The Challenge
Address One or More of the Following:
- What initiatives in Naval Intelligence will ensure the ability to provide penetrating insight and decision advantage against Great Power Competition by 2035?
- How does Naval Intelligence apply the lessons of two decades of special operations support?
- How does it master AI, new national intelligence and ISR capabilities, and open sources?
- Is there a need for closer integration with the Marine Corps?
- What changes are needed in manning, training, organizational alignment, and operational practices?
- How will Naval Intelligence manage the mission and stay relevant?
Eligibility
Open to all contributors--active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians.
Submission Guidelines
- Word Count: 2,500 words maximum (excludes endnotes/sources).
- Include word count on title page of essay but do not include author name(s) on title page or within the essay.
- Note: Your essay must be original and not previously published (online or in print) or being considered for publication elsewhere.
First Prize: $5,000
Second Prize: $2,500
Third Prize: $1,500
Selection Process
Naval Intelligence Professionals will evaluate all entries submitted in the contest and provide the top five essays to the U.S. Naval Institute's Editorial Board for judging. All essays will be judged in the blind -- i.e., the judges will not know the authors of the essays.
Announcement of the Winners
Winners will be recognized at the Naval Intelligence Professionals' Annual Meeting in October in Washington, D.C.
Selected Submissions
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Commander Christopher Nelson, U.S. Navy, and Andrew Rhodes
Third Prize
Lieutenant Sean Margot and Lieutenant Commander Tyson Meadors, U.S. Navy
Cosponsored by
Naval Intelligence Professionals
Cosponsored by
Naval Institute
Previous Winners
2022 Naval Intelligence Essay Contest Cosponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute and Naval Intelligence Professionals
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Chief Petty Officer John Minor, U.S. Navy
Second Prize
Captain Robert Holmes, U.S. Marine Corps
2021 Naval Intelligence Essay Contest Cosponsored by the Naval Institute and Naval Intelligence Professionals
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Lieutenants Kyle Cregge and Shane Halton, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Captain Michael Van Liew, U.S. Marine Corps
2019 Naval Intelligence Essay Contest Sponsored by Naval Intelligence Professionals
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Commander Mike Dahm, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Second Prize
Commander Christopher Nelson, U.S. Navy, and Eric Pedersen
Third Prize
Lieutenant Commander James Landreth, U.S. Navy