"Lilac City" will host the world's largest Navy during Spokane Navy Week, May 15-21, a week-long series of community outreach events.

Navy Weeks focus 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 in cities that don't have a large naval presence.

The events and special programs that will take place throughout Spokane are the culmination of planning and preparation over many months by the Navy Office of Community Outreach and Spokane community leaders.

"As with all Navy weeks, we hope to offer the Spokane community an opportunity to see their Navy and foster the relationship between the community and the Navy," said Gary Ross, lead planner of Spokane Navy Week. "Our ability to come to Spokane with a wide variety of Sailors from different career backgrounds allows us to really educate the people of Spokane on what their Navy does on a daily basis."

Rear Adm. Kevin "Komrade" Kovavich, Director of Plans and Policy, U.S. Cyber Command, will be meeting with corporate, civic and government leaders throughout the week.

"It is extremely important for the Navy to visit places like Spokane
that don't have a large Navy presence in order to convey to folks what it is their Navy does for them," said Kovavich. "The Navy is as relevant today as it has been during its 241 year history. In this globally connected world we live in, threats may seem to be more obscure than what they were when we were a developing nation and the demand for a maritime presence may seem less obvious, but we remain a maritime nation... our success as a nation and as a global superpower is based largely on that maritime resource."

Historically, Navy week events draw thousands of attendees to participate and create a dialogue between Sailors and local residents.

USS Washington Sailors will be talking about the Navy's newest submarine and life under the seas. Sailors from the USS Constitution will be decked out in their 1813 period uniforms offering a Naval Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) presentation of the ship. They will be joined by a pilot and aircrewman from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, who fly the Navy's largest helicopter, the CH-53 Super Stallion.

Also, Navy Band Northwest will be participating in parades and performing on several stages in the Greater Spokane area, including "Spring Fling" at Spokane Community College May 16, a performance at the INB Performing Arts Center and Lilac Festival Torchlight Parade May 20.

"Navy Band Northwest is excited to participate in Navy Week Spokane," said Lt. Bruce Mansfield, director of Navy Band Northwest. "This is a great opportunity to perform for the local community and build new relationships. We have a variety of groups that will be giving free concerts during the week, something for everyone."

In addition, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group One Sailors from San Diego will train with the Spokane Police Bomb Squad, participate in a STEM event at Mobius Science Center in downtown Spokane, visit the Lilac Festival Car Show as well as local high schools, including Freeman High School where EODGRU1 Senior Chief Roy Vanek graduated from in 1994.

"I am looking forward to Spokane Navy Week so that I can meet with the public and talk about the Navy and what I do," said Vanek, from Valleyford, Washington. "Spokane Navy Week is an excellent opportunity for me to educate the public about Navy EOD. I have stayed in the Navy because the EOD community is the best in the military."

Navy Recruiting District Spokane and Navy Operational Support Center will also be hosting several community and school events to include visiting West Valley High School.

Spokane Navy Week is the 5th of 15th Navy weeks in 2017.

To ensure the Navy remains ready to defend America at all times, it is investing in cutting edge innovations in weapons systems, multi-mission ships and submarines, and next generation of strike, patrol and electronic warfare aircraft, according to Navy officials. This is because the Navy is there where it matters, when it matters, and with the right tools to get the job done.

For a complete schedule and more information about Spokane Navy Week, visit outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Spokane.

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For more news from Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO), visit www.navy.mil/.