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Zita Fletcher, a 2013 Judy Genshaft Honors College and É«É«Ñо¿Ëù graduate in interdisciplinary social sciences, has already built a distinguished career as an author, historian, and journalist. She was the first woman to lead Military History Quarterly and Vietnam magazines and has written more than 100 military history articles along with 10 books, including two award-winning titles. Fletcher has reported from Germany, covered the Pentagon and Congress for Military Times and Defense News, and previously served as the official historian for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Fletcher earned a master’s degree with distinction in military history from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. Her work has earned honors from the Military Writers Society of America, the National Federation of Press Women, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Eager to support Honors College students interested in writing and history, Fletcher recently shared how her Honors education supported her path towards journalism and becoming an author.    
                 
Can you tell us a little bit about your career journey as a historian and a writer?

I’ve had a lifelong interest in writing and wanted to become an author from a young age, but there was no clear roadmap to this while I was studying at USF. What has helped me to build my career as an author, historian and writer has been my approach of finding innovative ways to apply my skills and being creative in pursuing my interests.

I began my career as a journalist and wrote books on the side before I decided to focus fully on sharing my enthusiasm for military history and research in my writing. I became the first female editor of two national magazines, Military History Quarterly (MHQ) and Vietnam, which was a truly rewarding experience, as I worked with amazing teammates and managed contributors worldwide while sharing many compelling stories from across global war history.

I earned my master’s in military history and am now an author published by Pen & Sword, with more books on the way. I currently use my skills to write about the modern military landscape for Defense News and Military Times, and I also volunteer to support causes I care about, such as the German War Graves Commission. I assist them with research when I can and also write articles to support their work.

What initially interested you about military history?

I’ve had an attraction to military history for as long as I can remember. I’ve always admired soldiers — for their strength of character, their grit, their zest for life. When you open the pages of military history, you learn about all kinds of remarkable people who overcame challenges and mastered many impossible situations.

While it is true that war unleashes all forms of suffering, it can also bring out the best in people. There is a lot of love in military history — especially the love between brothers-in-arms, between commanders and their troops, and the sacrifices people make to help each other. Also, we can find many lessons in military history that are valuable today in manifold ways — in terms of tactics, technology, and in other areas. I like to use my talents to share stories and spark learning and discussion.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Writing brings its own rewards. When you enjoy what you’re writing about, it’s not work — it’s fun. I get enthusiastic about the subjects I am researching, and I enjoy the process of craftsmanship that goes into writing. Writing allows you to learn new things, and the research itself brings exploring and opportunities to travel. Being an author also has flexibility built into it. You don’t need specific equipment or to be in a specific office to do it. All that you need to do is to create the material, and if you’re organized and self-motivated, you can accomplish that in a way that works best for you.

How did the Honors College help prepare you for your career?

The Honors College was a wonderful place for me to study because we were encouraged to be creative. We were challenged by the academically rigorous environment but also encouraged to think outside the box. My studies at the Honors College gave me a solid foundation for embarking on my career because of that experience of not only of striving to improve my knowledge but also applying it independently.

Everything I studied at USF has been helpful to me in my career journey, although at the time, it wasn’t apparent how things would work out. At USF, I studied German, international studies, and criminology, and graduated with a degree in interdisciplinary social sciences. My studies in all of those areas have helped me immensely as a military historian and in doing research about specific topics across war history, such as in World War II.

What advice do you have for current Honors students?

When I was a student, there was a lot of pressure in society to conform with the idea that studying anything not related to math, science, technology, or medicine wasn’t worth a career effort. I got some dismissive reactions when I talked about wanting to be an author, and a fair amount of skepticism about the subjects I studied, but I chose to bet on myself and go forward, and things worked out for me.

Nobody could have predicted that technology would evolve so rapidly that we now have AI revolutionizing STEM-related fields. The leaps in technology make it important to focus on what makes us human, and to find enrichment in that humanity that AI cannot give us.

My advice is to make the most of exploring the opportunities the Honors College offers you. Engage with books, history, art, and exploring different cultures. Learn about things that spark your interest — even if you can’t predict how you will use that knowledge.