THE CHALLENGE

We are living in an era of intense global competition. Renewed great power competition will require the Sea Services to rethink how to address national, strategic, and operational challenges and the way they will have to fight.

Authors may address any topic. Some possible issues to consider include:

  • How can the Sea Services quickly and more affordably develop, procure, and field capabilities needed for great power competition?
  • What new or nascent technology do the Sea Services need, and how it would impact tactics or strategy?
  • How can the United States and its allies deter China from coercive action in East Asia or the western Pacific?
  • What should the U.S. nuclear posture and strategy be to deter competitors along the continuum of conflict?
  • What reforms in education and training will or should advance the services?

Submission Guidelines

  • Open to all contributors -- active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians.
  • Essays must be no more than 3,000 words, excluding footnotes, endnotes 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 essay.
  • Submit essay as a Word document at www.usni.org/genessay no later than 31 October 2023.
  • Essays must be original and not published (online or print) or being considered for publication elsewhere.

First Prize: $6,000

Second Prize: $3,000

Third Prize: $2,000

Selection Process

The Proceedings staff members will evaluate every essay and screen the top essays to the Naval Institute’s Editorial Board composed of serving Sea Service professionals. 

Announcement of the Winners

The winning essays will be published in Proceedings and on the Naval Institute website. The winners will be recognized at a future Naval Institute event.

Selected Submissions

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Captain Sam Tangredi, U.S. Navy (Retired)
Third Prize
Lieutenant Commander Patrick Rawlinson, U.S. Navy
Funded by
Andrew and Barbara Taylor

Previous Winners

2010 General Prize Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Captain Victor G. Addison Jr., U.S. Navy
First Prize
Captain Victor G. Addison Jr., U.S. Navy
First Prize
Captain Victor G. Addison Jr., U.S. Navy
First Prize
Captain Victor G. Addison Jr., U.S. Navy
Second Prize
Dr. Joe DiRenzo III and Vice Admiral James D. Hull, U.S. Coast Guard (Retired)
Third Prize
Captain Brian J. Donlon, U.S. Marine Corps
Third Prize
Kirk Ross

1921 General Prize Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Prize Winner
Captain J. V. Chase, U.S. Navy
Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Commander Holloway H. Frost, U. S. Navy
Honorable Mention
Commander G. C. Westervelt, U. S. Navy, and H. B. Sanford
Honorable Mention
Captain J. K. Taussig, U. S. Navy
Honorable Mention
Captain T. T. Craven, U. S. Navy
Honorable Mention
Captain R. Drace White, U. S. Navy

1916 General Prize Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Prize Winner
Lieutenant Junior Grade H. H. Frost, U. S. Navy
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Commander J. K. Taussig, U. S. Navy
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Ridgely Hunt, U. S. Navy
Third Honorable Mention
Commander D. W. Knox, U. S. Navy
Third Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Commander Thomas Lee Johnson, U. S. Navy