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NDU Press and the NDU Foundation Congratulate the Winners of the 2022 Essay Competitions
NDU Press hosted the final round of judging on May 12–13, 2022, during which 31 faculty judges from 18 participating professional military education (PME) institutions selected the best entries in each category. There were 97 submissions in this year’s three categories—the second most entries ever. First Place winners in each of the three categories appear in the following pages.
Secretary of Defense National Security Essay Competition
The 16th annual competition is 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.
1st Place
Jeffrey D. Graham, Department of State
National War College
“Building an Enduring U.S.-India Partnership to Secure a Free, Open, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region”
2nd Place
Lieutenant Colonel Steven J. Curtis, USA
U.S. Army War College
“A New Character: Rethinking Intelligence for 2035”
3rd Place
Lieutenant Colonel Kevin J. Consedine, USA
U.S. Army War College
“Be All You Can Be . . . Like Your Parents”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Essay Competition
This annual competition, in its 41st year in 2022, challenges students at the Nation’s joint PME institutions to write research papers (5,000 words) or articles (1,500 words) about significant aspects of national security strategy to stimulate strategic thinking, promote well-written research, and contribute to a broader security debate among professionals.
Strategic Research Paper
1st Place
Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Tate, USA
U.S. Army War College
“Transparent Cyber Deterrence”
2nd Place
Commander Von P.H. Fernandes, USN; Lieutenant Colonel Nita McQuitery, USAF; Major Lucas Hoffman, USA; and Major Ashley Gunn, USAF
Joint Forces Staff College–Joint and Combined Warfighting School
“The World in 90 Minutes or Less: Rocket Logistics and Future Military Operations”
3rd Place
Lieutenant Commander Stephanie Pendino, USN; Major Robert K. Jahn, Sr., USA; and Mr. Kirk Pedersen, Defense Intelligence Agency
Joint Forces Staff College–Joint and Combined Warfighting School
“Declaratory U.S. Cyber Deterrence: Bringing Offensive Capabilities into the Light”
Strategy Article
1st Place
Captain Kimberly Sandberg, USN; Captain Kevin Pickard, Jr., USN; Lieutenant Colonel Jay Zwirblis, USAR; and Lieutenant Colonel Speight H. Caroon, USAF
Joint Forces Staff College–Joint and Combined Warfighting School
“Health Diplomacy: A Powerful Tool in Great Power Competition”
2nd Place
Major Lim Wonho, Republic of Korea Air Force
Air Command and Staff College
“Implications of South Korea’s Growing ‘Middle Power Identity’ in the East Asia Policy”
3rd Place
Captain Jonathan J. Park, USAF
Marine Corps University–Expeditionary Warfare School
“Traumatic Brain Injuries: Improving the U.S. Military’s Diagnoses Process”
Joint Force Quarterly Maerz Awards
In its 7th year, the JFQ Maerz Awards, chosen by NDU Press staff, recognize the most influential articles from the previous year’s four issues. Five outstanding articles were chosen for the Maerz Awards, named in honor of Mr. George C. Maerz, former NDU Press managing editor.
Forum
Daniel E. Rauch and Matthew Tackett
“Design Thinking,”
JFQ 101 (2nd Quarter 2021)
JPME Today
Anand Toprani
“Hydrocarbons and Hegemony,”
JFQ 102 (3rd Quarter 2021)
Commentary
Montgomery McFate
“The Myths of Lyme Disease: Separating Fact from Fiction for Military Personnel,”
JFQ 100 (1st Quarter 2021)
Features
Brent D. Sadler
“Avoiding Great Power Phony Wars,”
JFQ 102 (3rd Quarter 2021)
Recall
Frank G. Hoffman
“Wartime Innovation and Learning,”
JFQ 103 (4th Quarter 2021)
Joint Doctrine
Michael Clark, Erik Jorgensen, and Gordon M. Schriver
“Read the Manual: Reversing the Trends of Failure in NATO Humanitarian Interventions with Airpower,”
JFQ 103 (4th Quarter 2021)
Distinguished Judges
Thirty-one senior faculty members from 18 participating PME institutions took time out of their busy schedules to serve as judges. Their personal dedication and professional excellence ensured a strong and credible competition.
Front row, left to right: Dr. Brandy Lyn Brown, Marine Corps War College; Dr. Jeffrey A. Turner, Joint Forces Staff College–Joint Advanced Warfighting School; Dr. Nicholas M. Anthony, Jr., Joint Forces Staff College–Joint Combined Warfighting School; Dr. David P. Hadley, College of International Security Affairs; Dr. Elizabeth D. Woodward, Air War College; Dr. Richard P. Samuels, Air War College; Dr. John G. Terino, Air Command and Staff College; Dr. Jim Chen, College of Information and Cyberspace; Carl J. (“Cj”) Horn III, Air Force Cyber College; Dr. Robert T. Davis II, Command and General Staff College; Ms. Leigh Caraher, U.S. Army War College; Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria II, U.S. Army War College; Dr. Charles Chadbourn, U.S. Naval War College; Ms. Caroline V. Schweiter, NDU Press. Back row, left to right: Dr. John J. Church, NDU Press; Dr. Todd Holm, Marine Corps War College–Electronic Warfare School; Dr. Jeffrey D. Smotherman, NDU Press; Dr. Sinan Cidad, Marine Corps Staff College; Dr. Thomas Sheppard, Marine Corps Staff College; Dr. James R. Van de Velde, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy; Mr. John O’Brien, College of Information and Cyberspace; Dr. William T. Eliason, NDU Press; Dr. Mark A. Bucknam, National War College; Captain Alex J. Lega, USAF, Air University Global College of PME; Dr. Amy R. Baxter, Air University Global College of PME; Dr. Paul J. Springer, Air Command and Staff College; Ms. Joanna E. Seich, NDU Press; Ms. Shira Klapper, NDU Press. Not shown: Dr. Donald W. Chisholm, U.S. Naval War College; Dr. Grant R. Highland, Joint Forces Staff College; Captain Todd S. Glasser, USN, National War College; Dr. James Kiras, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies; Dr. Nicholas E. Sarantakes, U.S. Naval War College; Dr. Naunihal Singh, U.S. Naval War College; Dr. Mark G. Sorensen, Command and General Staff College; Dr. Donald Stoker, Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.