In the 2024 Grey Oration, Professor Patalano offers a deeply reflective and globally contextualised address on the evolving role of the contemporary military historian—one that must bridge the past with the immediate demands of modern strategic environments. Drawing on personal scholarly work around Japan’s post-war naval transformation and direct involvement in security policy development, the speaker examines how military history must be processed and interpreted through the lens of present-day strategic needs. The Oration pays tribute to Professor Jeffrey Grey’s legacy by illustrating how military history can influence national security decision-making, especially through naval power and its role in shaping both deterrence and legitimacy.

Expanding beyond regional case studies, the address introduces the concept of a "global order at sea" and the need to reconcile two contrasting frameworks: one rooted in the projection of power through maritime capability, and the other grounded in normative legitimacy defined by governance and international law. From the rise of digital and physical maritime dependencies to the persistent tension between sovereignty and standing, the Oration argues for a methodological shift in how we analyse maritime strategy—one that centres the sea as a vital domain of influence, competition, and collaboration.