George C. Herring is Alumni Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Kentucky. A native of Blacksburg, Va., he received a bachelor's degree from Roanoke College and after service in the U.S. Navy he earned both master's and doctorate degrees in History from the University of Virginia. He joined the UK faculty in 1969 after four years at Ohio University. At UK, he taught classes at all levels, from introductory survey courses in U.S. history to graduate seminars. He directed the work of thirty-five doctoral students and more than fifty M.A. students. He is a recipient of the UK Alumni Association Great Teacher Award and the Sturgill Award for Excellence in Graduate Education. He served three terms as history department chair and was acting director of the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce in the spring of 2005.

A specialist in the history of U.S. foreign relations, his writing has focused on the Vietnam War and includes most importantly, “America’s Longest War: The United States and Vietnam, 1950-1975,” the fifth edition of which was published in 2013.