Vitéz Andris Kursietis has been a researcher of military history for over fifty years, using resources that span the globe. His latest book, “La Regia Marina”, tells the story of what could be considered to be the “modern” Italian Navy, covering the period 1900-1946. Included are abbreviated histories of the 404 main vessels (aircraft carriers, battleships, cruisers, destroyers, and submarines) that made up the Navy during that period, and brief biographies of its 845 flag officers.

For his previous work on the Hungarian military, the Hungarian Knightly Order of Vitéz in 1997 awarded Kursietis its Cross of Merit. He is also the recipient of the Silver Medal of Merit from the World Federation of Hungarian Veterans, as well as the Gold, Silver and Bronze Service Crosses and the 2014-2018 Cross from the International Hungarian Military History Preservation Society, and the organization’s Badge of Honour. In September 2022 Kursietis was knighted in the Hungarian Knightly Order of Vitéz.

Until recently, Kursietis served as the Chairman, President and CEO of the Latvian Welfare Association in the USA (Daugavas Vanagi ASV), as well as Vice-Chairman of the organization’s international board. He has been married to Rosemarie for thirty-six years, and credits her for encouraging him to share the fruits of his many years of research with a wider audience of historians.