Official Portrait of Colin Powell

"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution everybody can understand."

—Colin Powell

Maximum Length:

3,500 words

Topic:

Any subject relating to leadership in the sea services

Open to:

U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers, regular and reserve, in pay grades O-1, O-2, and O-3, and . officer trainees within one year of receiving their commissions

Published:

June Proceedings (first-prize winner)

Deadline:

15 February

$1,500 First Prize
Naval Institute Gold Medal
Life Membership in the Naval Institute

$1,000 Second Prize
Silver Medal
One-year Membership in the Naval Institute

$500 each Two Third Prizes
Bronze Medals
One-year Memberships in the Naval Institute

Selected Submissions

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Lieutenant Jennifer Free, U.S. Navy
Second Prize
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Nathan D. Luther, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Lieutenant Daniel E. Rogers, U.S. Coast Guard
Third Prize
Midshipman First Class Mitchell Hall, U.S. Navy

Previous Winners

2015 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 Jason Shell, U.S. Navy
Second Place
Ensign Justin Chock, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Lieutenant Commander Robert E. Keller, U.S. Navy
Third Place
Captain Rafiel Deon Warfield, U.S. Marine Corps

2014 Leadership Essay Contest A U.S. Naval Institute Program in Partnership with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
First Prize
Ensign Jesse Burroughs, U.S. Navy
Second Prize
Captain Rafiel D. Warfield, U.S. Marine Corps
Third Prize
Lieutenant Michael Mabrey, U.S. Navy
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

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
Ensign Anne Gibbon, U.S. Navy
Third Prize
Lieutenant Kevin M. Coyne, Civil Engineer Corps, U.S. Naval Reserve

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
Second Honorable Mention
Captain Lori Reynolds, U.S. Marine Corps

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

1987 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Winner
Midshipman First Class Martin P. Siewert, U.S. Naval Reserve
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant William F. Hoeft, Jr., U.S. Navy
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
Second Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Sam J. Tangredi, U.S. Navy

1975 Vincent Astor Memorial Leadership Essay Contest

PRIZE
TITLE
NAME
Winner
Lieutenant Michael R. Svendsen, U. S. Navy
First Honorable Mention
Lieutenant Thomas F. Marfiak, U.S. Navy
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