2024 Peter Perla Wargaming Award

The 2024 Peter Perla Award for Contributions to the Advancement of the Art, Science, and Application of Wargaming was presented to Major Tom Mouat, MBE by Colonel Matthew Caffrey at the 2024 Annual Connections Wargaming Conference:

"Before I start the introduction of our second keynote speaker, a few quick words of background. Each year we work to have two keynotes; the first on the theme of that year's conference, the second - a wargamers wargamer. I can think of no one who fits that role better than our next keynote speaker. I will not read Tom's bio. You should, but I believe it is more useful for me to comment on items from his bio you may not fully grasp the import of and items left out all together. You may have noticed there are many letters after Tom's name. The British place great value on letters following folks' names and Tom's letters are more impressive than most. You may have also noticed the year his Army service began - 1977. Do the math. That Tom has been serving such a long time is a sincere indication by the UK Ministry fo Defence of just how valuable that service is.

His bio does not say he has contributed greatly to the literature on wargaming -- but he has done so to a degree that would be impressive for two people, let alone one. His bio also does not say he was one of a very small circle of co-conspirators who launched Connections UK. They say in a democracy the most important election is the second one. For too many nations it's, one man, one vote, one time. Connections UK showed there could be additional Connections conferences, showing the way for Connections North (Canada) Connections NL (Netherlands), Connections OZ (Australia), and others.

In the year we are renaming the Connections Achievement Award to the Peter Perla Wargaming Achievement Award, I can think of no more deserving recipient than Major Tom Mouat, British Army.

Tom, please join me up here!"

-- Matthew Caffrey

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