It is with great excitement and a large dose of humility that I am taking over the reins of Editor-in-Chief of Optics Express in 2019. Over the last 20 years, Optics Express has transformed the landscape of publishing in Optics, and in the process has become one of the most desirable journals in which to publish. I have had the privilege of watching and participating in the growth of Optics Express under three of the four former EiCs. This gives me a unique vantage point from which to survey the journal and to reflect on the people that make it work.

When Prof. J. H. Eberly started Optics Express some 20 years ago, I was serving as a Topical Editor of Applied Optics. Applied Optics was an all-print journal that was still sending review material through the U.S. mail. The thought of an all-electronic journal was a foreign concept to many of us. But Prof. Eberly’s vision proved to be a phenomenal success. After finishing two terms at Applied Optics, I joined Optics Express in 2004 as an Associate Editor under the stewardship of the second EiC, Dr. Michael Duncan. Back then, there were only 17 Associate Editors—still large by many journals’ standards. Today this number has risen to over 120. I would like to pause and salute those who have served or are serving in this capacity. The Associate Editors are the heart of the journal, performing the first assessment of incoming papers (all 6,000+ of them!), finding reviewers to gauge their quality, and making the (sometimes) hard decisions on whether to publish. I tip my hat to these colleagues and cannot say enough about their selfless dedication.

In 2010, the third EiC, Prof. Martijn de Sterke, established a new position of Deputy Editor (DE) to assist him in the initial handling of the papers. It took six Deputy Editors to off-load the work that Martijn had been performing, and I was selected as one of them. To this day, I marvel at how he managed without the additional help. The ranks of DE have since grown to 10. These editors are the first ones to see incoming manuscripts. They make important decisions on whether these papers fit the scope of Optics Express and whether the papers are free from structural deficiencies. If a paper is a good fit for our journal, the DE assigns it to an Associate Editor with the appropriate expertise. In addition, DEs are called on to mediate appeals, handle disputes, and perform special duties. One such special duty was organizing the recent 20th anniversary celebration. The Deputy Editors served as Feature Editors and put together a beautiful collection of top-notch review papers from highly distinguished authors. Our DEs represent some of the best and most respected scientists and engineers in the field of optics. They bring their years of experience to the job, and their oversight of the reviewing process is critical to its success.

In 2012, the fourth EiC, Prof. Andrew Weiner, made the latest change to the editorial structure when he established the position of Senior Deputy Editor. I had the honor of being asked to serve in this position and have held it for the last six years. The Senior Deputy Editor has the responsibility of organizing the table of contents, selecting papers for showcasing as “Editors’ Picks” and “Spotlight on Optics,” spearheading a variety of special assignments, and serving as backup to the EiC. And now I am pleased to announce that Prof. Chris Dainty of the National University of Ireland, Galway has accepted and has just transitioned to this position as of 1 January 2019. In addition to assuming the aforementioned duties, Chris will be managing the Optics Express feature issues.

There are two additional groups that deserve special recognition. The first is the staff at OSA that makes the entire Optics Express operation run smoothly. I cannot speak highly enough of the dedication these talented individuals exhibit on a daily basis. Often, “large” and “fast” are incompatible goals. But somehow the OpEx staff manages to publish over 30,000 pages every year with an impressive median time-to-publication of only 70 days. Finally, I would like to mention our reviewers. Peer review is at the center of the scientific enterprise, and it is people like you, the reviewers of Optics Express, who are the guardians of the Journal’s reputation. We all owe each other a large, collective “Thank you.”

As I assume the role of the newest Optics Express EiC, I know I am standing on the shoulders of giants. But I also know that I am part of a dedicated and prestigious team. I look forward to working with many of you, and together, we will take Optics Express to even greater heights.