NDU Press Congratulates the Winners of the 2024 Essay Competitions
NDU Press hosted the final round of judging on May 16–17, 2024, during which 28 faculty judges from 17 participating professional military education (PME) institutions selected the best entries in each category. There were 97 submissions in this year’s three categories. First Place winners in each of the three categories appear in the following pages.
Secretary of Defense National Security Essay Competition
The 18th annual competition was 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
Lieutenant Colonel Zachary S. Hughes, USAF
National War College
“Giving Our ‘Paper Tiger’ Real Teeth: Fixing the U.S. Military’s Plans for Contested Logistics Against China”
2nd Place
Lieutenant Colonel Adam “Teddy” Boyd, USAF
National War College
“Who Goes There? What DOD Is Missing About the Changing Character of War”
3rd Place
Major Anthony J. Bertoglio, USMC
Marine Corps Command and Staff College
“The U.S. Defense Industrial Base: Regression or Resilient?”
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Strategic Essay Competitions
This annual competition, in its 43rd year in 2024, 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
Commander Thomas Krasnicki, USN
Naval War College (Senior)
“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”
Joint Force Quarterly Maerz Awards
In its 9th year, the JFQ Maerz Awards, chosen by NDU Press staff, recognize the most influential articles from the previous year’s four issues. Six outstanding articles were chosen for the Maerz Awards, named in honor of Mr. George C. Maerz, former NDU Press managing editor.
Forum
Doug Quinn, Patrick Wolverton, and Scott Storm
“Quantum Computing: A New Competitive Factor With China”
JFQ 110 (3rd Quarter 2023)
JPME Today
Magdalena Bogacz
“Enhancing National Security: Increasing Female Faculty in Professional Military Education Would Strengthen U.S. Security”
JFQ 110 (3rd Quarter 2023)
Commentary
Joseph S. Cavanaugh, Clinton K. Murray, David Chang, and Julie A. Ake
“The Purpose and Impact of the U.S. Military HIV Research Program”
JFQ 110 (3rd Quarter 2023)
Features
Kevin D. Stringer
"Special Operations Forces Institution-Building: From Strategic Approach to Security Force Assistance”
JFQ 110 (3rd Quarter 2023)
Recall
David C. Gompert and Hans Binnendijk
“The Civil War and Revolutions in Naval Affairs: Lessons for Today”
JFQ 110 (3rd Quarter 2023)
Joint Doctrine
Thomas Theodore Putnam
“The Joint Force Remains Ill-Prepared to Consolidate Gains”
JFQ 108 (1st Quarter 2023)
Distinguished Judges
Twenty-eight senior faculty members from 17 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.
From left: Dr. Robert J. Orr, College of International Security Affairs; Dr. Jeffrey D. Smotherman, NDU Press; Dr. Paul J. Springer, Air Command and Staff College; Dr. John G. Terino, Air Command and Staff College; Dr. Andrea Hamlen-Ridgely, Marine Corps War College–Expeditionary Warfare School; Dr. Grant Campbell, Marine Corps University; Dr. Erik Bjorklund, National War College; Dr. Richard DiNardo, Marine Corps Staff College; Dr. Dylan Craig, National War College; Dr. Charles Chadbourn, Naval War College; Dr. James Van de Velde, Eisen- hower School; Dr. Ryan Wadle, Naval War College; Ms. Christine Moritz, NDU Press; Dr. Kevin M. Generous, Joint Forces Staff College–Joint and Combined Warfare School; Ms. Latosha Adams, NDU Press; Dr. Robert Nyland, Air University Global College of PME; Dr. Rachelle Kamrath, Marine Corps University; Dr. Naunihal Singh, Naval War College; Dr. Nicholas M. Anthony, Jr., Joint Forces Staff College–Joint Combined Warfighting School; Dr. William T. Eliason, NDU Press; Dr. Kevin P. Eubanks, Naval War College; Dr. John J. Church, NDU Press.
Not shown: Dr. Sean P. Braniff, Air War College; Dr. Brandy Lyn Brown, Marine Corps War College; Dr. Anna Cairney, U.S. Army War College; Lieutenant Colonel Keith Caldwell, USA, College of Information and Cyberspace; Dr. Jim Chen, College of Information and Cyberspace; Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria II, U.S. Army War College; Dr. Jon B. Mikolashek, Joint Forces Staff College–Joint Advanced Warfighting School; Dr. Richard P. Samuels, Air War College; Dr. Craig B. Smith, Joint Forces Staff College–Joint Advanced Warfighting School.