Pathfinder: A National Security Essay Contest

Pathfinder, run by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and Breaking Defense, is a writing competition for graduate students and early-career professionals. Writers are asked to submit an essay that analyzes and addresses a national security challenge in 800–1,000 words. This competition seeks to give the next generation of national security leaders an opportunity to have their writing published and promoted by both CNAS and Breaking Defense.

Applications for the 2026 cycle will close on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Prompt

Conflict and strategic competition, rapid technological change, and growing human and environmental costs have left the United States contending with an increasingly complex security landscape at home and abroad. What is a national, transnational, or global security challenge facing the United States that isn’t talked about enough? How can the U.S. policymaking community address it in a bold, innovative, and bipartisan way?

Guidelines & Rules

Eligibility

• Applicants must be either early-career professionals with up to five years of professional experience (including full-time internships) or enrolled in graduate school. Service members must be company officers or of rank E-5 and below. 

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, enrolled in a U.S. educational institution, or legally reside in the United States.

Application

• Complete applications include:

• Résumé

• An essay of 800–1,000-words that analyzes a national security challenge and offers at least one actionable policy recommendation. The applicant‘s name must not be included in the essay document.

• The essay must be the applicant’s own ideas, research, and writing. It must not have been published elsewhere and will be exclusive to this CNAS–Breaking Defense collaboration. Non-general-knowledge sources should be cited using hyperlinks, not endnotes or footnotes. 

• The essay must not include any content generated by a generative AI tool, unless it is as an element of research on AI itself. (For example, the author may use generative AI tools to generate text to demonstrate the qualities of AI-generated content. This text must be quoted and cited as being AI-generated.)

Judging Rubric

• Originality: Does the author offer an original analysis and solution?

• Feasibility: Does the author provide at least one concrete, specific, pragmatic, and actionable recommendation?

• Expertise: Does the author demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the subject matter? 

• Quality: Does the author write in a clear and persuasive manner? Is the argument logical and supported by reputable sources? 

Prizes

• The first-place winner will receive a $1,000 honorarium.

• The second-place winner will receive a $500 honorarium.

• The third-place winner will receive a $250 honorarium.

• All three winners will have their pieces edited and published by CNAS and Breaking Defense. All three winners will also receive an invitation to attend the CNAS 2027 National Security Conference in person.