CNO Contest
Caption: WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 22, 2018) (From left to right) Cmdr. Joel Holwitt, Ph.D., USN, Dr. Francis (Frank) Hoffman, Ph.D., Rear Adm. James Goldrick, RAN (Ret.), Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, USN, Vice Adm. James R. Fitzgerald, USN (Ret.), Lt. G. Creigh Greensmith, USN, Rear Adm. Richard F. Pittenger, USN (Ret.), and Lt. Robert E. Swain III, USN pose for a group photo during the Chief of Naval Operations Naval History Essay Contest 2018 Awards reception held at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The six winning essays were chosen out of 182 submissions from across the fleet, almost every state, and around the world. Naval History and Heritage Command, United States Naval Institute, United States Naval Academy, Naval War College and OPNAV coordinated the CNO Naval History Essay Contest. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Mutis A. Capizzi/RELEASED)

From Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Mutis A. Capizzi, Naval History and Heritage Command.

Vice Adm. Peter Daly, USN (Ret.), CEO of U.S. Naval Institute, opened the ceremony welcoming the winners and guests to the event. He said the contest was created to recognize the impact history has on the military today as well as its uses for shaping the future. 

“The six essay winners here; they embodied that exact greatness of history,” said Richardson. “They moved these historical examples and captured them in enough detail that they can fire our imagination, and then they applied them to the problems that we face today. I want to thank the Naval History and Heritage Command, thanks to the USNI, and thanks to CSIS for hosting and putting together this contest and awards ceremony; it was a great pleasure.” 

Awards in the category of Professional Historian were presented to first place winner, Rear Adm. James Goldrick, RAN (Ret.); second place winner, Cmdr. Joel Holwitt, Ph.D., USN; and third place winner, Dr. Francis Hoffman, Ph.D. 

Awards in the category of Rising Historian were presented to first place winner, Lt. Robert E. Swain III, USN; second place winners, Vice Adm. James R. Fitzgerald, USN (Ret.) and Rear Adm. Richard F. Pittenger, USN (Ret.); and third place winner, Lt. G. Creigh Greensmith, USN. 

The judging committee was comprised of senior staff from United States Naval Institute, United States Naval Academy, Naval War College, Naval History and Heritage Command, Office of the CNO, and a distinguished naval historian from outside the Navy. The panel chose the essays that best captured lessons from history that can be applied to establishing and maintaining maritime superiority in today’s environment. 

“The CNO’s intent was not history for history’s sake, but to have history play a role in informing future operations,” said retired Rear Adm. Samuel J. Cox, director, NHHC. “The six authors receiving prizes today met that criteria of using history in a way that it forms decisions that take place now and in the future.” 

The winners received cash prizes, plaques, pens, and copper from USS Constitution. The first-place winners from both categories will have their essays published in Naval History Magazine and all winners will be published on NHHC's website. 

“It was very nice [the ceremony] and I thought it was a well-designed contest,” said Hoffman. “I’m greatly pleased that the Navy and the Naval History and Heritage Command like history and know how to apply it to problems today.” 

The Naval History and Heritage Command, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy's unique and enduring contributions through our nation's history, and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, nine museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus.


CNO Contest
Caption: WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 22, 2018) Mr. Ian Toll, an award-winning author and military historian, speaks with Vice Adm. Peter Daly (Ret.), CEO of United States Naval Institute, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson during the CNO Naval History Essay Contest 2018 Awards Reception held at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The six winning essays were chosen out of 182 submissions from across the fleet, almost every state, and around the world. Naval History and Heritage Command, United States Naval Institute, United States Naval Academy, Naval War College and OPNAV coordinated the CNO Naval History Essay Contest. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Mutis A. Capizzi/RELEASED)

For more news from Naval History and Heritage Command, visit www.history.navy.mil