Writing Strategy 2023

Earlier this year, The Strategy Bridge asked civilian and military students around the world to participate in our seventh annual student writing contest on the subject of strategy. The response was once again amazing!

Fortunately, we had an amazing set of partners in support from higher and military education institutions around the world. In particular, we'd like to thank the panel of judges who helped us choose the winners, including key leaders from Arizona State University, Georgetown University, the U.S. Air Force’s Air University and School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College, the U.S. Marine Corps University, the U.S. Naval War College, and the U.S. National Defense University.


More importantly, we would like to announce and congratulate our contest winners:

First Place: Pieter Zhao, Paris School of International Affairs at Science Po, “Chinese Political Warfare: A Strategic Tautology? The Three Warfares and the Centrality of Political Warfare within Chinese Strategy”

Second Place: Zannia Carty-McDonald, The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, “Applying Behavioral Economics to Improve Cyberspace Strategy”

Third Place: Lawrence M. Doane, U.S. National War College, “Beyond Joint: The Need for an Interests-Centric Approach to Integrated Campaigning”

Third Place: Marshall McGurk, U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies, “Factors Influencing Strategy: The Objective-Narrative Nexus“

Third Place: Collin Van Son, University of Denver, “Paradox and Prose: Lessons in Nuclear Strategy”

Honorable Mention: Stephen Kopach, U.S. National Defense University, "The Strategic Competition to Shape Cyberspace"

Honorable Mention: Tyler Self, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, "Primacy of Maritime Strategy in Naval Shipbuilding? The Case of Imperial Germany"

Honorable Mention: Sakeena S. Siddiqi, The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, "Countering China's Use of Information Laundering Via Minds and Media"

Honorable Mention: Brendan Tower, The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, "Re-Envisioning the Cyber Domain for Deterrence"

We appreciate all the great submissions from the contest participants, and we feel incredibly lucky to be part of such a great community of readers, thinkers, and writers.


The Strategy Bridge is read, respected, and referenced across the worldwide national security community—in conversation, education, and professional and academic discourse.

Thank you for being a part of the The Strategy Bridge community. Together, we can #BuildTheBridge.