MILLINGTON, Tenn. – U.S. Navy sailors from across the fleet are headed to Wisconsin for Milwaukee Navy Week, July 14 to 20, to volunteer in the community and discuss why the Navy matters to the Original Brew City.
While many of the sailors are from all over the country, this Navy Week will carry special meaning for visiting sailors from the area, including Cmdr. Nicholas Michols, a native of West Bend, Wisconsin.
Michols graduated from West Bend West High School in 1999 and earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and athletic training from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2007, a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from Michigan State University in 2013, and completed a sports medicine fellowship at Duke University in 2019.
Upon joining the Navy, Michols quickly found that many of the skills and values forged in West Bend were the same as those needed to succeed in the Navy.
“I believe my core values have grown immensely; however, my hunger and drive started with my family’s work ethic that was instilled in me,” Michols said. “When given a task with purpose and meaning, it fueled me to excel.”
Michols, who joined the Navy 17 years ago, is assigned to Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
“Initially, I had no idea what I wanted to do in life,” Michols said. “The Navy seemed like an adventure and had the bonus of service. My grandfather and uncle had served, as well as my brother, who is currently in the Navy. Now, it is a sense of purpose and commitment to my fellow brothers in arms and to this great nation we serve.”
Michols is part of the sixth Navy Week to be hosted by Milwaukee. Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity.
“This Navy Week in particular strikes me, because this is where I grew up,” Michols said. “The Midwest has a sense of military support; however, it is distant from our large military regions. I feel that the real sense of what active duty members go through is not well understood. The real contribution that one individual can make can be you.”
Today, Michols serves as a medical officer.
“As a medical officer, I am a physician first, my duty is to my active duty patients and keeping them healthy and on the military platform they are assigned,” Michols said. “Additionally, I am a leader in the medical community, as well as the command. The command looks to me to advise and guide in decisions that affect the well-being of officers and sailors. In my current role at the U.S. Naval Academy, I am a team physician and military mentor for the NCAA teams that I cover.”
Michols has had many opportunities to excel in the Navy and sees military service as more than just a job – it represents a chance to become a better person.
“I am most proud that since enlisting in the Navy out of high school, deploying on Sept. 11, 2001, I have been able to put myself through college and medical school, with the help of the Navy, to become a physician and leader in the world’s largest navy,” Michols said. “I am in a position to mentor and help others achieve their goals and perspectives.”
Michols is grateful for the West Bend community and for those who helped make a Navy career possible.
“Thank you to my parents and in-laws for all the support over the years to get me through all the stepping stones in life,” Michols added. “I would not be here without them.”
Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to cities like Milwaukee.
“From securing shipping lanes to deterring threats across the globe, the U.S. Navy has safeguarded our freedoms for two-and-a-half centuries,” said Cmdr. Julie Holland, Navy Office of Community Outreach director. “Ninety percent of global trade moves by sea, and the Navy ensures goods, energy, and critical resources reach American businesses and families. Navy Weeks bring the fleet to communities that may not see or interact with the Navy every day, giving Americans the chance to meet the sailors who stand watch 24/7 — from the depths of the ocean to space, cyberspace, and beyond. We’re excited to bring this experience to Milwaukee and connect the community with the Navy’s essential role in defending our way of life.”
While in Milwaukee, sailors will participate in community service projects with organizations such as Revitalize Milwaukee, Hunger Task Force Farm, and Ronald McDonald House. They will also engage with youth in summer programs with the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Journey House, and Running Rebels, and visit with students at Hamilton High School. The Navy Band will perform live at venues across the city, bringing Navy pride and energy to Milwaukee residents. Milwaukee Navy Week will also include a city proclamation with Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson at the War Memorial, July 17 at 2 p.m., to officially recognize Navy Week, honor and welcome home Vietnam veterans, and highlight the Navy’s contributions to the nation.
For a list of public events, visit https://outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/Milwaukee-2025/