Denver Navy Week brings Sailors from across the fleet to the area to emphasize the importance of the Navy to Denver, the state of Colorado, and the nation.
Navy organizations, including Navy Band Northwest, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, USS Constitution, United States Ceremonial Guard, Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Rocky Mountain, and Navy History and Heritage Command, will participate in a variety of community outreach events. All participating commands will follow DOD, CDC, state, and local guidelines for safety during the current pandemic.
The Navy's senior executive host is Vice Admiral John Mustin, Chief of Navy Reserve, and Commander, Navy Reserve Force, who will participate in community engagements as well as meet with local businesses, and civic, education, and government leaders.
“I am excited to represent the Navy and engage with the city of Denver and the great state of Colorado,” said Mustin. “Colorado has a rich Naval history, with 32 ships having been named for the state, its cities, and people, including the nuclear-powered submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) and the amphibious transport ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19). The Front Range embodies adventure, self-reliance, and service. Those qualities are consistent with the Navy’s service ethos and have attracted more than six thousand active and reserve force Sailors to join our ranks. Those qualities also continue to connect the citizens of the area to our nation’s maritime services, specifically our Navy.”
Dr. James Hansen, a University of Colorado Boulder alum and the current Superintendent of the Naval Research Laboratory's Marine Meteorology Division will also participate in executive-level engagements for Denver Navy Week. During his time at CU Boulder, Hansen earned a BS and MS in Aeronautical Engineering and played on the CU football team. He was a member of three Big 8 Championship teams, a member of the 1990 National Championship team, and was a team captain during the 1992-93 season.
“My time at CU Boulder instilled a strong work ethic, sense of humility, and appreciation for the civic duty that has served as cornerstones of my life,” said Hansen. “More than CU though, the entire region is known for its innovation, whether it is economic, environmental, or STEM, and I am honored to return to the area to talk about how the Navy shares not only the values I learned here in college but the drive to innovate that I learned from living in the Front Range.”
Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to Denver.
“During a Navy Week, the Navy conducts approximately 75 outreach events with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service, and diversity organizations in the city," said CDR John Fage, director Navy Office of Community Outreach. "Colorado and the Denver region has always been a strong supporter of the military and I know our Sailors are looking forward to interacting with the people of Denver."
Throughout the week, Sailors will participate in various community events across the area including volunteering with Denver Urban Gardens and Habitat for Humanity. Residents will also enjoy free live music by Navy Band Northwest at venues throughout the week including the Denver Air & Space Museum and at the 15th annual Colfax Marathon.
The week will conclude at the Great Colorado Air Show Sunday, October 17, featuring the Blue Angels, where attendees will be able to interact with Sailors throughout the day.
Denver Navy Week is one of 13 Navy Weeks in 2021, focusing a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel on a single city for a weeklong series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects. Each year, the program reaches more than 140 million people -- about half the U.S. population.
For more information on Denver Navy Week, visit https://www.outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks-2021/Denver/.
Media organizations wishing to cover Denver Navy Week events should contact Lt. Joshua Kelsey at (901) 302-5166 or joshua.l.kelsey@navy.mil.