NDU Press hosted the final round of judging on May 16–17, 2024, during which 27 faculty judges from 16 participating professional military education (PME) institutions selected the best entries in each category. There were 97 submissions in this year’s three categories.
The 43rd annual competitions were intended to stimulate new approaches to coordinated civilian and military action from a broad spectrum of civilian and military students. Essays address U.S. Government structure, policies, capabilities, resources, and/or practices and provide creative, feasible ideas on how best to orchestrate the core competencies of our national security institution.
The purpose of this competition is to stimulate thinking about national security strategy, promote well-written research, and contribute to a broader security debate among professionals. NDU Press manages the competition in three phases, with assistance from coordinators and faculty judges representing each participating PME school. First, the schools conduct internal competitions and submit their best essays to NDU Press. Second, judges evaluate nominated essays from other schools virtually. Finally, judges travel to NDU for the final round conference to determine winners in each category.
Click here to read the competition rules
The 2024 Winning Essays
Strategic Research Paper
1st PLACE
Commander Thomas Krasnicki, USN
Naval War College (Senior)
“It’Considering the Utility of Modern Blockade in a Protracted Conflict With China”
2nd PLACE
Major Patrick Smith, USA
Naval War College (Junior)
“Celtic Security in the Atlantic: How Does Ireland Secure Europe’s Western Flank?”
3rd PLACE
Nicholas F. Caron, U.S. Senate Professional Staff Member
Naval War College (Junior)
“Admiral Rickover in the Pacific Rim: An Argument for U.S. Led Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine Programs”
Strategy Article
1st PLACE
Colonel Richard Bell, USA, Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Goldsmith, USAF, Lieutenant Commander Robert Martinez, USN, and Lieutenant Colonel Donghyun Lee, Republic of Korea Army
Joint Combined Warfighting School
“Stop Talking to Yourself: Military Recruiting in the Modern Age”
2nd PLACE
Colonel Katie Gaetke, USAF, Commander Joe Jindrich, USN, and Major Thomas Killams, USAF
Joint Combined Warfighting School
“Incorporating Loss Aversion Bias in Military Planning and Risk Doctrine”
3rd PLACE
Lieutenant Colonel Richard N. DeRohan, USAF
National War College
“A Case to Strengthen Taiwan’s C2 Resilience”
For all 2024 competitions, the winning essays will be published in Joint Force Quarterly 115 (4th Quarter 2024), the CJCS professional military, interagency, and security studies journal. Authors of the first-, second-, and third-place essays will be recognized by the Secretary of Defense, CJCS, or NDU President with certificates and—if conditions permit—a personal meeting with the Secretary or Chairman.
This is a joint, interagency writing competition, and essays are expected to meet rigorous academic standards. Thus, senior faculty commitment in each participating college or school is an imperative for a healthy competition. Faculty essay coordinators are requested to actively promote and inform students of the opportunity to compete with their colleagues, and faculty judges are requested to make a significant investment of their time in reading and evaluating essays during both phases of judging.