2008----an eventful transition year for DOCA as for our nation. DOCA's year began in bright February sunshine in Key West, FL where we were hosted by the Joint Interagency Task Force South before flying on to Nicaragua and El Salvador.  Our two Latin American neighbors had each experienced a brutal civil war 20 years ago from which each is still recovering.  Our year also ended in sunshine at our October annual meeting hosted by the Navy in San Diego.  These and our other 2008 trips are detailed elsewhere herein.                                          In San Diego, where my own Navy career had begun 53 years ago, I had the pleasure of passing DOCA's presidential gavel to Peter Carter, a friend and DOCA trip mate over many years.  Peter will do an outstanding job as our new leader, and I will assist him as best I can as your Chairman.                                                                            In last year's report I referred to road blocks that had arisen in DOCA's relationship with the Defense Department. In the process of working toward solutions with DoD we received substantial help from our friends at the National Defense University ("NDU") and its private support foundation ("NDUF").  Although DOCA has been hosted many times at NDU, we have been remiss in informing you our members of the many symbiotic linkages between DOCA and these organizations. NDU's two principal masters degree programs are conducted by the National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Although these programs are primarily for senior level US officers, NDU for many years has allowed a few officers from around the world to join with their U.S. counterparts for these one-year programs. Only one officer per country is allowed in any year, and in recent years each class of International Fellows has consisted of about 50 officers.         A key part of the International Fellows program is Field Studies---visits for several days each to different parts of the U.S.  From the inception of the field studies over 20 years ago DOCA members have served as hosts in their own communities for many of these visits. Several of the DOCA member-hosted visits have become cornerstones of the Field Studies Program. Doug Averill's lodge in Bigfork, Montana is the first event of each year's program which usually ends with a visit to Lee Brown and other DOCA members in Santa Fe, NM.  Every year since the program's inception Judge Herman Reviere has arranged for families in Ripley, Tennessee to take in the International Fellows for the weekend while he conducts a mini course in the US criminal justice system for them in his courtroom. A new field study this year was hosted by John Lindahl in Minnesota's Twin Cities. The work of those named and many other DOCA colleagues continue to build strong bridges of friendship and mutual understanding around the world.  Our congratulations and thanks to all of you for jobs well done!                                                                      NDUF has for 26 years raised money to support and enhance the mission and goals of NDU and DOCA members have been key participants in NDUF since its beginning. Chuck Potter, a past President of DOCA, was one of the first Chairmen of NDUF, a position later held by Saf Peacock and Dick Freytag. Other DOCA leaders over the years have served on the NDUF Board which currently has six DOCA members. Each year DOCA members and the DOCA Defense Fund provide substantial financial support for NDUF and its programs, and I encourage you all to do so. In closing, it has been my privilege to serve as your President these past two years, and I deeply appreciate the support you have given me and DOCA. Sincerely, John R. Stahr DOCA President 2006-2008