The Challenge:
To encourage an ongoing discussion concerning the strategic impact of mining, mine countermeasures operations, unmanned vehicle utilization in mine warfare, new technologies that could improve mining or mine countermeasures, and improved concepts of operations.
Deadline: 28 February 2016
Word Length: 3,000 words maximum (Note: Does not include footnotes)
Winners: The winners will be announced in the May Proceedings, which will include the publication of the prize-winning essay.
Prizes:
First Prize: $1,000
Second Prize: $500
Third Prize: $250
Note: All prize winners also will receive one-year memberships in the U.S. Naval Institute.
Sponsored with
the Mine Warfare Association
Previous Winners
2023 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Sponsored by the Mine Warfare Association
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) A. J. Douglas, U.S. Navy
2022 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Sponsored by the Mine Warfare Association
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Commander Victor Duenow, U.S. Navy
Second Prize
Commander Marc G. Tranchemontagne (Retired) and Lieutenant Commander Chris Price, U.S Navy
2020 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Sponsored by the Mine Warfare Association
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Prize (Tied)
Major Anthony Pollman, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired) and Lieutenant Christopher Hevey, U.S. Navy
Second Prize (Tied)
Captain John Moulton, U.S. Navy
2019 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Sponsored by the Mine Warfare Association
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Prize
Using Emerging Technologies to Defeate 'Old Mines in New Cloths'
Commander Matthew Ivey, Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Maritime Mining Must be a Navy-Led Mission
Lieutenant Joshua McCauley, U.S. Navy
2018 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Sponsored with the Mine Warfare Association
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Admiral James Winnefeld Jr., U.S. Navy (Retired), and Captain Syed Ahmad, Judge Advocate General Corps, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Second Prize
Lieutenant Allan Lucas, U.S. Navy, and Captain Ian Cameron, U.S. Marine Corps
Third Prize
To Starve a Nation—Lessons from the Offensive Mine Campaign of World War II
Lieutenant Commander Christopher Nelson, U.S. Navy
2017 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Sponsored with the Mine Warfare Association
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Prize
Terror in the Water: Martime Terrorism, Mines, and Other Imperiled Harbors
Lieutenant (junior grade) Daniel Stafanus, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
The Naval MCM Strategy: Post-Legacy to Post-LCS
Jason Stack
2015 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Sponsored by the Mine Warfare Association
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Commander Timothy McGeehan and Commander Douglas Wahl (Retired), U.S. Navy
Second Prize
Small Ships, Big Thinking
Commander John A. Craig, Royal Navy
2014 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Funded by The Mine Warfare Association (MINWARA)
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Joshua J. Edwards and Captain Dennis M. Gallagher, U.S. Navy
2013 Naval Mine Warfare Essay Contest Funded with the Mine Wafare Association (MINWARA)
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Third Prize
Lieutenant Colonel Michael F. Trevett, U.S. Army (Retired)