WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) revealed the command's new logo, designed to represent its multifaceted mission, Feb. 27. 

The symbolism of the logo is rich and reflective of the elements of the purpose of NHHC. The logo's centerpiece is USS Constitution, the U.S. Navy's oldest commissioned warship, which represents the Navy's commitment to warfighting readiness from its earliest days on the world's oceans. 

Furthermore the representation of Constitution embodies NHHC's dedication to preserving and protecting maritime history. 

The quill pen serves as a reminder that the practice of documenting and understanding history is an important element of the Navy's course.

The two compass roses which bookend the command's name are traditional symbols of nautical navigation, symbolizing NHHC's ability to both interpret the Navy's past and help provide direction to its future. 

The circular, infinite, rope border reflects how the Navy's actions and decisions today will be judged alongside those of the past. 

The use of blue and gold represents the Navy's traditional colors - blue representing the ocean and seas and gold for integrity and valor.

"Together the elements of the logo capture NHHC's mission - to reinforce naval history's relevance to its leadership, the American public and Sailors, past and present," said Capt. Henry Hendrix, Ph.D. NHHC's director. "We wanted a logo that better reflected that drive, and I believe that the logo does so perfectly. It shows that as the Navy moves forward in its missions, NHHC will be there offering the wisdom of Sailors' past experiences to guide its course to success." 

NHHC's mission is to collect, preserve, protect, and make available the artifacts, documents, and art that embody our naval history and heritage for future generations. Its branches interpret naval history and heritage, providing historically relevant support to Navy leadership and Sailors. NHHC advances knowledge of naval history and heritage through professional research, analysis, interpretation, products and services. Through outreach to the American public, NHHC highlights the critical role the Navy plays in their daily lives and the importance of maintaining a strong Navy to protect their basic freedoms and America's maritime commerce. 

The new design incorporates elements of logos submitted to the command through its summer-long logo contest, which offered many artists, naval history enthusiasts and designers the opportunity to showcase their creativity and sense of style with a historic flair. The command received more than 40 logo submissions from people around the U.S. 

The winning design came from Nathan E. Quinn, a graphics specialist at the Defense Media Activity. The NHHC director and judging panel also favored a series of designs submitted by Peter Thielen, Jr., which was awarded honorable mention. The new logo is based on the winning design but also incorporates elements of the honorable mention designs.

The Naval History and Heritage Command, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. Naval history and heritage. It is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archaeology, Navy history, nine museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus.

For more news from Naval History and Heritage Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navhist/.