Inspiring Global Awareness of Freedom of the Seas
by Jonathan Williams, President & CEO
National Museum of the Surface Navy | Battleship IOWA | LA Fleet Week
We recently hosted the 7th annual LA Fleet Week at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro, CA. LA Fleet Week is the “Super Bowl” of our vision to inspire global awareness of Freedom of the Seas. We welcomed the men and women of the sea services to experience and connect with Los Angeles and surrounding cities through leadership programs, neighborhood activations, and the popular weekend festival.
Throughout the week, the message of our nation’s sea services safeguarding free and open oceans resonated as events were hosted region-wide, with the connection to the supply chain and port complex being a consistent thread in discussions.
LA Fleet Week received a significant boost with the visit of USS Carl Vinson and the visibility and impact that a supercarrier brings. Lines to attend the event reached over three hours at times, with many attendees learning about LA Fleet Week through the tremendous efforts of the multi-agency social media team. Media, social media, and advertising reach exceeded one hundred million people and directly impacted more than 250,000 people with the Navy message. A survey of festival attendees demonstrated the effectiveness of our efforts to connect with America, with 73% of attendees being under the age of 34 and an equal distribution of men and women.
LA Fleet Week is an accelerated testing ground for our theories in connecting with America to inspire support for our sea services, including awareness, advocacy, and ultimately influencing those who may serve.
Next up is our annual “Freedom of the Seas Awards” and associated events, which I consider the “national championship” of our public awareness efforts. The popular awards dinner is scheduled for October 19th and is considered the go-to recognition event, bringing together the military, private, and public sectors to recognize commonality and achievement.
Carrying the message of Freedom of the Seas forward is the foundation of all our programs, especially Phase 1 of the National Museum of the Surface Navy and the associated park and pavilion. We are immersed in the schematic design of the museum experience, concurrently with an accelerated phase 3 of the Freedom of the Seas Pavilion and Park.
Construction of Phase 1 of the museum experience is scheduled to begin in September 2024, and we project breaking ground on the park and pavilion in early 2025. These initiatives are designed to continue our trend of reaching America with measurable returns on our investments in both people and financial impact.
Our experience in successfully raising awareness of our sea services continues to inspire our crew, supporters, advocates, and ultimately America. Bringing together partners in the private and public sectors to collaborate on mutual benefits is a cornerstone of our success.
We changed the perception of the Los Angeles community by highlighting the impact of the sea services on their daily lives. Our next evolution is expanding our reach nationally with the National Museum of the Surface Navy through the tremendous work of our Ambassador Corps, Plank Owners, donors, and crew. Together, as a community, we can change the future, inspire service, and make a difference.
You can join this visionary journey for free as a Plank Owner by signing up at SurfaceNavyMuseum.org. If you are interested in exploring potential sponsorship and naming opportunities, please feel free to reach out to me at jwilliams@surfacenavymuseum.org.
LIMITED TIME ONLY! Receive a digital commemorative Plank Owner certificate.
Join Free. Earn Points.
Become a Surface Navy Museum and Battleship IOWA Patron and, for a limited time, receive a free digital commemorative Plank Owner certificate.
Stay connected with special updates and invitations, earn points for your support, and redeem them for experiences, apparel, and more.