The U.S. military’s long-comfortable technological edge is steadily eroding. To address that challenge, the Department of Defense seeks to leverage emerging technology, focusing heavily on autonomy, man-machine teaming, and machine learning and innovative ways to harness new technologies with tactics, techniques, and strategies to maintain a pacing edge over adversaries. How should the Sea Services meld technology and innovation to maintain our nation’s advantages?

The Challenge

 • Predict the next emerging and disruptive technologies

 • Describe how those technologies will be used by the U.S. military or against it

 • Discuss practical approaches for fielding and wielding emerging and disruptive technologies rapidly, and getting them into the hands of warfighters 

Submission Guidelines

 • Word Count: 2,500 words maximum (excludes endnotes/resources).

 • Email essay as a Word attachment to [email protected] by 28 February 2019.

 • Include Emerging & Disruptive Technologies Essay Contest on subject line of email.

 • Include word count on title page but do not include your name on title page or within the essay.

 • Provide a separate attachment to include bio and complete contact information.

 • 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

Selected Submissions

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Lieutenant Andrea Howard, U.S. Navy
Second Prize
Lieutenant John D. Miller, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Major Scott Humr, U.S. Marine Corps
Sponsored by
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Mitre

Previous Winners