2026 Naval Intelligence Essay Contest Cosponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute and Naval Intelligence Professionals

The Challenge

The Chief of Naval Operations has set forth a “hedge strategy” that seeks to balance “cost-effective, scalable, risk-worthy mass with the most advanced multi-mission platforms we can build and sustain.” It is, he asserts, a strategy that “unabashedly embraces risk to tip the scales in our advantage.” This year’s naval intelligence essay contest invites you to explore the implications of the CNO’s vision and then propose a path for naval intelligence to adapt, inform, and shape the Navy and nation. Potential topics include:

• What does a naval intelligence “hedge strategy” look like?
• Where should naval intelligence deliberately seek and accept risk—and where is it currently accepting unarticulated risk that should be understood and mitigated?
• How does the Information Warfare command-at-sea construct change
  how naval intelligence professionals should think about and practice
  their craft?
• As artificial intelligence grows in capability and capacity, should analysis remain a core function of naval intelligence? If so, what
  form should it take?
• What lessons should naval intelligence take from recent combat operations across the globe—and what potential lessons could
  represent negative learning for future operational environments?

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 2026.
• 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.