On 13 June 1878, with Commander Alfred Thayer Mahan as acting Chair, the Naval Institute adopted rules for the first essay contest — the General Prize Essay Contest. This contest continues to this day.

Currently, the Naval Institute sponsors 14 essay contests.

Current Essay Contests

Essay Contests

2020 CNO Naval History Essay Contest

Supported by General Dynamics
Deadline
The Chief of Naval Operations invites entrants to submit an essay that applies lessons from throughout naval history to establishing and maintaining maritime superiority in...
Mine Warfare Essay Contest Image - Cropped

2020 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest

Sponsored by the Mine Warfare Association
Deadline
Address the strategic, operational, and tactical demands for 21st-Century Navy mine warfare, mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, mining technologies, systems, and platforms.

Essay Contest Archives

Anchoring Sea Enterprise Essay Contest
CNO Naval History Essay Contest
Coast Guard Essay Contest
Commander William Earl Fannin Class of 1945 Capstone Essay Contest
Cutting Edge of Technology Essay Contest
Cyber Essay Contest
Education and Training Essay Contest
Emerging & Disruptive Technologies Essay Contest
Enlisted Prize Essay Contest
Faces of the Naval Academy Essay Contest
General Prize Essay Contest
Global Defense Burden Essay Contest
Information Dominance Essay Contest
Innovation and Risk Essay Contest
International Navies Essay Contest
Leadership Essay Contest
Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune Writing Award
Marine Corps Essay Contest
Midshipmen and Cadets Essay Contest
Naval Aviation Essay Contest
Naval History Essay Contest
Naval Intelligence Essay Contest
Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest
Naval Reserve Essay Contest
NPS Foundation/U.S. Naval Institute Annual Essay Contest Award
Reserve Forces Essay Contest
Robotics Essay Contest
Submarine and Antisubmarine Warfare Essay Contest
The Principles of War Essay Contest
Unmanned Maritime Systems Essay Contest
Warfighting Essay Contest