Milwaukee Navy Week brings Sailors from across the fleet to the area to emphasize the importance of the Navy to Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin, and the nation.
Participating Navy organizations include crew from the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), USS Constitution, Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Eight, Navy Talent Acquisition Group Great Lakes, Naval History & Heritage Command, National Museum of the American Sailor, Navy Band Great Lakes, U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, Department of the Navy Office of Small Business Programs, Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron – The Blue Angels, U.S. Fleet Forces Fleet Outreach Ambassador Team, and the Vietnam War Commemoration.
More than 75 Sailors will participate in education and community outreach events throughout the city, including the Milwaukee Air and Water Show.
The Navy's senior executive host is Rear Adm. Douglas Perry, Director, Undersea Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, N97. Rear Adm. Perry was a former Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor at Marquette University. During Milwaukee Navy Week, he will participate in community engagements, meet with youth, and speak with local businesses, civic, education and government leaders.
"I am excited to represent the Navy and engage with the city of Milwaukee," said Perry. "My experience shaping future naval officers through the Marquette ROTC program in Milwaukee instilled a sense of responsibility, confidence, and deep appreciation for the strength of diversity that has fueled my service to the Nation. I am honored to come back to Milwaukee and talk about how the Navy shares the values I learned through my students at Marquette and the drive to serve and succeed."
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 Milwaukee
"We are excited to bring the Navy Week program to Milwaukee," said NAVCO's director, Cmdr. Anthony Falvo. “Seapower and America’s Navy are more important now than ever before. The U.S. Navy remains our nation’s most powerful instrument of military influence and Navy Weeks allow us to showcase how the Navy serves America at sea, in the air, and ashore.”
Throughout the week, Sailors will participate in various community events across the area, including engaging with students across multiple summer camp programs and volunteering for the city of Milwaukee, the Salvation Army, Frank Cullen Boys and Girls Club, America's Second Harvest, and Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity. Residents will also enjoy free live music by Navy Band Great Lakes at venues throughout the week.
Milwaukee Navy Week is one of 13 Navy Weeks in 2023, 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 Milwaukee Navy Week events should contact Ms. Melissa Heintz at (703) 203-4352 or melissa.l.heintz.civ@us.navy.mil.