From the MCIA Inc Awards Committee,

  For several years the MCIA Inc. has recognized outstanding intelligence professionals throughout the Corps. These Marines have been nominated by their commands and selected by an awards committee of MCIA Inc members. In 2011 the Marine Corps Association has taken on the task of selecting and awarding most of these awards. Each winner receives a Certificate and a cash stipend. The MCIA Inc. has retained the responsibility for selecting and awarding the MajGen Ennis Award for Literary Excellence.

MCIA, INC.  2011 Literary Award
Matthew Pottinger

Matt Pottinger was the 2010-2011 Edward R. Murrow Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Matt covered China for the Wall Street Journal from 2001 to 2005 and for Reuters News Agency from 1998 to 2001. His stories, including investigations into energy and environmental pollution, the impact of official corruption, and the 2003 SARS epidemic, won awards from the Society of Publishers in Asia and were twice nominated for Pulitzer Prizes.                                                                                                                            

In September 2005, Matt put his writing career aside to become a Marine, serving on active duty from October 2005 to October 2010. He completed three combat deployments: to Iraq with 1st Battalion, 4th Marines from April to November 2007; Afghanistan with the Special Purpose MAGTF from November 2008 to May 2009; and to Afghanistan to serve at ISAF headquarters from July 2009 to May 2010. While in Afghanistan in 2009, he cofounded and trained the Marine Corps' first Female Engagement Teams. On his second Afghanistan deployment, he spearheaded an investigation into problems with U.S. intelligence effort, coauthoring with Major General Mike Flynn the critical 2010 report "Fixing Intel: A Blueprint for Making Intelligence Relevant in Afghanistan."

Matt's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Acheivement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the 2009 Lieutenant Colonel Michael Kuszewski award for Marine Corps Intelligence Officer of the Year. He finished active duty as a captain and lives in New York City.