The Challenge
The Leadership Essay Contest focuses on the roles of leadership and character in the U.S. Sea Services from the perspective of tomorrow's leaders. Junior officers (LCDR/Major and below)from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are eligible to participate.
Submission Guidelines
- Essays must be no more than 2,000 words maximum, excluding end notes and sources.
- Include word count on title page of the essay.
- Essays are judged in the blind. Do not include author name(s) on title page or within the essay.
- Submit essay as a Word document at www.usni.org/leadershipessay by 30 November 2021.
- 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
Selection Process
The Proceedings staff members will evaluate every essay and screen the top essays to a special Essay Selection Committee of at least six members who will include two members of the Naval Institute’s Editorial Board and four subject matter experts.
Announcement of the Winners
Winners will be published in a future issue of Proceedings.
Selected Submissions
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Sponsored by
Dr. J. Phillip London
Previous Winners
2023 Leadership Essay Contest Supported by Drs. Jack and Jennifer London Charitable Fund
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
2022 Leadership Essay Contest Sponsored by Dr. Jennifer London in Honor of Dr. Jack London
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Prize
Lieutenants Andrew Ray and Kelsey Gray, U.S. Coast Guard
2020 Leadership Essay Contest Sponsored by Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
2019 Leadership Essay Contest Sponsored by Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
2018 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 James J. “Jake” Moore and Lieutenant Commander Michael Silver, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Lieutenant Commander Steven Baldovsky, U.S. Coast Guard
2017 Leadership Essay Contest A U.S. Naval Institute Program in Partnership with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
2016 Leadership Essay Contest A U.S. Naval Institute Program in Partnership with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
2015 Leadership Essay Contest A U.S. Naval Institute Program in Partnership with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Third Prize
Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Keller, U.S. Navy
2014 Leadership Essay Contest A U.S. Naval Institute Program in Partnership with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Prize
Captain Rafiel D. Warfield, U.S. Marine Corps
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
2013 Leadership Essay Contest A U.S. Naval Institute Program in Partnership with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
2005 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
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
Lieutenant Kevin M. Coyne, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve
2003 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Prize
Lieutenant (junior grade) Claude G. Berube, U.S. Naval Reserve
Third Prize
Captain Robert P. Kozloski, U.S. Marine Corps
2002 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Martha S. Dunne, U.S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Captain Curtis E. Moore II, U.S. Marine Corps
2001 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant (junior grade) Jason Hudson, U.S. Naval Reserve
2000 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
1999 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Honorable Mention
Captain Philip A. Burdette, U.S. Marine Corps
1998 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
First Lieutenant John Preston Brown, U.S. Marine Corps
Second Honorable Mention
Captain James T. Jenkins, U.S. Marine Corps
1997 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Captain Matthew L. Jones, U.S. Marine Corps
1996 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Martha S. Dunne, U.S. Navy
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
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
1993 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Geoffrey L. Owen, U.S. Navy
1992 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant David A. Jenkins, U.S. Navy
1991 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Herbert A. Black, U.S. Coast Guard
1990 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
1989 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Honorable Mention
On Sail Training, Leadership, and Luck
Lieutenant Scott A. Hastings, U. S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Jeffrey E. McFadden, U.S. Naval Reserve
1988 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Christopher A. Abel, U.S. Coast Guard
1987 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
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
1986 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Midshipman First Class Lawrence Bauer, U.S. Naval Reserve
Second Honorable Mention
Captain Keith Oliver, U.S. Marine Corps
1985 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant (junior grade) Scott A. Hastings, U. S. Naval Reserve
1984 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Christopher I. Xenakis, U. S. Naval Reserve
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Christopher I. Xenakis, Chaplain Corps, U. S. Naval Reserve
1983 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Terry C. Pierce, U. S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Captain John D. Williams, U. S. Marine Corps
1982 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
1981 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Honorable Mention
Captain George C. Solley, U. S. Marine Corps
1980 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Captain George C. Solley, U. S. Marine Corps
1979 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Second Honorable Mention
Midshipman First Class Jamie Lee Smith, U.S. Naval Reserve
1978 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant John G. Morgan, Jr., U. S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
First Lieutenant Harries-Clichy Peterson, Jr., U. S. Marine Corps
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Carol Alice Hiers, U.S. Navy
1977 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Captain Michael J. O'Hara, U. S. Marine Corps
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Andrew M. Petruska, U. S. Navy
1976 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Thomas B. Grassey, U. S. Naval Reserve
Second Honorable Mention
Captain Thomas U. Wall, U. S. Marine Corps
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant A. M. Petruska, U. S. Navy
1975 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest
PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
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