Savannah Navy Week

The U.S. Navy announced plans to return to Savannah for its 2024 Navy Week schedule since its inaugural Savannah Navy Week in 2022 was such a huge success. As the Navy’s nationwide, signature outreach program, Navy Week would allow the citizens of Savannah to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), the U.S. Navy’s primary contractor for the Navy Office of Community Outreach, (NAVCO), chose RobMark to help with the inaugural Savannah Navy Week. The weeklong event would occur during Savannah’s busiest time of the year—the week of the world-famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebration—and which in 2024 would also be the parade’s 200th Anniversary.

In order to ensure a smooth process and engage advance community support, RobMark introduced NAVCO and GDIT representatives to the Mayor of Savannah and Chatham County Government and their respective staffs, the sheriff and police chiefs, officials at the Savannah/Chatham Public School System, leadership at the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, major media outlets, and other key stakeholders. Our team also prioritized and recommended media and community outreach opportunities and worked as a liaison with the media and community.

The 2024 Savannah Navy Week was an overwhelming success, from receiving positive regional, national and international media coverage, to social media hits, community and government support, youth outreach, educational awareness, and more. The Navy was represented by Rear Admiral David M. Buzzetti and between 50 and 75 sailors from across the nation who participated in numerous events during the week of the 200th Anniversary of the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade, including media appearances, the first Navy STEM Day with area school students, non-profit organization volunteer efforts, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. As if that weren’t enough, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson invited members of the Navy Band Southeast to perform on City Hall’s balcony—a rare invitation.