title: Editorial.
abstract: At the end of 2006, after 5 years as the Editor of Optics Express (and a number of years before that as an Associate Editor), I will be stepping down and placing the journal in the capable hands of the new Editor-in-Chief, Professor Martijn de Sterke. In this time of transition, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect a little on the history of Optics Express and say a few words about its future.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duncan