Essay Contest Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Essay Contest!

This year’s winners wrote essays on one of two current topics:

SDFM’s Certified Defense Financial Manager (CDFM) program is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, with more than 14,000 defense financial management personnel having achieved certification. In addition to the basic certification, there is also the CDFM-A, an advanced level of certification for acquisition professionals, and SDFM will soon roll out the CDFM-H certification for the defense healthcare community.

1. Transport yourself to 2050 and describe the state of the CDFM program. At minimum, identify and describe the changes to testing, training and specialty areas (beyond CDFM-A and -H) the SDFM implemented in the intervening 25 years. 
2. Fast forward your career to 2050 and describe how the CDFM program and other career development initiatives supported you in obtaining your career goals.

Congratulations to the winners – and read their essays soon!

Distinguished: Scott W. Bauer, CDFM-A, Washington Chapter
Meritorious: Louise Stahl, Jersey Devil Chapter