Navy Week drops anchor in Rocket City with birthday bash and big Navy energy

HUNTSVILLE – Navy Week has officially set sail in the Rocket City, bringing a wave of sailors to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center on Monday night. 

This year’s Navy Week events also celebrate the service’s 250th birthday, a yearlong celebration honoring the service. 

Along with a notable rendition of “Happy Birthday” led by the Rocket Center’s Vice President of External Affairs Robert La Branch, quite a few “Go Navy!” chants were heard throughout the evening.  

Senior Executive Rear Admiral Todd Weeks, program executive officer, strategic submarines, said the week was about getting to know the Navy.  

“So Navy Week is our opportunity, the United States Navy’s opportunity to come engage with the American people and for this instance, it’s the folks of Huntsville, to give you a little opportunity to see what your Navy’s all about,” he said.

Speaking from the stage at the celebration, Weeks said the “sun never sets on the Navy.”

“As we speak today, our Navy is made up of 295 battle force ships, 100 of which are forward-deployed across the globe. We are 335,000 sailors and 220 civilians and we run the gambit from the sea floor to space,” said Weeks. “As was mentioned earlier, the largest contingent of astronauts have come from the Navy.” 

Of the 330 NASA astronauts, 83 have served in the Navy. This makes the Navy the largest single military branch to contribute astronauts to NASA’s program, making the Rocket Center a perfect place to kick off the weeklong celebration.   

Welcoming the Navy to North Alabama, Madison Mayor Paul Finley said the community takes pride in the Armed Forces.  

“For me, it’s doubly exciting because we not only get to celebrate with the Navy for the first time, you know we’re so strong in this community celebrating our Armed Forces,” he said. “But for me, with a dad who served in the Navy, it’s doubly exciting.”   

Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon presented a proclamation welcoming the Navy to Huntsville.  

“I want to say that I am very grateful and thankful for your service. God bless you,” said McCutcheon.  

Huntsville Navy Week is the fourth of 15 Navy Weeks in 2025, and brings more than more than 50 sailors to town, including a few homegrown sailors.  

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Stancil, a native of Albertville, said she is enjoying highlighting her North Alabama roots during Navy Week.  

“I always want to do volunteer work,” she said. “And while I was driving back home the day before Easter, I was looking at all the signs of how much this community gives back. And it was like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is me. This is why I do these things.’ So the community just is really touching.” 

The Albertville High School graduate also said she is looking forward to attending the Panoply Arts Festival this weekend with her family.  

While traditionally known as an Army town, Weeks said this week Huntsville is a Navy town.  

“We love it. What a fantastic place it is,” said Weeks. “You know Redstone Arsenal is here, but I think it’s really a Navy town – just maybe didn’t really know that yet until we showed up.”

A full schedule of Navy Week events is available here.