Tucson, Arizona will host the world’s largest Navy Week during Tucson Navy Week, Feb. 17-23, coinciding with Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the Tucson Rodeo.

Tucson Navy Week will bring Sailors from different Navy units across the U.S. to conduct focused outreach with members of the community.

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 the Navy the nation needs.

Navy Weeks play a vital role in connecting the American public with a large array of Sailors, assets and equipment. The weeklong event strives to engage with local communities who do not have frequent visibility of the Navy.

“During a Navy Week, approximately 75 outreach events are coordinated with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service and diversity organizations in the city," said Lt. Jacqui Maxwell, planner for Tucson Navy Week. "This will be the first time Tucson has hosted a Navy Week and the Sailors are looking forward visiting Old Pueblo!"

The Navy’s senior executive host will be Vice Adm. Michael T. Moran, Principal Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Moran will participate in various ceremonies and meet with local businesses, civic, education and government leaders during the week.

“I am honored to be representing the United States Navy in Tucson,” said Moran. “I look forward to connecting with the community to help illustrate how their Navy and Sailors protect and defend America and its interests worldwide.”

Major highlights during the week include chances to interact with Navy assets at the Tucson Rodeo, University of Arizona Wildcats’ basketball game, Tucson Roadrunners’ hockey game, the Reid Park Zoo and several Navy Band Southwest concerts.

“The Navy Band's participation in Navy Weeks allows us to reach out to areas of the country that don't regularly have contact with the Navy,” said Lt. Joel Davidson, director of Navy Band Southwest. “Our Navy has a lot of moving parts, and music is one of those parts. Domestically the bands help connect Americans to their Navy, inspire patriotism, as well as to help the Navy tell its story.”

Additionally, attendees of Navy Band concerts can expect the band to perform a wide variety of musical styles ranging from classical, and jazz, to rock, pop, and hip-hop.

“We're participating in Navy Week to serve in part as the Navy's ambassadors to the great city of Tucson,” added Davidson. “Audiences at our performances can expect a patriotic and exciting show as well as hearing about the great things their Navy is doing around the world right now.”

During the week, Sailors from Tucson’s namesake, USS Tucson (SSN 770), will also be visiting the city to volunteer with several youth and community programs including local schools and Boys and Girls Clubs.

“Most of us are all first-timers to the city of Tucson,” said Lt. Cmdr. Douglas G. Hagenbuch, executive officer of USS Tucson. “We are all extremely excited to meet the people of Tucson and immerse ourselves in the Tucson culture. With some of our top Sailors coming to Tucson, we hope to educate and motivate anyone that may have questions about what we do as submariners.”

Additionally, Sailors from USS Constitution, the oldest American warship still afloat, as well as Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1 and Navy Divers will visit several schools to provide STEM and history presentations throughout the week.

The week will conclude at the Tucson Rodeo, Saturday Feb. 22 where attendees can interact with their U.S. Navy sailors throughout the day.

Tucson Navy Week is one of 11 Navy Weeks in 2020 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 and a full schedule of events, visit

https://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Tucson/

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