Albuquerque Navy Week brings Sailors from across the fleet to the area to emphasize the importance of the Navy to Albuquerque, the state of New Mexico, and the nation.
Participating Navy organizations include USS New Mexico (SSN 779), USS Santa Fe (SSN 763), USS George Washington (CVN 73), University of New Mexico NROTC, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Phoenix, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Naval History and Heritage Command, Fleet Weather Center, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team, Office of Small Business Programs and Navy Band Southwest.
More than 40 Sailors will participate in education and community outreach events throughout the city, including attending the New Mexico State Fair. All participating commands will follow DOD, CDC, state, and local guidelines for safety during the current pandemic.
The Navy's senior executive host is Rear Admiral Gene Price, vice commander, Naval Information Forces. During Albuquerque Navy Week, he will participate in community engagements, meet with students, and speak with local businesses, civic, education, and government leaders.
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 cities like Albuquerque.
"We are excited to bring Navy Week to Albuquerque," said NAVCO's director, Cmdr. John Fage. "Navy Weeks give us the opportunity to help connect Americans to their Navy. We are looking forward to safely and responsibly building those connections in the Albuquerque area and showing everyone why their Navy is so important.
Throughout the week, Sailors will participate in various community events across the area, including engaging with students across multiple high schools and volunteering for the city of Albuquerque, Cuidando Los Ninos, Roadrunner Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity. Residents will also enjoy free live music by Navy Band Southwest at venues throughout the week.
Albuquerque Navy Week is one of 13 Navy Weeks in 2022, which brings a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel to 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.
Media organizations wishing to cover Albuquerque Navy Week events should contact Lt. Joel Borrelli-Boudreau at (901) 874-5804 or joel.l.borrelliboudreau.mil@us.navy.mil. For more information on the events in Albuquerque, go to the Navy outreach website at https://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks-2022/Albuquerque-2022/.