For Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard junior officers and officer trainees to encourage research, new thinking, and writing on the topic of leadership.

First Prize

$1,500, a Naval Institute gold medal, and life membership in the Naval Institute

Second Prize

$1,000 and a silver medal

Third Prize

$500 and a broze medal (two awards)

Maximum Length:

3,500 words

Topic:

Any subject relating to leadership in the sea services

Open to:

U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers, regular and reserve, in pay grades O-1, O-2, and O-3, and . officer trainees within one year of receiving their commissions

Published:

June Proceedings (first-prize winner)

Deadline:

15 February

Essays are judged by the Naval Institute Editorial Board without knowing the identity of the author. Your submission must be an original analytical and/or interpretive work not currently submitted or previously published elsewhere. You are encouraged to submit photographic and/or graphic elements to support your essay.

Selected Submissions

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Lieutenant Matt White, U.S. Coast Guard
Second Prize
Lieutenant (junior grade) Claude G. Berube, U.S. Naval Reserve
Third Prize
Captain Robert P. Kozloski, U.S. Marine Corps
Third Prize
Lieutenant Mark R. DeBuse, U.S. Navy

Previous Winners

2015 Leadership Essay Contest A U.S. Naval Institute Program in Partnership with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Lieutenant Commander Jason Shell, U.S. Navy
Second Place
Ensign Justin Chock, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Keller, U.S. Navy
Third Place
Captain Rafiel Deon Warfield, U.S. Marine Corps

2014 Leadership Essay Contest A U.S. Naval Institute Program in Partnership with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Ensign Jesse Burroughs, U.S. Navy
Second Prize
Captain Rafiel D. Warfield, U.S. Marine Corps
Third Prize
Lieutenant Michael Mabrey, U.S. Navy
Honorable Mention
Past as Prologue: A Fresh Perspective on Naval Leadership from the Junior Officer Ranks
Lieutenant Jonathan Lushenko, U.S. Navy
Honorable Mention
Ruthless Self-Reflection: Integrating the Most Important Leadership Trait into a Highly Effective Leadership Persona
Captain James P. Donovan, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
Honorable Mention
Leadership Development: Seek Crucible Opportunities, Seek Mentoring
Lieutenant Jeff Janaro, U.S. Coast Guard

2004 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Lieutenant William Scotch Perdue, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
Second Prize
First Lieutenant Christopher S. Tsirlis, U.S. Marine Corps
Third Prize
Ensign Anne Gibbon, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Lieutenant Kevin M. Coyne, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve

1995 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Lieutenant Michael M. Edwards, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant (junior grade) Martha Suzanne Dunne, U.S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Christopher E. Devereaux, Medical Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve
Second Honorable Mention
Captain Lori Reynolds, U.S. Marine Corps

1994 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Winner
Lieutenant Michael M. Edwards, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
First Honorable Mention
Captain Kirk L. Freund, U.S. Marine Corps
Second Honorable Mention
Is the Naval Service Still a Profession?
Ensign Martha Suzanne Dunne, U.S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Military Leadership in a Multinational Era
Lieutenant Scott H. Frewing, U.S. Navy

1987 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Winner
Midshipman First Class Martin P. Siewert, U.S. Naval Reserve
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant William F. Hoeft, Jr., U.S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Lewis C. Kimmel, Chaplain Corps, U. S. Naval Reserve
Second Honorable Mention
Taking a Chance: The Role of Risk-Taking in Military Leadership
Lieutenant Christopher A. Abel, U.S. Coast Guard
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Sam J. Tangredi, U.S. Navy

1975 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Winner
Lieutenant Michael R. Svendsen, U. S. Navy
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Thomas F. Marfiak, U.S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Captain R. J. O'Rourke, U. S. Marine Corps
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Thomas S. Sher, U. S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Bruce Stuart Lemkin, U. S. Navy