagher@arrl.org<mailto:tgallagher@arrl.org>