HISTORIC TRIANGLE— As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the U.S. Navy is launching a national outreach campaign to connect Americans with their naval heritage, beginning at the nation’s birthplace.
Retired Rear Adm. Samuel J. Cox, director of the Naval History & Heritage Command, will lead a two-day Executive Engagement Visit to Jamestown-Williamsburg on March 3-4. The visits, known as EEVs, aim to raise awareness of the Navy’s role in safeguarding freedom, showcase its strength at sea and inspire the next generation of sailors and shipbuilders.
Cox served 37 years in the Navy.
His visit will kick off the Navy’s “Freedom 250” outreach efforts, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. The campaign highlights the Navy’s role in the nation’s founding and ongoing national security. The “13 Colonies Heritage Series,” part of the Navy Office of Community Outreach’s EEV programs, sends senior Navy leaders to historically significant sites to celebrate shared history and link it to the Navy’s modern mission.
“At the heart of America’s story is the sea,” Cox said. “To understand why our sailors fight today, you have to understand where it all began. Here in Jamestown, the American story and our reliance on the sea are one and the same. My role as chief historian is to preserve the legacy of the American warfighter, and there is no better place to share that story of courage, sacrifice and victory than at the starting point of our nation.”
In 2026, the Navy will bring its presence to communities nationwide, honoring a central truth: America is a maritime nation, and the Navy protects freedom and preserves prosperity. Freedom is earned daily by sailors at sea, Marines forward deployed and shipyard workers who build the fleet.
NAVCO connects Americans with the Navy through community outreach programs that bring the service to cities without a major naval presence. The EEV program is NAVCO’s primary strategic outreach tool, designed to foster direct dialogue between Navy leadership and civilian leaders.
NHHC traces its origins to 1794, when the Navy Department Library was established under the Naval Bureau of the War Department in Philadelphia. In 1800, President John Adams asked Benjamin Stoddert, the first Navy secretary, to catalog books for a naval library. Today, NHHC serves as the Navy’s central historical resource and institutional memory.
Cox’s visit will set the tone for the year-long campaign. From Jamestown, EEVs will continue to Boston, Charleston and Hartford, highlighting each region’s contributions to the Navy.
During his two-day visit, Cox will meet with local historians, government officials and education leaders. He will visit Historic Jamestowne and the College of William & Mary to discuss how lessons from the past shape the Navy’s strategic priorities today.
To learn more, visit navy.mil/navy-250.