"Life at Sea" Photographic Collection Preston

Materials created and maintained by James "Jim" Preston for his 1981 assignment to document life aboard the USS America (CV-66) during an extended deployment in the Indian Ocean.

James "Jim" L. Preston is an accomplished public affairs specialist with more than 20-years of experience as a photojournalist, photo editor, designer, and director. His career began as a U.S. Navy photojournalist working with the Blue Angels and All Hands Magazine. He began his civilian career in newspapers as a photographer at The Denver Post, becoming the Director of Photography after five years. He also worked as a photographer and photo editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Photo Director at the Houston Post, Assistant Managing Editor of Photography at The Sun in Baltimore, and Director of Photography at The Cape Cod Times. Preston served as the Deputy Director/Senior Photo Editor for the White House Photo Department for the final three years of President Obama's administration, assisting in the daily editing of the visual historical record of the President. He finished his professional career as the Supervising Photographer for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Preston met the 14th Chief of the U.S. Navy Office of Information, Admiral Bruce Newell Jr., and suggested an assignment documenting the life aboard an aircraft carrier during a long deployment. With the goal to share this story with friends and families back home, the Admiral granted Preston permission to join USS America (CV-66) on April 4, 1981.