As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, Navy Weeks have enjoyed a celebratory “Road Trip to 250” with symbolic stops across the U.S. to highlight the Navy’s history, heritage, and continued commitment to defending freedom and supporting American communities.

“We’re excited to bring Navy Week to Flagstaff for the first time and sustain our outreach relationship with the state of Arizona,” said Cmdr. Rick Chernitzer, director of the Navy Office of Community Outreach. “Arizona lends its name to one of the Navy’s most historic ships and one of its newest classifications of submarines, and Flagstaff is home to U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station, tying its ‘Dark Sky City’ and state legacies to naval service from seabed to space.”

Navy Week events will feature Sailors from commands across the fleet, Navy Music performances, STEM demonstrations, and Navy career information. The program aims to provide residents with a firsthand look at the Navy’s mission and the men and women who serve our nation around the world.

The 2026 event will build on these existing relationships, showcasing a lineup of performances, demonstrations, and community engagements from the following:

• Naval History and Heritage Command: Explore Arizona’s proud naval legacy and the contributions of generations of Arizonians who have served across the fleet, through interactive exhibits and educational displays.
• U.S. Fleet Forces Band: Enjoy live performances and masterclasses from Navy Musicians as they appear at venues throughout Flagstaff and surrounding communities.
• Navy STEM: Experience hands-on demonstrations displaying STEM capabilities, giving residents a close look at the technology and expertise behind today’s Navy.
• Namesake Sailors: Meet Sailors from the pre-commissioning crew of the future guided-missile submarine USS Arizona (SSN 803) as they connect with communities in their namesake state.
• Sailors from Across the Fleet: Engage with Sailors from commands around the world, including “hometown heroes” from Arizona who will return to represent their Navy and share their stories with the Flagstaff community.

Navy Weeks bring the Navy to regions without a major naval presence, fostering connections and showcasing how the fleet defends the homeland. By demonstrating how the service takes care of its Sailors and continuously advances shipbuilding and fleet readiness, these engagements highlight how the Navy’s mission ensures the security, prosperity and freedom of our nation. The Navy Week program has visited more than 100 U.S. cities since its inception in 2005. 

For more details on  Flagstaff  Navy Week, visit https://outreach.navy.mil/navy-weeks/ or contact Lt. Cmdr. John Stevens at john.j.stevens4.mil@us.navy.mil or (901) 874-5590. Follow Navy Outreach on social media @NavyOutreach on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn, and connect using #NavyWeek.