2026 Leadership Essay Contest | U.S. Naval Institute

The Challenge

The Leadership Essay Contest focuses on the roles of leadership and character in the U.S. Sea Services from the perspective of tomorrow’s leaders. Junior officers (O-4 and below) from the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard are eligible to participate.

Submission Guidelines

• Essays must be no more than 2,000 words maximum (excludes endnotes/resources).
• Include word count on title page of essay, but do not include author name(s) on title page or within the essay.
• Essays are judged in the blind.
• Submit essay as a Word document at www.usni.org/leadershipessay by 30 November 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

The Proceedings staff members will evaluate every essay and screen the top essays to a special Essay Selection Committee of at least six members who will include two members of the Naval Institute’s Editorial Board and four subject matter experts.

Announcement of the Winners

Winners will be published in print or online in future editions of Proceedings.