The Chief of Navy Essay Competition aims to promote knowledge of and interest in a thinking, fighting, Australian Navy. The competition was conducted for the first time in 2019.
This is a biennial competition. The 2021 competition is now open, and due to the pandemic, the deadline has been extended to 4 April 2022 at 11;59pm.
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the Australian Naval Institute (ANI) looks for original thinkers who, through their work, promote discussion about the topic and its implication for the future of the RAN.
The topic in 2022 is:
Noting the commitment of Indo-Pacific nations to a commonality of purpose, security, prosperity and good order, how might Navies best serve a common interest?
There are three (3) divisions with a prize of $5,000 awarded to the author of an essay in each division. Honourable mentions were also be made at the discretion of the judging panel.
The three divisions are:
1. The Open Division – named the McKenzie Prize (Florence Violet McKenzie) and open to any entrant either from Australia or international.
2. The Defence Division – named the Smith Prize (ADML Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith) and open to all members of the Department of Defence (ADF, APS, Cadets etc)
3. The Youth Division – named the MacDougall Prize (VADM Ian Donald George MacDougall) and open to all members of the Royal Australian Navy aged 25 or under as at the closing date for submission of entries.
Competition rules and full details about the competition can be found here.
