Navy to Drop Anchor in Tucson

The Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) and Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Phoenix are partnering to celebrate Tucson Navy Week, from March 14 through March 20. Tucson Navy Week is a week-long series of awareness events held in conjunction with Major League Baseball Spring Training and Aerospace & Arizona Days. Participating Navy assets include: the Blue Angels; a namesake visit by crew members of USS Tucson (SSN 770); F/A-18 flight simulator; Navy dive tank and Navy Band Southwest. Vice Adm. Evan Chanik, U.S. 2nd Fleet Commander, will also be participating at events during the week. “We’re extremely excited and proud of the Navy assets that will be visiting Tucson and surrounding communities,” said Cmdr. Pamela Holland, commanding officer, NRD Phoenix. “The Navy Week provides Tucsonans opportunities to meet Sailors firsthand and learn about the latest capabilities and opportunities in the U.S. Navy.” A highlight of Tucson Navy Week is a namesake visit by USS Tucson Sailors. Tucson is an attack submarine homeported at Pearl Harbor and only the second ship to bear the name of the Arizona city. “Our Sailors are extremely excited to meet the great citizens of our namesake city and continue to build upon the strong namesake ties we already have with Tucson,” said Cmdr. Paul Spear, Tucson commanding officer. Sailors from Tucson are throwing out a first pitch during a Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants baseball game, signing autographs at Aerospace & Arizona Days and area malls, participating in “Caps for Kids” visits at local hospitals, and speaking with University of Arizona Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps students and at other area schools. The week also features 10 San Diego-based Navy divers and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians and their 6,800 gallon dive tank with an impressive display of modern and historical dive equipment and tools.

“We are coming to Tucson to improve Navy and civilian awareness of the challenging and exciting career opportunities within our community,” said Senior Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Vern Malone. EOD Sailors and the West Coast dive tank are being showcased at Aerospace & Arizona Days at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on March 17-18. Other featured Navy Week events will include Chanik throwing out a first pitch at an Arizona Diamondback’s baseball game, the Blue Angels performing at Arizona & Aerospace Days, and local Sailors marching in Tucson’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. Tucson Navy Week is one of 26 Navy weeks planned across America in 2007. Navy weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities which do not have a significant everyday Navy presence.

By Lt. James Stockman, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs