Vitéz Andris Kursietis has been a researcher of military history for over fifty years, using resources that span the globe. His latest book, “Flag Officers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire 1867 - 1918”, contains the military biographies of almost 4,500 generals and admirals who served the Dual Monarchy during the fifty-one years of its existence, ending with their participation in World War I (1914-1918) and the abolition of the Empire at the war’s end. For his previous work on the Hungarian military, the Hungarian Knightly Order of Vitéz in 1997 awarded Kursietis its Cross of Merit. He is also the recipient of the Silver Medal of Merit from the World Federation of Hungarian Veterans, as well as the Silver and Bronze Service Crosses and the 2014-2018 Cross from the International Hungarian Military History Preservation Society. In September 2022 Kursietis was knighted in the Hungarian Knightly Order of Vitéz.Outside of his researching and writing, Kursietis serves as the Chairman, President and CEO of the Latvian Welfare Association in the USA (Daugavas Vanagi ASV).