The University of Wisconsin-Madison history department has hired a professor in American military history, finally realizing a dream of the best-selling author Stephen Ambrose, who donated money for the position more than a decade ago.
The Ambrose-Hesseltine chair in American history will be filled by John Hall, a major in the U.S. Army with a doctorate in history from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, said history department chairman David McDonald. He will begin teaching in September.
The post generated controversy three years ago when a magazine accused the university of intentionally leaving the position vacant.