School is back in session, vacations have ended, and we are now shifting into the off-season. During this period, we will focus on deepening donor, veteran, and student engagement opportunities. One of the key highlights is the Freedom of the Seas Awards on October 25th. More information, including ticket purchases, can be found at: https://surfacenavymuseum.org/
This week, I will be attending the LA Tourism Market Outlook Forum, my first event as a board member. Hall will be joining me, and I’ll be all ears to better understand the projected path of the industry so we can plan accordingly.
Following that event, I’ll attend two LA City Council meetings to speak about the importance of approving the EIR for the West Harbor Amphitheater. Over the past 15 years, there has been significant investment in the LA Waterfront from AltaSea, West Harbor, San Pedro Fish Market, the Port of Los Angeles, our organization, and many others. Now is not the time to reverse course, and I hope the City Council recognizes the importance and timeliness of this decision.
Our newest investment, in development for several years, represents an estimated $15 million Phase 1 commitment, which includes the new Surface Navy Museum Life of a Sailor experience and the Freedom of the Seas Pavilion and Park. We are pushing the limits of immersive experiences through dynamic storytelling and showcase design. The Great Ships experience will be available for donor events and receptions by mid-October. We’ve already begun the next stages of Phase 1 and will continue building post-October. Kudos to our engineering team for their expertise in preparing the Great Ships space.
Building Project Update
Last week, we received the LADBS soils report, which helped narrow down the options for foundation columns. Today, we’re meeting with the engineers to figure out the best path forward. We’ve already committed a good portion of the state funds, and things are looking positive for breaking ground soon. A big thank you to Larry for his leadership in keeping this project moving forward!
We have also been working toward stronger alignment of programs and initiatives. This Thursday, we will hold a Leadership Retreat to address several key outcomes:
- Shared Understanding of the Network – Recognizing how our initiatives and collective knowledge contribute to the broader ecosystem.
- Collaboration First – Prioritizing multi-purpose initiatives that deliver impact across multiple areas of the organization.
- Aligned Strategic Priorities – Each department will define 3–5 clear priorities that connect across the organization. We’ll also put a review process in place to make sure new ideas and activities are evaluated for applicability, ease of implementation, and cross-department impact. As a side note, we are already scheduled out into early 2027 with new museum implementations, so this alignment will be especially important as we plan ahead.
- Resource Clarity – Defining what people (staff, volunteers, advisors, vendors), time, technology (AI, tools, etc.), and financial resources (cash or in-kind) are needed and available.
- Investment Roadmap – Achieving consensus on a 2026–2030 roadmap that positions us for long-term growth and impact.
Following the Leadership Retreat, we will bring the discussion to the broader management team to gather their thoughts and feedback. From there, the Leadership and Management Team will finalize the outcomes and share the path forward with the deck plate in the coming month.
Thank you again for your support — I look forward to seeing you on deck!
