In November 2016, with the amazing support of Steve Leonard and Bob Hein, I founded Divergent Options.
Over the last eight years I have accomplished everything I set out to do with Divergent Options. Along the way, Divergent Options was able to approach the national security writing process from a different perspective, give many new writers a safe space to start their publishing journey, and positioned itself as a place to explore lines of thinking that would likely not be explored elsewhere.
While my goals for Divergent Options have been met, I know that Divergent Options has potential that I am not best positioned to realize. As such, effective January 1, 2025, I am transitioning principal leadership of Divergent Options to Lawrence Csaszar.
While Lawrence will be along in the coming months to tell you who he is, and Divergent Options will evolve in new ways under Lawrence’s leadership, the following is in effect:
1. Divergent Options will continue to be as kind as possible during the editing process.
2. The Options Paper format remains.
3. The Assessment Paper format remains.
4. Divergent Options will remain a place for writers to explore lines of thinking that would likely not be explored elsewhere.
5. Steve Leonard and Bob Hein remain in their current roles.
6. Phil Walter remains available for consultation.
As I depart, I want to publicly thank Steve Leonard and Bob Hein for their support over the last eight years. None of this would have been possible without them. I also want to express my endless gratitude to our writers. We would not exist without you, and I hope your experience with us was positive.
If anyone needs to find me, my writings are archived at www.philwalter1058.com and my Twitter account is @philwalter1058, though I admit I don’t have much to say these days.
To everyone reading this, I ask that you fully support Lawrence as he helps Divergent Options realize its full potential. I am excited to bear witness to Lawrence’s endeavors in the coming years supported by the ever-present Steve Leonard and Bob Hein.
Take care.
-Phil Walter
Founder, DivergentOptions.org
