For the first time ever, the U.S. Navy is bringing Navy Week to American Samoa, April 14-17. As part of a global outreach effort, American Samoa Navy Week will connect Sailors with the community through a variety of performances, educational events, and service projects.
Since its inception in 2005, the Navy Week program has visited more than 95 markets across the United States but has never ventured across the equator to the South Pacific. This year’s Navy Week holds special significance, as it coincides with the U.S. Navy’s 250th birthday, marking a quarter-millennium of maritime excellence, national security, and global leadership. Also, this Navy Week will coincide with American Samoa’s 125th Flag Day celebration, honoring the commitment between the island and the U.S. “From securing shipping lanes to deterring threats across the globe, the U.S. Navy has safeguarded our freedoms for two-and-a-half centuries,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, Navy Office of Community Outreach director. “Navy Weeks bring the fleet to communities that may not see or interact with the Navy every day, giving Samoans the chance to meet the Sailors who stand watch 24/7—from the depths of the ocean to space, cyberspace, and beyond. We’re excited to bring this experience to American Samoa and connect with the island for the first time in our history.”
Rear Adm. Richard Meyer, will be among the Navy’s senior leaders attending American Samoa Navy Week. Smith now serves as Reserve Deputy Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet. His travel to the South Pacific continues to solidify our connection with American Samoa.
Throughout the week, more than 50 Sailors will participate in community service projects with organizations such as Veterans Affairs Department, Manatua Cultural immersion, Toa a Samoa, Cultural Night with The Arts and Museums, and Flag Day celebrations.
“Participating in the Navy Week gives me a chance to bring the Navy to communities that may not have much of a Navy presence,” said Personnel Specialist Seaman Apprentice Ailini Pone, who is from Pago Pago and currently serves with Navy Recruiting Command. “Being able to connect with people where I grew up and give back to the place that shaped me is incredibly meaningful. It reminds me of why I joined in the first place, and it is a proud moment to share what I do with others and represent the Navy in such a personal way.”
American Samoa Navy Week is one of 15 Navy Weeks in 2025, which brings a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel to a single city for a 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.
