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2024 Naval & Maritime Photo Contest

The winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions in the Institute’s 2024 contest.

December 2024

A Navy lieutenant stands watch. If the Navy wants to fill its department head, executive officer, and commanding officer billets, it needs more women—who separate sooner and at a higher rate than men—to commit to longer careers in the service.

The Navy Must Retain More Women SWOs

Women depart the Navy earlier, leaving fewer officers to fill leadership billets.

December 2024

With advances in communications and technology, merchant ships increasingly stay connected to the internet, a vulnerability an adversary could exploit to compromise the ships, their companies, and the port facilities they visit.

The Risk of Shipping Interconnectivity

Systems that offer time and cost savings may also open the door to cyberattack.

Lieutenant Commander Dan Bell, U.S. Coast Guard

December 2024

The U.S. Seventh Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), returns to Yokosuka on 20 August 2024.

Warfighting Readiness Is About Relationships

Reserve and active-duty members must foster a network of strong relationships.

Commander Allison M. Bergquist, U.S. Navy Reserve

December 2024

The commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke–class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) communicates with tugboats during a port visit to Guam.

Prioritize the Human Factor for Future Naval Warfare

Navy tenure and other policies may make it difficult to man the future fleet.

Captain Andrew Carlson, U.S. Navy

December 2024

Learn from the Fall of the Philippines Prepare the Third Island Chain

CNO Naval History Essay Contest—Professional Historian First Prize, Sponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute. The United States must fortify and expand its Indo-Pacific bases.

Lieutenant Commander Frederick “Andy” Cichon, U.S. Navy (Retired)

December 2024

RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft provide near real-time intelligence collection and analysis. This kind of support has been an important enabler for Ukrainian forces—without putting U.S. forces into direct conflict with Russian ones. Similar assistance to Taiwan could disrupt a Chinese invasion while lessening the risk of escalation.

‘Strategic Disruption’ Can Thwart an Invasion of Taiwan

The United States should seek indirect means of disrupting China’s plans.

Major Korey F. Lantes, U.S. Air Force

December 2024

In October 2024, the PLA Navy’s Liaoning and Shandong carrier strike groups (CSGs) exercised together in the Philippine Sea. It was the first time the PLAN was able to demonstrate dual CSG operations—evidence of China’s growing blue-water navy aspirations.

China’s Global Maritime Ambitions 10,000 Miles Beyond Taiwan

By midcentury, China wants to achieve naval power that spans the globe.

Commander Aaron Marchant, U.S. Navy

December 2024

Sailors assigned to Navy Reserve Center Los Angeles. Because of a loophole, reserve senior officers are often required to pay their own travel expenses to and from weekend duty. The Navy must stop this practice.

Stop Making Senior Reserve Officers Pay to Serve

Reserve leaders pay out of pocket for travel to weekend drills. It must stop.

Commander Thomas E. “Ted” Visser, U.S. Navy Reserve

December 2024

The Rohna (seen here in prewar service with the British India Steam Navigation Company) was overladen with U.S. troops and transiting the Mediterranean when she was bombed and sunk. For years afterward, all parties involved managed to keep a lid on the story.

The Rohna Disaster

The greatest loss of U.S. military personnel at sea from enemy attack involved a ship mostly ignored by naval historians.

Martin J. Bollinger

December 2024

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