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
2025 MCEC Hero

2025 Marine Corps Essay Contest

Cosponsored by MajGen Charles F. Bolden Jr., USMC (Ret.) and Mr. Dirk P. Mosis III
Deadline
Bring new thinking about how the U.S. Marine Corps will tackle the security challenges of the coming decades.
NIEC Hero Image 2025

2025 Naval Intelligence Essay Contest

Cosponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute and Naval Intelligence Professionals
Deadline
This year’s naval intelligence essay contest invites you to take a fix and then propose a course for naval intelligence to adapt, inform, and shape...

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
Diversity & Inclusion
Education and Training Essay Contest
Emerging & Disruptive Technologies Essay Contest
Enlisted Prize Essay Contest
Faces of the Naval Academy Essay Contest
Fiction Essay Contest
General Prize Essay Contest
Global Defense Burden Essay Contest
Information Dominance Essay Contest
Information Warfare Essay Contest
Innovation and Risk Essay Contest
Innovation for Sea Power
Innovation for Sea Power 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 and Maritime Photo 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 Future of Naval Warfare Essay Contest
The Principles of War Essay Contest
U.S. Naval Institute/U.S. Naval War College Non-Resident Essay Contest
Unmanned Maritime Systems Essay Contest
Warfighting Essay Contest