Three questions that we as humans would do well to address in our lifetimes are:

In this final editorial by the Co‐Editors of Human Resource Development Quarterly, we address these three questions in terms of this journal, and its role in the human resource development (HRD) field over the past three decades. Thirty years is a meaningful number. In committed human relationships, thirty‐year anniversaries are variously referred to as “green” or “pearl” or even “diamond” anniversaries. As we approach the 30th year since the journal commenced publishing empirical research articles, it is fitting to consider our role as Co‐Editors, the “state” of the journal we have been privileged to serve, and to conclude our final editorial by offering some thoughts about its “probable future.”

Scholars of HRD are well aware that the verb to “develop” connotes an ongoing and continuous process, a destination never quite attained, a hope for growth in a net positive direction. This process of development is simultaneously personal and collective. As we have prepared this editorial we have reflected that, in relation to our role as Co‐Editors, we have benefited from a wealth of learning opportunities presented by working with associate editors, authors, reviewers, and readers of the articles that have been published during our tenure. We sincerely hope that our approach to our editorial role has also contributed to the development trajectory of those with whom we have come into contact. In the remainder of this editorial, we first reflect on and celebrate 30 years of Human Resource Development Quarterly (HRDQ), we then consider its current position, and finally discuss some of the challenges and opportunities that our successors will likely address.