WEST 2021 Sponsorship and Branding Opportunities

AFCEA and the U.S. Naval Institute have developed an enhanced sponsorship program for WEST 2021 that will offer maximum visibility to those who participate! What better way to make sure you stand out and increase your exposure than at this foremost event in which industry leaders can learn about military requirements and connect with decision makers and operators, where senior military and government officials can gain feedback from sea service warfighters, and where industry thought leaders will discuss and demonstrate sea service solutions? Sponsorship opportunities are offered at a several investment levels, ensuring your ability to participate.

Browse available options below, or jump to specific categories: Patron Packages, Individual Sponsorships, Advertising Opportunities, Branding Opportunities.

Awards at WEST 2021

Copernicus Award

About the Award:

The Copernicus award was established in 1997 as a result of a discussion among Lieutenant General C. Norman Wood, USAF (Ret.), then President and CEO of AFCEA International, Captain James A. Barber, USN (Ret.), then Publisher and CEO of the U.S. Naval Institute, and the late Vice Admiral Art Cebrowski, USN, who was the Navy N6 at that time. The name for the award came from the Copernicus Architecture used as the blueprint for the future C4I structure of the Navy. Recipients are selected based on their sustained superior performance in a C4I/IT-related job. The board of judges make selections each year after reviewing active-duty and civilian applicants from the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute present the awards at their annual Western Conference held in San Diego each winter. Click Here to read more.

Young AFCEAN Awards

About the Awards:

Individual Award: Distinguished Young AFCEAN (DYA)

The Distinguished Young AFCEAN Award recognizes and rewards exceptional performance in four areas: leadership and guidance for the Young AFCEAN program; superior technical achievement in the professional arena; a record of going "above and beyond" at the local AFCEA chapter or region level; and mentoring provided for other Young AFCEANs. Nominees for this award are evaluated through September of the current year. Click Here to read more.

Individual Award: Emerging Leadership

The Emerging Leadership Award is given for exceptional service to AFCEA at the local and/or international level. This award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated continuous leadership in Young AFCEAN activities since winning the Distinguished Young AFCEAN award. Nominees for this award are evaluated through September of the current year. Click Here to read more.

The Young AFCEAN Chapter of the Year Award

The Young AFCEAN Chapter Program Award is given to the one chapter which has most significantly contributed to the professional development of younger AFCEANs by providing a forum of programs and initiatives geared to their unique needs. Chapters of similar size compete with each other for this award and there are five different size categories. Click Here to read more.

Model Young AFCEAN Program

The purpose of the Model Young AFCEAN Program recognition is to strengthen the program of activities for Young AFCEANs at chapters, and to encourage chapters to create Young AFCEAN programs if they do not already have one. The program will measure the strength, growth and activities of a chapter’s Young AFCEAN program over the period of a full fiscal year. Click Here to read more.

U.S. Naval Institute Essay Contest Awards

About the Award:

The U.S. Naval Institute provides an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security. Each year, the Institute sponsors a number of essay contests. The winners of four of these contests will be recognized at WEST 2021.

Essay contests have been central to the work of the Naval Institute for more than 130 years. They directly fulfill the Institute’s educational mission by encouraging writing on issues of concern to the Sea Services. They provide thought-provoking articles that spur ongoing discussion of these same issues, not only in Naval Institute media, print and digital, but also in other leading defense and national security forums.

2020 Essay Contest Winners

  2020 Emerging and Disruptive Technologies Essay Contest Winners – Sponsored by MITRE

The Department of Defense is seeking to leverage emerging technology, focusing heavily on autonomy, man-machine teaming, and machine learning and innovative ways to harness new technologies with tactics, techniques, and strategies to maintain a pacing edge over adversaries. The Emerging and Disruptive Technologies Essay Contest challenged authors to predict the next emerging and disruptive technologies, describe how they will be used by or against the U.S. military, and discuss practical approaches for fielding and wielding them rapidly.

First Prize:
Professor William Williamson III
“From Battleship to Chess”

Second Prize:
Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hall, USN
“Tactical Medical Drones”

Third Prize:
Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hall, USN
“Tactical Medical Drones”

  2020 Enlisted Prize Essay Contest Winners – Sponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute

The Enlisted Prize Essay Contest dared enlisted personnel in the Sea Services to write on a topic that makes the naval profession stronger. No subject was too large or too small.

First Prize:
PO1 John Minor, USN
“Putting the NCO in PO: Enhancing Petty Officers as NCOs”

Second Prize:
BMC Phillip Null, USCG
“The Coast Guard’s First Aid Fiasco”

Third Prize:
PO2 Matthew Clutter, USN
“The Tooth Shall Set You Free: Desaturate the Hospital Corpsman Rating”

  2020 Marine Corps Essay Contest Winners – Sponsored by BAE Systems

The Marine Corps Essay Contest challenged authors to advance new thinking about how the U.S. Marine Corps will tackle the diverse and difficult security challenges of the 21st century. Authors were encouraged to write about the toughest and most difficult issues; the topics everyone knows need addressing but some are hesitant to even acknowledge.

First Prize:
Captain Will McGee, USMC
“Testing Force Design”

Second Prize:
Captain Walker Mills, USMC and Erik Limpaecher
“Sustainment Will Be Contested”

Third Prize:
Sergeant Abraham Cheng, USMC
“Fix Enlisted PME”

  2020 Leadership Essay Contest Winners – Sponsored with Dr. J. Phillip London and CACI International

The Leadership Essay Contest focused on the roles of leadership and character in America’s Sea Services.

First Prize:
Lieutenant Jeff Zeberlein, USN
“Leadership Lessons from a Pandemic Tragedy”

Second Prize:
Lieutenant James VandenPlas Jr., USN
“Why Culture Matters”

Third Prize:
First Lieutenant Andrew Benn, USMC
“The Age of Sail and Decentralized Operations”

Women's Appreciation Award

About the Award:

This award recognizes and honors AFCEA members of any gender who have gone above and beyond to further the careers of women. AFCEA contributions will be more heavily weighted than professional performance in the decision process. Winners are selected by members of the AFCEA International Membership Committee. The award will be presented at the annual Women's Appreciation Event held at WEST each year. AFCEA International staff are no longer eligible for this award. Click Here to read more.