2025 Naval Intelligence Essay Contest

The Challenge

Peace through strength is the order of the day. Naval power is and will remain a key part of the nation’s military strength, but the operational
environment, technologies, and force structure are changing rapidly. This year’s naval intelligence essay contest invites you to take a fix
and then propose a course for naval intelligence to adapt, inform, and shape the Navy and nation. Potential topics include:

• What must naval intelligence do to achieve, in the words of the former CNO, “readiness for the possibility of war with the People’s
  Republic of China by 2027”?
• How much of naval intelligence will be replaced with artificial intelligence, and what parts must endure?
• What are the unique intelligence requirements of naval forces employing swarms, autonomy, and attritable mass—and how
  should naval intelligence adapt?
• What lessons should naval intelligence take from ongoing combat in the Red Sea?
• What is the health of naval intelligence in the U.S. Navy—both as a discipline and a community?

Submission Guidelines

• Open to all contributors -- active-duty military, reservists, veterans, and civilians.
• Essays must be no more than 2,500 words, 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 the title page or within the body of the essay.
• Submit essay as a Word document at www.usni.org/navalintelligence no later than 31 July 2025.
• 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

A panel of expert judges compiled by the U.S.  Naval Institute and Naval Intelligence Professionals will evaluate and judge all entries submitted to the contest. Essays will be judged in the blind—i.e., the judging panel will not know the authors of the essays. Since we receive so many submissions (more than 100 per month!), notification of acceptance on one of our platforms can take 4-6 months. We will notify you via email if your essay is selected for a prize or for publication.

Announcement of the Winners

Winners will be recognized at the Naval Intelligence Professionals' Annual Meeting.