IT IS A PLEASURE for me to formally introduce Professor Huibert Kwakernaak as the Editor-in-Chief of Automatica. In previous issues reference has been made to changes in the editorial leadership of IFAC's flagship journal, Many readers will be aware of several other changes in IFAC's publications program as well, but in this note I would like to tell you something about Automatica's new Editor-in-Chief.
Following George Axelby's announced intention to retire, past President Brian Anderson and I undertook a search for George's successor. These are big shoes to fill--as noted in my comments on these pages in the November 1993 issue. We felt it would be ideal if we could find someone with extensive journal experience, including experience with Automatica and, in addition, a strong international reputation as a contributor to the control field. Demonstrated leadership skills are also a prerequisite for the Editor-in-Chief position of a major journal. Although we had no particular preference for an academic or industrial contributor, it was important to us that he be sensitive to both academic and industrial needs for archival literature in the control field. Following several interviews and consultation with members of the IFAC Council, we asked Huibert Kwakernaak to accept the post and were delighted that he accepted. A transition period of more than one year was planned and is now completed. With this issue Professor Kwakernaak takes the leadership of Automatica. He will serve as Editor-in-Chief of Automatica and Chairman of the Automatica Editorial Board. Huibert Kwakernaak, a native of the Netherlands, received the Engineer's Diploma in Technical Physics (cum laude) in 1960 from Delft University of Technology. His graduate work was at the Univeristy of California, Berkeley, where he earned the M.Sc. in 1962 and Ph.D. in 1963 both in Electrical Engineering. He held faculty positions at Delft until 1969. then went to