At the Indo-Pacific International Maritime Exposition the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond announced the winners of the Chief of Navy Essay Competition. Also attending the prize giving ceremony was the Chief of Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston.
CN said, “These awards honour outstanding insight and thought leadership in shaping Australia’s future maritime capability and national security. BZ to the award winners! And thank you to all who submitted entries.”
This year’s competition drew the largest number of entries to date and the competition was administered and judged by the Australian Naval Institute. The winners were:
- McKenzie Prize (Open Division) – Commander Paul Pelczar – “From Convoys to Code: Protecting Maritime Trade in a Digital Grey Zone”
- Smith Prize (Australian Defence Division) – Mr Brayson Hill – “Unseen but Indispensable: How Naval Strength Underwrites Australia’s Prosperity”
- MacDougall Prize (RAN under 25 Division) – Midshipman Xavier Hayward – “A Unique Australian Sea Power: Universal Concepts in an Australian National Context”
- Gaul Prize (Industry Division) – Mr Shane Leverton – “High and Low Seas: Blue Water Defence from Gray Zone Threats to International Shipping”
- Honourable mention Lieutenant Matthew Jackson – “Convoy Protection in the Drone Age: A Strategy for the Australian Navy”
Source RAN
